LeBron James had a easy message for Luka Doncic forward of his first recreation with the Lakers.
Proper earlier than the Lakers confronted the Jazz on Monday night time at Crypto.com Enviornment and Doncic – Los Angeles’ latest famous person – made his debut along with his new crew, James huddled up his teammates and delivered the brief missive.
“Luka, be your f–king self. Don’t fit in, fit the f–k out. Be yourself,” James stated.
Doncic’s Lakers debut was a extremely anticipated affair following a blockbuster commerce that shook the NBA world to its core when the Mavericks shipped the star to Los Angeles in a middle-of-the-night commerce that despatched Anthony Davis to Dallas.
The deal has created unrest amongst Mavericks followers and it appears even one of many group’s most vital gamers in its historical past was caught off guard by the commerce.
Dirk Nowitzki, a Mavs legend and Corridor of Famer, was shocked when his shut good friend was traded to Los Angeles and Nowitzki even made the journey to Hollywood to see Doncic in his Lakers debut.
He was seated close to the courtroom
Doncic and Nowitzki overlapped as teammates in Dallas for Nowitzki’s last season within the NBA and primarily took over because the face of the franchise as soon as the Mavs nice retired.
Nowitzki addressed his resolution to journey to Los Angeles on social media on Monday forward of the sport.
“I will always be a Mav for life, but had to come support my guy 77 @luka7doncic in the first game of his new chapter!” Nowitzki wrote on X.
Doncic’s first basket within the purple and gold got here with 8:04 on the clock within the first quarter when he knocked down a step-back 3-pointer to place the Lakers up 14-10.
The Crypto.com Enviornment crowd instantly erupted when the ball went by means of the ring.
