Dirk Nowitzki Reveals First Reaction to Luka Doncic-Lakers Trade

What is Luka Doncic's Relationship With Dirk Nowitzki?

There is a bittersweet element to all of this for Nowitzki, because he played his final NBA season, all with the Mavericks, in Doncic's rookie year, and was seen as Doncic's Mavs mentor. Before the trade to the Lakers, the expectation was that Doncic would take the mantle of anchoring the Mavericks for two decades, as Nowitzki had done.

That added to the bittersweet nature of the deal for Nowitzki.

"Of course, I want to support Luka, but I’m also a Maverick for life, you know. So this was a tough decision for me. But I want to keep obviously supporting both. I want to wish Luka obviously the best in L.A., and I think he’s going to have a great career there."

What's Next for Mavericks, Luka Doncic and the Lakers?

Doncic was criticized, both before and after the trade, for his lack of conditioning, and the Mavericks indicated that one of the motivations to make the trade with the Lakers was that Doncic was injured and out of shape too often.

Doncic responded by dropping as much as 30 pounds this summer and preparing to move forward with the Lakers in top condition. Dallas now has Davis on hand, will hope that point guard Kyrie Irving comes back healthy from his torn ACL, suffered in March. They also added No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.

"Of course, the Mavs moved on and now got the first pick," Nowitzki said. "So I think at this point, both sides are moving on and hopefully doing well after."

Doncic will team with star LeBron James for the Lakers, and should have L.A. in contention in a tough Western Conference. But even after moving on, the shock is still there.

Said former Lakers and Mavericks point guard Steve Nash: "Any time a player like that moves, it's always shocking. But that's what sports is. Sports has always got a surprise you don't think's gonna happen."