What Luka Doncic told former mentor Dirk Nowitzki about his happiness on the LA Lakers

Doncic feels at home now in Los Angeles

Doncic was shell-shocked when he was traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers. It was a huge opportunity for him, but he fell in love with the city of Dallas. He proudly represented them for seven and a half years, but it all suddenly changed when Harrison traded him to the Lakers.

Dallas got a sizable package headlined by Anthony Davis. However, they lost out on seeing Doncic play out his entire career there. Fortunately, the Mavericks have landed on their feet with Davis as the star, and they even got the first overall pick in 2025 and the favorite to win Rookie of the Year, Cooper Flagg.

Despite the love he has for Dallas, it looks like Doncic is happy now in LA. It might have taken some time to get adjusted, but he looks pleased and content in Los Angeles, which is a good sign for the team’s future.

“I’m happy where I am. Like I say, it’s always gonna be special. That’s where I grew up in America, it was my home for seven and a half years,” Doncic said to his former teammate and mentor, Dirk Nowitzki.

Doncic is playing extremely well to start the 2025-26 season

The Lakers lost their first game of the season to the Golden State Warriors, but Luka had a stellar performance. He had 43 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists to complete a superb game, but they still lost by 10 points.

Doncic continued his strong play with another standout performance in their second game. It was a solid 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the same team that beat them in the Western Conference semi-finals in the 2025 Playoffs. Doncic had an unbelievable night against the Warriors, posting 49 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.

If people are unconvinced that he feels at home in Los Angeles, his performances show that he loves playing for the Lakers. As long as he maintains this, the Lakers are in a good spot moving forward with a superstar who is in his prime.