Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki shows up for Luka Doncic's first game as a Laker

The Hall of Famer sat with Luka Doncic's parents as the former Mavericks All-Star played his first game in a Lakers uniform Monday night. Nowitzki spent his entire 21-year NBA career with the Mavs. Mavericks fans believed Doncic might follow the same path, as did Doncic himself, before Dallas traded Doncic to Los Angeles nine days ago.

Nowitzki's final NBA season was Doncic's first. In 2018-19, Doncic won Rookie of the Year while Nowitzki was wrapping up his career. Nowitzki clearly feels an affinity for Doncic, both as a teammate and as the NBA's first European superstar. That's why, though he considers himself a "Mav for life," Nowitzki felt compelled to show up for Doncic in his new home.

It was a show of personal support that could also be read as an implicit criticism of the Mavericks front office. Fans protested outside of the Mavericks game Sunday. The fans only got more unhappy when Anthony Davis suffered an injury in his first game as a Maverick.

But it's more likely that Nowitzki was simply doing his old teammate a solid and hanging out with his parents. After all, Nowitzki is much closer in age to Mr. and Mrs. Doncic than he is to their son.

Still, disappointed Mavericks fans can't be happy to watch their old superstar in a Lakers uniform, and their franchise legend in the stands.