LeBron James had a easy message for Luka Doncic forward of his first sport with the Lakers.
Proper earlier than the Lakers confronted the Jazz on Monday night time at Crypto.com Enviornment and Doncic – Los Angeles’ latest celebrity – made his debut along with his new workforce, James huddled up his teammates and delivered the quick missive.
“Luka, be your f–king self. Don’t slot in, match the f–ok out. Be your self,” James mentioned.
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 necessary 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 buddy 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 remaining season within the NBA and basically took over because the face of the franchise as soon as the Mavs nice retired.
Nowitzki addressed his choice to journey to Los Angeles on social media on Monday forward of the sport.
“I’ll at all times be a Mav for all times, however needed to come assist my man 77 @luka7doncic within the first sport 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.