LeBron James’ blunt message to Luka Doncic ahead of Lakers debut
LeBron James had a simple message for Luka Doncic ahead of his first game with the Lakers.
Right before the Lakers faced the Jazz on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena and Doncic – Los Angeles’ newest superstar – made his debut with his new team, James huddled up his teammates and delivered the short missive.
“Luka, be your f–king self. Don’t fit in, fit the f–k out. Be yourself,” James said.
“Luka, be your f—ing self. Don’t fit in, fit the f— out.”-LeBron to Luka 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/qj8Tbk8M8R— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 11, 2025
NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic’s Lakers debut was a highly anticipated affair following a blockbuster trade that shook the NBA world to its core when the Mavericks shipped the star to Los Angeles in a middle-of-the-night trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas.
The deal has created unrest among Mavericks fans and it seems even one of the organization’s most important players in its history was caught off guard by the trade.
LeBron James gave a pep talk to Luka Doncic before his Lakers debut on Feb. 11, 2025. X @SportsCenter
Luka Doncic smiles in reaction to LeBron James’ pep talk just ahead of his Lakers debut. X @SportsCenter
Dirk Nowitzki, a Mavs legend and Hall of Famer, was shocked when his close friend was traded to Los Angeles and Nowitzki even made the trip to Hollywood to see Doncic in his Lakers debut.
He was seated near the court
Doncic and Nowitzki overlapped as teammates in Dallas for Nowitzki’s final season in the NBA and essentially took over as the face of the franchise once the Mavs great retired.
Nowitzki addressed his decision to travel to Los Angeles on social media on Monday ahead of the game.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) is defended by Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
“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 in the purple and gold came with 8:04 on the clock in the first quarter when he knocked down a step-back 3-pointer to put the Lakers up 14-10.
The Crypto.com Arena crowd immediately erupted when the ball went through the hoop.
