Luka Doncic and Dorian Finney-Smith are picking up right where they left off in Dallas, now wearing purple and gold together in Los Angeles.
The NBA world was stunned this weekend when the Lakers pulled off one of the biggest trades in league history, bringing Doncic to LA in a deal that sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick to the Mavericks.
It’s a massive change for Doncic after seven years in Dallas. But there’s at least one familiar face waiting for him in LA.
Finney-Smith, who joined the Lakers in December after a stint with the Nets, couldn’t help but joke about the reunion. Back in January, when he posted photos of himself in his new Lakers No. 17 jersey, Doncic had commented: “Why didn’t you get 77?”
Now that Doncic has arrived in LA with his signature No. 77, Finney-Smith had the perfect response: “Was saving 77 for you.”
These two go way back. They spent four and a half seasons together in Dallas before Finney-Smith was traded to Brooklyn in the Kyrie Irving deal in 2023.
“That’s my guy, man. That’s my guy,” Doncic said about his old teammate, who’s averaging 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14 games with the Lakers. “We basically, I feel like we started playing basketball together in Dallas. We grew up as players together.”
The reunion is something both players have been hoping for. Last October, Doncic admitted he missed Finney-Smith “so much” and wanted to play together again someday.
When asked to rate his excitement about reuniting with Finney-Smith on a scale of 1 to 10, Doncic didn’t hesitate: “10.”
The Jazz also got involved in the trade, picking up Lakers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino in the deal that brought the Slovenian superstar to LA.
