Luka Doncic still carries Dirk’s biggest lesson with him to LA
That one season Luka Doncic spent with Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas changed everything for the young star. Now with the Lakers and looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, Doncic can’t help but reflect on what he learned from the Mavericks legend.
“Professionalism,” Doncic told the Wall Street Journal this week when asked about Nowitzki’s biggest impact.
“How professional he was with everything, even in his 21st season. He had the whole routine every day. Start this at that time, he would start at that time. Just the routine was unbelievable to see.”
It was a perfect storm of timing – Dirk’s final NBA season coinciding with Luka’s rookie year.
While Nowitzki has admitted he probably hung around too long, that extra season gave Doncic a front-row seat to greatness. The rookie watched closely as the future Hall of Famer stuck to his strict schedule day after day, showing exactly what it takes to last in the league.
That lesson stuck.
Even now as the Lakers’ centerpiece, Doncic still applies those principles of preparation and consistency to his game.
More than just teammates
Their bond has only grown stronger since that season together. When Doncic was traded to Los Angeles, Nowitzki actually flew to California just to watch his debut against the Jazz in February.
Fans immediately spotted him in the crowd, prompting Dirk to explain himself on social media: “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!”
The support continued when Luka returned to Dallas on April 9.
The Mavericks honored their former star with an emotional pre-game tribute that left Doncic in tears. He responded by absolutely lighting up his old team, dropping 45 points and hitting 7 of 10 three-pointers. The Lakers locked up a playoff spot with a convincing 112-97 win.
Beyond basketball
Despite all the franchise drama and front-office disputes that led to Doncic’s departure from Dallas, his connection with Nowitzki remains unshakeable.
For Luka, those early lessons about professionalism aren’t just memories – they’re a blueprint.
As he enters his prime years wearing purple and gold, Dirk’s influence might just be the key to helping Doncic finally capture that championship he’s been chasing.
