The choice from the Dallas Mavericks to commerce Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers left a lot of the world astounded.
And but it was not the one weird resolution surrounding Luka Doncic, who has been one of the vital talked about gamers within the NBA ever since he was drafted in 2018.
Doncic entered the 2018 draft after three years spent enjoying within the EuroLeague with Actual Madrid, changing into the staff’s youngest ever participant, and profitable the title and MVP.
It’s nonetheless seen as one of many league’s greatest misses that Luka Doncic was not taken primary general, and even quantity two.
The Phoenix Suns took Deandre Ayton with the primary choose, and in a good larger shock, the Sacramento Kings chosen Marvin Bagley with quantity two.
This prompted the Dallas Mavericks to commerce as much as quantity three with the Atlanta Hawks to get Luka Doncic, a participant who was anticipated to be the cornerstone of their franchise for 20 years.
Seven years on, Luka Doncic was traded to the LA Lakers, following within the footsteps of a few of the best ever to grace the court docket.
Luka Doncic is about to change into the newest LA Lakers hero, and he has had backing already from a few of the greats.
Magic Johnson has expressed pleasure about what he can carry to the franchise, whereas Magic’s former teammate James Worthy has additionally given his backing.
And whereas the nice Jerry West handed away in June 2024 on the age of 86, he as soon as expressed his admiration for Luka Doncic, and his astonishment that groups handed on him.
West instructed an interview: “Luka Doncic, what was he the fifth participant within the draft – oh my God. I can’t imagine that somebody let him go, I can’t.
“He was a novel child at 15 years of age. He was competing in opposition to males.”
Jerry West was shocked on the 2018 Draft and Luka: “Luka Doncic, what was he the fifth participant within the draft – oh my God. I can’t imagine that somebody let him go, I can’t. He was a novel child at 15 years of age. He was competing in opposition to males in Europe, he’s 15 years – however not competing, excelling”
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Luka Doncic paid tribute to Jerry West in the course of the 2024 NBA Finals, following his unhappy passing.
He spoke of his respect for the LA Lakers nice, commenting: “He was a legend. All of us going to overlook him. He’s the emblem, so… He was an incredible participant.
“I wasn’t born but, however I noticed some highlights. He was an incredible participant.”
Now sporting his personal distinctive quantity 77 jersey, with West’s 44 retired by the staff means again in 1983, Doncic is following in his footsteps in a means he might have dreamed of, however by no means would have anticipated getting into this season.
Because the occasions of the previous week start to settle, one factor we do know is the Lakers have a brand new hero.
