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Luka Doncic recalls first meeting with LeBron James

The LA Lakers have brought together two of the biggest names in the NBA. But Doncic still remembers life as a rookie.

When will Luka Doncic play for the Lakers?
Jerome MironUSA TODAY Sports

Luka Doncic’s move to LA Lakers is, in the minds of many, the most shocking trade in NBA history. The perennial MVP contender leaves the Dallas Mavericks with Anthony Davis heading in the other direction, ending Doncic’s seven-year association with the Mavs.

The Slovenian has been a sensation during his time in the league, winning NBA Rookie of the Year in 2019 and following that up with five consecutive appearances in the All-NBA First Team. He was the league’s scoring champion last season and is still only 25 years old.

The Lakers move sees Doncic link up with LeBron James, a player that he has previously hailed as his “idol”.

The two first met on the court in October 2018, with Doncic registering 14 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists against the Lakers. Reflecting on that first game, Doncic admitted that it was big moment in his career.

“I remember, I was nervous,” Doncic said in 2020. “Playing against your idol, I was nervous. It was something different than what I had experienced. As we go along to today, it’s different than the first game, for sure, playing against him, but it’s always pressure.

“For me, everything happens so fast. Two years ago, I was playing in Real Madrid. I was 18 years old. Things happen quick.”

Doncic was just four years old when James made his NBA debut back in 2003 and he has grown up knowing him as one of the world’s best. But for some time the admiration has been mutual and James actually tried to sign Doncic to ‘Team LeBron’, a short-lived basketball brand in collaboration with Nike. Doncic would have been a big name to start the relationship but the idea never got off the ground.

“I wanted to begin ‘Team LeBron’ and have Luka as my first signing with Nike,” James explained on the ‘Road Tripping’ podcast. “I don’t believe that my guys at Nike was ready for that. Obviously they were not, because he ended up going to [Michael] Jordan. I don’t know if Luka knows this.”

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