Editions
Los 40 USA
Scores
Follow us on
Hello
NBA

The reason why Luka Doncic wears number 77 revealed: It’s in honour of this European basketball legend

The Slovenian star hit the headlines recently with his surprise move from the Mavericks to the Lakers.

The 25-year-old Slovenian hit the headlines recently with his surprise move from the Mavericks to the Lakers.
Daniel Cole
Paul Reidy
Irish native who switched from the music industry to the world of sport moving from Universal Music to AS in 2017. A keen runner, soccer player and now discovering the world's fastest growing sport of padel. A fútbol fanatic covering LaLiga, MLS, Liga MX and other offbeat stories from the global game. Can always be found rooting for the underdog.
Update:

The world of basketball was rocked recently as news broke that saw the Los Angeles Lakers confirming the signing of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-way trade that also involved the Utah Jazz, with the Texans receiving Anthony Davis.

Upon being unveiled by the LA outfit, the 25-year-old claimed: ‘I’m happy for this incredible opportunity. Basketball is everything to me, wherever I play, I will play with the same passion and the same goal: to win titles’.

The reason why Luka Doncic wears number 77 revealed: It’s in honour of this European basketball legend
Luka DoncicAssociated Press/LaPresse

The Slovenian will wear the number 77 for the Lakers with the point guard wearing this same number since making his NBA debut on 17 October 2018 against the Suns in Phoenix.

It’s anticipated that the point guard makes his Laker debut on Monday (February 10) in the home game against Utah.

From 7 to 77

During his time playing basketball in Europe, Doncic only wore the No. 7 jersey and this was based on his admiration for Vassilis Spanoulis. ‘He was my idol since I was a kid... That’s why I wear number 7’, Doncic explained to Eurohoops in 2021. Kill Bill’s influence on his career had been very ‘big’.

When Doncic moved to Dallas in 2018, given that his teammate Dwight Powell had already selected No. 7, Doncic decided that the ideal solution to the problem was to add another 7 to the single digit. The Mavs No. 77 has been one of the most popular jerseys in the NBA over the past years and it’s surely a question of time before the yellow Lakers jersey gets the same global acclaim.

Related stories

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

Tagged in:

Comments
Rules

Complete your personal details to comment

Your opinion will be published with first and last names

We recommend these for you in NBA