DALLAS — Luka Doncic was more than just a player for the Dallas Mavericks.
He grew up right before our eyes, from a 19-year-old mesmerizing us all with his “Luka Magic,” to a bonafide global superstar and perennial MVP candidate.
Doncic captured the hearts of not only the DFW community, but also formed close bonds with his teammates. The reaction from the trade shows that in spades. And the latest to address the trade was none other than Luka’s former back court mate, Kyrie Irving.
Irving and Doncic were very close.
Irving has always spoke glowingly of Doncic since he came to the Mavericks, calling him his brother on numerous occasions. Their bond could not have been better displayed than in the Mavs NBA Finals run when Irving and Doncic fell into each others’ arms after a hard-fought six game series against top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
The duo also shared a warm embrace after Game 2 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
Kyrie Irving: ‘I miss my hermano’
Irving first spoke on the Doncic trade after the Mavericks’ 118-116 loss to the Philadelphia Sixers on Tuesday night.
“Just really shocked and, um, you know you just don’t imagine you’re going to get ready to go to sleep and then you find out news like that,” Irving said. “So, it’s still a grieving process right now. [I] miss my hermano. We had a lot of time together. You know [Markieff Morris] too … Maxi [Kleber]. We just built some bonds that went beyond the basketball court.”
Irving went on to say that the NBA is a business, the move is “beyond his pay grade” and he is focused on welcoming his new teammates with open arms. He said is eager to get back to Dallas in front of the Mavs fans and speak to them.
“I know they’re feeling it too – I’m feeling it too, guys,” Irving said. “It’s just an adjustment period. I don’t want to downplay this either or disrespect our new guys. They’re going to help us win and help us build towards a championship. But just like everyone else at home, when you see [the trade] from afar, it hurts.”
Dallas returns to the AAC on Saturday against the Houston Rockets.
