Luka Dončić is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers roster, and it still feels surreal. The former Dallas Mavericks star has adjusted well to his new surroundings, but he made plenty of strong bonds during his journey, especially with his Mavericks teammates.
One teammate whom Donĉić seemed to develop a fondness for was Kyrie Irving. He joined the Mavericks in 2023 and instantly became an excellent teammate to Dončić, reaching the 2024 NBA Finals together. That type of success on the court brings players closer to each other, and as a result, Irving and Dončić became friends.
Luka Dončić Shares Memories of Kyrie Irving for Mavs Guard’s Birthday
Irving and Dončić might no longer be teammates, but their bond is still very much alive. Dončić took to Instagram to share a memory of himself and Irving together on the court, wishing Irving a “Happy birthday hermano.”
Hermano is Spanish for brother, indicating the type of relationship the two forged in Dallas. Before coming to the NFL and joining the Mavs, Dončić played professionally for Real Madrid in Spain.
In his 6.5 seasons with the Mavericks, Dončić accomplished multiple impressive feats, including five straight first-team All-NBA nods. Irving was among the most talented teammates Dončić played alongside.
Luka wishes Kyrie a happy birthday on IG 🥹🤞 pic.twitter.com/765WKLLC27
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) March 23, 2025
Irving, unfortunately, is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL, but the bond between the former teammates seems unbreakable. Because of their brotherhood, there are some rumblings about Irving’s future with the Mavericks as he could become a free agent this upcoming offseason as he has a player option in his contract.
Will Irving Stay With the Mavericks?
Irving has been a stabilizing force for the Mavericks and was in the middle of an amazing, All-Star season before he suffered his unfortunate injury. Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists on 47.3% shooting from the field. He shot 40.1% from 3-point range and 91.6% from the free-throw line.
Since the Mavericks acquired Anthony Davis in the trade for Dončić, they have fallen out of the playoff picture. The Mavericks are currently 11th in the Western Conference (34-37), and their playoff hopes seem to be fading amid their myriad injuries.
Irving could depart from the Mavericks in the offseason, which would throw off their plans to contend with him and Davis as the engine of their team. The Mavericks could offer a massive contract to keep Irving, but Dončić’s message to Irving will inevitably bring about questions about whether Irving could end up in L.A. with his superstar former teammates.