“It was special the way they received me. It was amazing to see. I was a little nervous before… It felt amazing.” Luka Doncic summed up his Lakers debut after the win over the Jazz. In the post-match conference, the 25-year-old also spoke about joining Pau Gasol on a special list for the franchise. That message caught the 2x NBA champion’s eye as he sent back some love for the newest Purple and Gold star.

“See you soon in LA, Luka! And congratulations on the debut 😉.” The Spaniard wrote on X when he re-shared a post from NBA Spain. It featured a video from the post-game press, where Doncic answered a question about being the first European Lakers star since Pau Gasol. The Slovenian donned his new threads for the first since the blockbuster trade at the start of the month. Doncic called it his honor and shared his admiration for the legend.

“Very good, he has spoken to a lot of people here who have a lot of respect for Pau and what he has meant to the Lakers. So I hope to see him here. I know he lives here too. It’s an honor to be here, (via Eldes Marque).“Nearly 19,000 fans in attendance roared for the newest superstar. For his debut game, even Dirk Nowitzki was in attendance alongside Adele, Will Ferrell, Flea, and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Even though Pau Gasol wasn’t in attendance, he previously cheered for Doncic, when the trade was official. “Welcome to LA, @luka7doncic ! 💜💛 Excited to see you in purple & gold. The Lakers family is special—enjoy the journey and make history! 🏀🔥.” Both of them had their battles against each other in the league and even in international courts. But now the 2x NBA champion has also partnered up with the #77 star.

How Pau Gasol is helping Luka Doncic build up the future of others

Even before his debut, the 5x All-star made a gesture for the community. As his foundation donated $500,000, to rebuilding after the damage caused by the Wildfires. The gesture did not go unnoticed as Pau Gasol shared his reaction and appreciated the efforts. But did you know he is working with the Luka Doncic Foundation?

With the foundation, the Spaniard joined the Youth Sports Leadership Council. “@luka7doncic is an extraordinary player and an inspiring role model. I’m truly honored to join the @LD77Foundation Youth Sports Leadership Council. Congratulations on this incredible launch, my friend! Looking forward to the journey ahead and the positive impact we’ll make together.”

Apart from the former LA Lakers star, the initial group of Youth Sports Leadership Council members includes Stephen Curry, Bill Duffy, Sabrina Ionescu, Igor Kokoskov, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tracy McGrady. So the friendship and respect between Pau Gasol and Luka Doncic extends beyond the court. Which is why the latter’s addition delighted the former.