Luka Doncic might’ve lost the chance to be the heir to Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavs legacy, but he still has the German basketball star’s support. Fans of the Dallas Mavericks would know that despite the two stars playing just one season together, they have shared a close bond. Thanks to Nowitzki’s time as Mavericks advisor and consultant after his retirement.

No wonder he ensured his presence for Doncic even after he’s on a different side now. The move, however, brought significant criticism from the Dallas fans. Surprisingly though, not for Dirk but the Mavericks itself.

As Doncic geared up for his first game as a Laker on Monday night against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena, Nowitzki confirmed he’d be there to cheer him on. And he made sure everyone knew why.

“I will always be a Mav for life, but had to come support my guy 77 @luka7doncic in the first game of his new chapter,” Dirk wrote on X.

If you watched the game, you probably felt the buzz in the arena. The Lakers have won 10 of their last 11 games, and adding Doncic to the mix had the crowd hyped. But let’s be real—this wasn’t just any game. This was Luka Doncic’s first in purple and gold after one of the most shocking trades in NBA history.

Cameras and social media caught every angle, including Doncic’s family in the stands. And right there, next to his father, was Dirk Nowitzki himself. Just like he said he would be. And he has complete support from the Mavs fans it seems. So much so that the fans are once against verbally bashing the franchise itself.

Fans react to Dirk Nowitzki’s post confirming his support for Luka Doncic

Nowitzki’s post confirming his support for Luka Doncic has set Mavericks fans on fire. Not with excitement, but with frustration. The love for Dirk is undeniable, but some fans are making it clear: his loyalty shouldn’t extend to the current Mavericks management.

“You don’t need to support this current ownership and GM bro we understand,” one fan wrote, voicing what so many have felt since the trade. If you’ve been following the Mavericks drama, you already know—fans have been fuming over the front office ever since they pulled the trigger on moving Doncic. And while the anger extends to the ownership, it’s Mavs GM Nico Harrison who has really been in the hot seat.

Harrison tried to justify his decision, saying he made the trade with the Mavericks’ long-term future in mind, believing they’d be better off with Anthony Davis. But let’s be real—for a lot of fans, this isn’t just about winning. It’s about loyalty. “Dirk knows the meaning of Loyalty. Sell the team to Dirk,” one fan suggested.

And then there’s Luka. He wasn’t just another player—he was the heart of this team. In his emotional farewell, he wrote, “… You [Mavericks and the fans] made North Texas feel like home…” That’s how much this franchise meant to him. The fact that he didn’t even see the trade coming? That’s what really stings. “Luka wanted to be a Mav for Life too Dirk. They did him dirty,” one fan wrote, capturing the emotions of many.

Meanwhile, some are even taking it a step further, blaming the NBA itself. “We understand. I’m not rooting for @dallasmavs for a long time! I want Luka to succeed as a Laker. The @NBA is partially scripted and this is proof. Ratings/down…” one fan claimed. Now, NBA ratings have reportedly taken a hit, and yeah, putting Luka in a Lakers jersey is definitely a ratings booster. But was the whole thing staged? That’s a tough sell.

Regardless of whether this was about business or bad decision-making, fans aren’t letting this go anytime soon. “It’s incomprehensible what the Mavs did to him. Give ’em hell @luka7doncic,” one X user wrote. It’s clear that while Mavs fans have no issues with Dirk Nowitzki cheering for Luka Doncic in the Lakers, they still cannot stand the Dallas’ ownership and GM.