Why does Luka Doncic wear number 77? Lakers superstar continues to honour basketball idol after trade
A No.77 Luka Doncic jersey was already one of the most wanted in the entire NBA – now it’s even more iconic. The superstar guard was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday in a blockbuster deal. Doncic will keep his number after being traded to the LakersGetty He led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season wearing the No.77 and he was set to make his jersey legendary in Dallas. But completely out of the blue, Doncic was traded in a stunning switch, joining LeBron James at the Lakers with Anthony Davis going the other way. So now, he’ll have to make his mark in LA and he’s still going to be donning his signature number. Here, talkSPORT.com takes a look at why he wears it… Why does Doncic wear number 77? Doncic wears the number 77 in honour of one of his idols. He revealed in 2023 that he looks up to Greek basketball star Vassilis Spanoulis. Spanoulis had an illustrious career in the European game and spent a season in the NBA with the Houston Rockets in 2006/07. The 42-year-old is now a coach in Greece but when he was playing, he wore the number seven. So when Doncic was playing for Real Madrid in Spain, he opted for the same number. However, after being drafted by the Mavericks, No.7 was already taken by Dwight Powell, meaning he chose 77 instead to still show his respect for Spanoulis. Doncic wore No.7 at Real Madrid before taking 77 in DallasGetty Explaining his number to EuroHoops, Doncic said: “He was really big time for my career. “Spanoulis was my idol since I was little. “I was watching him. It was kind of sad seeing him retiring. That’s why I wear number seven. “I mean, I couldn’t wear number seven, cause it was already taken, so I took 77. “He was really, really big time for me.” Doncic also wears the number 77 on the international stage for Slovenia. View Tweet: https://t.co/BdJZLUtNt0 It has become a staple of his incredible NBA career so far and his jersey was likely to become one of the most iconic in Mavs history. But that won’t be happening anymore as he looks to join Lakers folklore with the No.77 on his back. In his announcement by the team, they even used his number. On social media, the Lakers posted wallpapers for fans to use and one of the images was simply the back of his jersey. Their caption read: “No. 77 has arrived.” Doncic is expected to make his debut for his new team in February as he continues to recover from injury.
A No.77 Luka Doncic jersey was already one of the most wanted in the entire NBA – now it’s even more iconic.
The superstar guard was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday in a blockbuster deal.
He led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season wearing the No.77 and he was set to make his jersey legendary in Dallas.
But completely out of the blue, Doncic was traded in a stunning switch, joining LeBron James at the Lakers with Anthony Davis going the other way.
So now, he’ll have to make his mark in LA and he’s still going to be donning his signature number.
Here, talkSPORT.com takes a look at why he wears it…
Why does Doncic wear number 77?
Doncic wears the number 77 in honour of one of his idols.
He revealed in 2023 that he looks up to Greek basketball star Vassilis Spanoulis.
Spanoulis had an illustrious career in the European game and spent a season in the NBA with the Houston Rockets in 2006/07.
The 42-year-old is now a coach in Greece but when he was playing, he wore the number seven.
So when Doncic was playing for Real Madrid in Spain, he opted for the same number.
However, after being drafted by the Mavericks, No.7 was already taken by Dwight Powell, meaning he chose 77 instead to still show his respect for Spanoulis.
Explaining his number to EuroHoops, Doncic said: “He was really big time for my career.
“Spanoulis was my idol since I was little.
“I was watching him. It was kind of sad seeing him retiring. That’s why I wear number seven.
“I mean, I couldn’t wear number seven, cause it was already taken, so I took 77.
“He was really, really big time for me.”
Doncic also wears the number 77 on the international stage for Slovenia.
It has become a staple of his incredible NBA career so far and his jersey was likely to become one of the most iconic in Mavs history.
But that won’t be happening anymore as he looks to join Lakers folklore with the No.77 on his back.
In his announcement by the team, they even used his number.
On social media, the Lakers posted wallpapers for fans to use and one of the images was simply the back of his jersey.
Their caption read: “No. 77 has arrived.”
Doncic is expected to make his debut for his new team in February as he continues to recover from injury.
