Dorian Finney-Smith jokes to save No. 77 to Luka Doncic

Although Luka Doncic enters new territory with Los Angeles Lakers, he and former teammate Dorian Finney-Smith pick up where they left.

Lakers acquired Finney-Smith in a trade with Brooklyn Nets on December 29. Finney-Smith published a collage of pictures of himself in action for Los Angeles on January 4, wearing No. 17. Doncic-Dereter with Dallas Mavericks-commented: “Why didn’t you get 77?”

Of course, No. 77 is Doncic’s number. And when he published a photo that held his No. 77 jersey from his initial news conference as a Laker on Monday, Finney-Smith ghostly referred the old comment.

Lakers acquired Doncic in a blockbuster trading last Sunday involving Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first round of picking on the way to Mavericks. Utah Jazz was the third team involved and received Los Angeles guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.

Finney-Smith spent 6½ seasons with Dallas-4½ as teammates with Doncic. Finney-Smith was one of the players involved in the Kyrie Irving trade in February 2023.

When the two were facing in October 2023, Doncic said He misses Finney-Smith “so much” and that at some point they will “play again with certainty.” That day comes before rather than later.

Monday, when asked on a scale of 1 to 10, where excited Doncic was about reuniting with Finney-Smith, he said “10.”

“It’s my guy, man. It’s my guy,” Said Donciccracking a smile. “We basically, I feel we started playing basketball together in Dallas. We grew up as players together. So I’m really excited.”

Finney-Smith has an average of 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14 games with Lakers. Sources told ESPN that Doncic is “trend to” to make his laker’s debut on Saturday against Indiana Pacers.