Tuesday night at the Crypto.com Arena was a cocktail of emotions—excitement, revenge, and everything in between. The spotlight? On LA’s “own” Luka Doncic facing off against the Dallas Mavericks. Fans dreamed of a Kobe-style 80-point explosion. But reality had other plans. Instead, there was a tech foul, some deep threes, a cold staredown at the Mavs bench, a triple-double, and a warm dap with Kyrie Irving. By the end, the Lakers stood tall, fueled by LeBron’s 27 points. Yet, somehow, it was still Doncic who stole the show.
Taking their 35th win of the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers secured a 107-99 victory over Kai & Co. In the end, right before Nico Harrison’s eyes, with the LA crowd cheering “Thank You, Nico,” Luka had his moment to shine. 19 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists- a triple-double to remember indeed. But interestingly enough, the veteran guard, Kyrie Irving seemed at peace, or rather relieved in knowing that his “little brother” Luka was settling in in LA.
Kyrie Irving sets his emotions clear for Luka Doncic as his protective side opens up
Last season Luka Doncic played one of the finest seasons of his NBA career so far. He was in the league of the MVPs and maybe he could’ve won the title as well. The Slovenian Sensation was always in the conversations because of the kind of performance he was putting out, game in and game out. However, this comes with a lot of public scrutiny.
And, to be honest, Kyrie knows this the best. It’s a “been there, done that” affair for him. Therefore, speaking with the Dallas media after the game on Tuesday, the 32-year-old superstar had nothing but praises for his former teammate.
“He carried us a lot lot of the way where, you know, I was injured or hurt. And, you know, he carried the brunt of responsibility. So I think for me, it was respect there before we played together,” Irving said of Luka Doncic. “But then playing with him- he’s just an innocent kid at the same time, just ultra-talented, whole world in front of him.” Kyrie believes that it’s people like Doncic that you want to protect at all const. Especially with all the negativity that comes their way from time to time.
Feb 25, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts with Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Besides, “he responds in his own way, but he’s not from America. He’s not used to the generative culture here, you know, and at times, especially when the narrative starts spinning. So my goal is just to protect him, man.” Simply put, Luka Doncic’s ‘hermanos’ seems proud that he has turned the leaves over. He’s considering his role as a Laker amidst all the rejections and heartbreaks. Kyrie Irving is taking on his ‘protective brother’ suit for the 25-year-old.
But at the same time, it looks like Kai has saved himself from the harsh reality of America. When he signed his 3-year $126 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, he locked in a future that seems slightly less grueling than that in LA.
Kai’s $126 Million deal was a savior amidst tough American terrain
Emotions run deeper when rejection—if you call it that—comes into play. In the NBA, there’s little room for grief. The mindset is simple—be tough, move on, and play. But beneath the surface, the emotional toll is real. However, “Everybody expects you to turn over the next page and get over it. The reality is, man, we’re human too,” Kyrie expresses his emotional take.
” We come in here at young ages. Some of us are emotionally mature. Some of us are not…It requires development in that area as a human being. Basketball is not some of us have a good handle on what our responsibility is when we come in the league.”
Feb 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
An undeniable fact in the NBA is that the Los Angeles Lakers are a historical team. Despite the Dallas Mavericks being at the top of their and everything, the Purple and Gold remain the so-called ‘elite’ lot. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving had an opportunity to join them after his run with the Brooklyn Nets ended in 2023. Rumors suggest that LeBron James and Anthony Davis were trying to pitch the idea and lure him to the Lakers. But ultimately, the Mavericks got the deal.
The NBA and basketball in general can be unforgiving at times. And maybe having lived through that in all stages for 14 years, Kyrie Irving wants to protect Luka Doncic. The math is simple: Experience talks the loudest. And therefore, that $126 million deal with the Mavericks in 2023 gave Kai not just a brother in Luka, but also a sense of relief against the tough American reality.
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