Lakers star Luka Doncic’s new look blows away Dirk Nowitzki

Luka Doncic is entering the 2026-27 season looking like a new man, and one of the people who noticed is the man he has long been compared to. Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, Doncic’s mentor and former teammate, could not hide his approval when asked about the Los Angeles Lakers star’s fresh appearance during a recent interview.

Doncic has been the subject of plenty of chatter this offseason, first for his slimmed-down frame and later for a new, dapper hairstyle that many fans quickly compared to a young Nowitzki. The German big man leaned into the praise when the topic came up.

“He look clean. He look tan, he look slim, he look ready to go,” Nowitzki said, reacting to Doncic’s transformation.

Dirk Nowitzki had a hilarious reaction to Luka Doncic’s hairstyle

“OOOH! He look clean! I gotta say! He look clean! He look tan, he look slim, he look ready to go!”

Luka will always be Dirk’s rookie!

Interview: @SamGannon87 pic.twitter.com/wrIXVQ46If

— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) September 3, 2026

The comments came as Doncic and his Lakers teammates traveled to his native Slovenia for a bonding trip and training camp in Ljubljana, giving fans an early look at the guard’s conditioning ahead of a pivotal year. Doncic has drawn buzz as a potential MVP candidate, and Nowitzki clearly believes his protege is positioned for a big season.

Nowitzki also weighed in on the roster changes around Doncic. The Lakers moved on from LeBron James this summer and reshaped their supporting cast, headlined by the acquisition of center Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz. Los Angeles also re-signed Austin Reaves to a lucrative extension and added depth pieces to build a contender around its franchise cornerstone.

“They brought in Kessler, obviously, a big center that they were looking for,” Nowitzki noted, praising the front office for making moves he believes will make the team better.

The Hall of Famer recalled watching Doncic in person back in March, when the guard was in the middle of a scorching stretch before an injury derailed his push toward the playoffs. Nowitzki made it clear he expects a healthy Doncic to return to that form.

For the Lakers, the message is simple. With James gone and Kessler in the paint, this is officially Doncic’s team. If his mentor’s eye test means anything, the 27-year-old looks the part of a superstar ready to carry Los Angeles back into the Western Conference title picture.

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