Sport

Rafael Nadal’s academy requests Luka Doncic for a Lakers gift as they receive signed Mavericks jerseys days after surprise deal

Published

1 week ago

February 5, 2025

KELVIN

Rafael Nadal’s academy made a peculiar request of Luka Doncic following his surprising trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. The academy requested that the Slovenian NBA player’s signed Dallas Maverick jersey be replaced with a LA Lakers jersey for their museum.

Rafa Nadal Academy shared a photo of Doncic’s No. 77 Dallas Mavericks jersey, which he dedicated to the academy on X. Doncic signed it, and the message read:

“For the Academy of Rafa Nadal.”

The picture was accompanied by a lighthearted message:

Querido @luka7doncic,
Ayer recibimos en el Rafa Nadal Museum la camiseta que con tanto cariño nos dedicaste la semana pasada en Dallas. ¡Muchas gracias! @LosLakers, ¿veríais factible ayudarnos a conseguir una nueva? 😅 😘 pic.twitter.com/81PMYrNr1c

— Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rnadalacademy) February 4, 2025

“Dear @luka7doncic, Yesterday we received at the Rafa Nadal Museum the shirt that you dedicated to us with so much love last week in Dallas. Thank you very much!@LosLakers, would you consider it feasible to help us get a new one?”

Doncic’s deal elicited numerous emotions from the tennis community. Nick Kyrgios, an avid basketball enthusiast, showed appreciation for the Dallas Mavericks. The former World No. 13 is a Boston Celtics devotee who regularly dressed in basketball clothes on the tennis court.

Frances Tiafoe and Stefanos Tsitsipas have remarked on Doncic’s goodbye statement to the Dallas Mavericks on Instagram.