What jersey number will Luka Doncic wear with Lakers? Los Angeles provides first glimpse of star in new uniform

Teddy Ricketson

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What jersey number will Luka Doncic wear with Lakers? Los Angeles provides first glimpse of star in new uniform image

The Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Mavericks in a shocking three-team trade on Saturday night. It cost Los Angeles power forward Anthony Davis, but the return should have the L.A. faithful very excited. 

The Lakers have a big hole to fill down low, but bringing in one of the best players in the NBA will certainly make life easier on the perimeter. With the way LeBron James is playing, this move should make the Lakers must-see on the court, while also giving them a young franchise player to build around for the foreseeable future. 

As Doncic nears his debut with Los Angeles, the franchise's social media team unveiled the jersey that the star guard will wear. 

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What number will Luka Doncic wear for the Lakers?

Doncic has won No. 77 throughout his NBA career, and he will continue this trend with the Lakers. He will become the first player in franchise history to wear the number. 

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Why does Luka Doncic wear No. 77?

In the history of the NBA and ABA, only 22 players have ever worn No. 77. When growing up playing basketball in Slovenia, Doncic idolized Greek star Vassilis Spanoulis. He only played one season in the NBA, but he had a decorated career in Europe.

When Spanoulis was playing, he wore No. 7. When Doncic began playing professionally for Real Madrid, he wore No. 7 as a tribute. When the young basketball star was drafted into the NBA, he joined Dallas, but the Mavs already had someone wearing No. 7. Dwight Powell hung onto the number, and Doncic instead decided to pay tribute by wearing No. 77. 

Has a Lakers player ever worn No. 77?

Doncic will become the first player in Lakers franchise history to wear the No. 77. In fact, between numbers 70 and 88, only one player, Dennis Rodman, has worn a jersey within that range. Rodman was No. 73 for Los Angeles in 1999. 

Teddy Ricketson

Teddy Ricketson is a Digital Content Producer at The Sporting News. He joined the team in 2024 after spending the last three years writing for Vox Media as part of its DK Nation/Network team. Teddy does his best to support the South Carolina Gamecocks and Carolina Panthers, but tends to have more fun cheering on the Atlanta Braves. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife, Brooke, and their two dogs, Bo and Hootie.