Luka Doncic is poised to receive his first Hollywood close-up on Monday.
A week after a bombshell trade, the Lakers upgraded their new superstar to probable for Monday’s home game against the Utah Jazz. A calf strain has sidelined Doncic since Christmas.
The city is ready for Doncic’s arrival. Hours before tipoff, Gatorade shared a special tribute to last year’s scoring leader.
Gatorade’s brief video showed the iconic Hollywood sign altered, replacing the two “LLs” with yellow-covered sevens in honor of Doncic’s number.
Here’s a look at the tribute:
It’s Showtime 🪄 pic.twitter.com/qj2ySbi9zs
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) February 10, 2025
If Doncic plays up to his standards, he could one day earn a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Basketball Hall of Fame.
Since entering the NBA as the No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft, Doncic has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. The five-time All-Star and All-NBA selection led the Dallas Mavericks to last year’s NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics.
However, the Mavericks stunned everyone by trading Doncic to the Lakers. They received just one first-round pick in a package led by Anthony Davis, who is expected to miss multiple weeks after exiting Sunday’s game with a left adductor strain.
Dallas hand-delivered another superstar to a Lakers franchise rich with legends. He joins all-time scoring leader LeBron James on a 31-19 team that’s fifth in the Western Conference standings amid a five-game winning streak. Los Angeles now has a clean succession plan after the 40-year-old James retires or goes elsewhere.
After the trade, Doncic called Dallas “a special place” in a heartfelt letter thanking Mavericks fans for their support. He later expressed excitement about beginning his next chapter in L.A.
“Grateful for this amazing opportunity,” Doncic wrote. “Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal – to win championships.”
The Hollywood sign isn’t the only step toward commemorating Doncic’s Lakers debut. Every fan who attends Monday’s game at Crypto.com Arena will receive a Doncic team shirt.
ESPN will televise Monday’s game at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Related: Luka Doncic Announces $500,000 Donation After Trade To Lakers