Luka Dončić's influence has led Sergio De Larrea to join the Dallas Mavericks. On June 30, the Mavericks used the No. 30 pick in the NBA Draft to trade up five spots and acquire De Larrea's rights.
What happened?
De Larrea mentioned that he had been a Mavericks supporter before his professional career started to take off, thanks to watching Luka Dončić play.
De Larrea said that Dončić was his idol in his younger era, and he was a fan of the Mavericks because of him.
Why it matters for Luka Dončić
Dončić's time with the Mavericks came to an end in February 2025, when he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, but his legacy lives on through fans like De Larrea.
The 20-year-old De Larrea signed a four-year contract with the Mavericks on July 5 and will get plenty of opportunity over the next two weeks with Dallas' summer-league squad.
What comes next?
De Larrea averaged 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last season with Valencia, which won the Liga ACB championship in June.
He will contend for backup minutes at guard later this fall, and his NBA journey is just beginning.
De Larrea had never visited the United States before arriving in Dallas last week and is excited to explore the city and play for the Mavericks.
He plans to watch Spain play Portugal in a FIFA World Cup Round of 16 matchup at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and is looking forward to his new life in the NBA.