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LOS ANGELES – Soon after the buzzer sounded on the Los Angeles Lakers' 114-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday at the Staples Center, Luka Doncic headed towards the Lakers locker room.
Soic, the Mavericks' 19-year-old rookie sensation from Slovenia who was drafted No. 3 overall this summer, patiently waited in the hallway for a few days LeBron James.
Soic beamed a wide smile with James' game-worn jersey, following his 14-point, seven-badist, five-rebound performance.
"I always wanted his jersey," Doncic said afterward, with James' jersey sitting in his locker. "It was something special to me."
It was also their first matchup against each other. So said they arranged the exchange during the game. James wrote on the jersey, in part, "Strive For Greatness."
Speaking of his first matchup with his idol James, Doncic said, "It's very special, I was waiting for this game, and it was very special to me."
James finished with 29 points, six badists, five rebounds, three steals and hit the game-winning free throw with 2.1 seconds left. Doncic had 14 points, seven badists and five rebounds.
James said that he is not surprised that he has been able to do so in the NBA at such a young age.
"I think European players are developing faster than NBA guys, meaning American players," said James. "I think he's been in a pro development stage now for how many years? Since he's 15? So I do not think this is intimidating to him.
"I think that's the best thing about European basketball, pro basketball over there.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.
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