Luka Doncic makes his feelings known on Kyrie Irving earning 9th NBA All-Star nod, with 4-word reaction

The LA Lakers' new superstar Luka Doncic shared his thoughts toward former teammate Kyrie Irving receiving NBA All-Star call-up on Monday. Irving will replace his new teammate, Anthony Davis, who suffered a groin injury during his Mavericks debut, ruling him out of the All-Star game.

Luka Doncic enjoyed an eye-catching debut with the Lakers, scoring 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in a 132-113 win against the Utah Jazz. Doncic took to Instagram to share his appreciation for Irving.

"Well deserved mi hermano!" Doncic wrote, along with a heart emoji, tagging Irving.

Luka Doncic on Kyrie Irving earns his 9th All-Star nod (Doncic/IG)

Doncic's relationship with the Mavericks ended far from amicably. What began as a promising partnership soured, leading the team to trade him to the LA Lakers in a move that stunned the NBA world.

The onus is on Irving even more to keep the team fighting on all fronts. At 32, he's still one of the most impactful players in the league. His All-Star selection will only further boost his already stellar season.

Irving has played 42 games this season, averaging 24.1 points per game and 4.8 assists per game. This will be his ninth All-Star appearance. He will play on "Team Shaq," managed by Shaquille O'Neal.

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Kyrie Irving makes honest admission about keeping in touch with Luka Doncic

A lot has happened with the Mavericks both on and off the court recently. But Kyrie Irving has always made it clear that basketball isn't just about what happens on the court; it's about what happens off of it as well.

On Tuesday, Irving spoke warmly about the connection he shares with Luka Doncic.

"We texted back and forth," he told the media after the Mavs vs. Kings game.

“I just let him know that regardless of how this NBA business shakes out, this is always bigger than that. We're loyal to each other, our families. We had a lot of sacred conversations that went beyond the court."

Irving also added that both had a shared mission since he joined the Mavs in the 2023 trade, which is now cut short.

"I said my mission early on when I traded here, things to accomplish here. I feel like we got that gone. Unfortunately, it was cut short. We'll see each other after the All-Star break," he said.

As colleagues, the two took the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last year, and for Irving, he will always have a special bond with Doncic that extends beyond the court.

The two will meet again very soon, on Feb. 25, when the Mavericks host Doncic, now in Lakers colors, for the first time since the blockbuster trade.