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CITY OF STARS — If you told someone a couple of years ago that Puka Nacua and Luka Doncic would be the faces of the Los Angeles sports scene in 2025, they might tell you to seek help.
That is exactly the world we find ourselves in, however, as Monday night's debut of NBA superstar Luka Doncic in a Lakers uniform ended with the 25-year-old Slovenian exchanging jerseys with fellow mononymous sports icon — just one letter removed — Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams.
LUKA x PUKA
— NBA (@NBA) February 11, 2025
The new Lakers star meets the Rams star WR! pic.twitter.com/K0sCEI2YqG
Doncic's new teammate, LeBron James, might have manifested this collision of worlds when first minting the nickname "Puka Doncic" during the 23-year-old BYU alum's historic rookie NFL campaign in 2023.
Nacua — a lifelong Lakers fan — got to meet James, as well, after Monday's win over the Utah Jazz and posted on Instagram that he "couldn't stop smiling" after the interaction.
The Jazz get a rematch against the Lakers on Wednesday evening at the Delta Center. Will Nacua be in attendance for Round 2 in his home state?
