Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story said the jersey Luka Dončić gave to Puka Nacua was game-worn from his Lakers debut. A team spokesperson later told cllct the jersey was not worn during Dončić's first game with the franchise Monday night.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has a new collectible to frame, and it's one every Lakers fan would love to own.
Puka, Dončić pic.twitter.com/4eZiaxKv73
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 11, 2025
After making his debut with the Lakers on Monday night, Luka Dončić gifted a newly minted No. 77 Lakers jersey to Nacua in return for one of the receiver's jerseys. Dončić also gave Nacua a new pair of the Jordan Luka 3s.
The jersey was not the one Dončić wore during his first game with team following the shocking Feb. 1 trade that sent the five-time All-NBA forward to Los Angeles in a package that included Anthony Davis, a Lakers spokesperson confirmed to cllct.
How much would the jersey from Dončić's L.A. debut be worth?
Well, Dončić is one of the most expensive active players to collect in all of sports. His most valuable cards have cleared the $1 million mark on multiple occasions, and his key rookie jerseys have sold for nearly six figures.
His NBA debut jersey sold prior to the game-worn boom for less than $40,000 in 2018. Considering Victor Wembanyama’s NBA debut jersey — one of at least two he wore during the game — sold for more than $760,000 in 2023, it’s safe to say Dončić's NBA debut jersey would now be approaching $1 million or more today.
Throw in the Lakers pedigree, high-profile nature of the trade and its potential to be the L.A. debut jersey of a possible legend, and it's understandable why Dončić would want to hold onto that valuable piece of game-worn history.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.