A No.77 Luka Doncic jersey has become one of the most wanted in the entire NBA. 

The Dallas Mavericks guard, who was drafted in 2018, is already a five-time All-Star and led his team to the NBA Finals last season.

Doncic is one of the best players in the NBAAP

Doncic almost averaged a triple-double in the 23/24 campaign and took the Mavs to within touching distance of a title.

But despite not getting his hands on a trophy, another incredible year saw his popularity continue to rise.

And his No.77 jersey was the sixth-most sold in the NBA. But why does he wear the unique digits? talkSPORT.com takes a look…

Why does Doncic wear number 77? 

Doncic wears the number 77 in honour of one of his idols. 

He revealed in 2023 that he looks up to Greek basketball star Vassilis Spanoulis. 

Spanoulis had an illustrious career in the European game and spent a season in the NBA with the Houston Rockets in 2006/07.

The 42-year-old is now a coach in Greece but when he was playing, he wore the number seven.

So when Doncic was playing for Real Madrid in Spain, he opted for the same number. 

However, after being drafted by the Mavericks, No.7 was already taken by Dwight Powell, meaning he chose 77 instead to still show his respect for Spanoulis. 

Explaining his number to EuroHoops, Doncic said: “He was really big time for my career.

Doncic wore No.7 at Real Madrid before taking 77 in DallasGetty

“Spanoulis was my idol since I was little.

“I was watching him. It was kind of sad seeing him retiring. That’s why I wear number seven.

“I mean, I couldn’t wear number seven, cause it was already taken, so I took 77. 

“He was really, really big time for me.”

Doncic also wears the number 77 on the international stage for Slovenia. 

It has become a staple of his incredible NBA career so far and his jersey is likely to become one of the most iconic in Mavs history. 

Especially if he can go one step further than last season and win them their first ring since 2011!