Dallas native and Prestonwood Christian Academy product Julius Randle says his first memory of attending an NBA game at American Airlines Center was when Steve Nash still was a Maverick.
Nash left Dallas after the 2003-2004 season, when Randle was 9. Dirk Nowitzki made his Mavericks debut on Feb. 5, 1999, Randle was 4, but Randle says his most vivid early memories of watching Nowitzki play in person came at the age of 10 or 11.
Tonight, Lakers starting power forward Randle, 22, will at times find himself guarding Nowitzki, 38. Asked after Tuesday's Lakers shootaround at AAC if it feels strange to guard Nowitzki, Randle said, "The first time it did, but not anymore.