When Alan Cutler asked Mark Pope about West Virginia transfer Kerr Kriisa‘s addition out of the portal on ESPN Sports Radio 1300AM/92.5FM, the Kentucky head coach couldn’t help but laugh.

Not just a giggle or a chuckle, either. A strong belly laugh with six or seven ha-has like a grandpa getting to the punchline of a generations-old joke. It was the Santa Claus equivalent of a chesty ho ho ho.

“All I can say is, Big Blue Nation, you are welcome. Enjoy,” Pope said.

You see, Kriisa was a bit of a polarizing signing in the basketball world. He’s turnover prone and erratic at times, maybe a bit of a defensive liability. And he’s become somewhat of a villain at the collegiate level, the ultimate trash talker who isn’t afraid to call it how it is. But he wins and hits big shots, flashy and fiery with a knack for creating and making plays.

The 6-3 guard out of Estonia is the player you hate playing against, but love having on your own team. And fortunately for Kentucky, he’ll be wearing blue and white next season.

Take, well, now for instance. Kriisa is on campus for an official visit, driving down for the weekend to celebrate his commitment with the coaching staff. It’s an opportunity for the two sides to get to know each other more personally beyond phone calls and Zoom meetings, get the lay of the land around Lexington, the whole nine yards.

Part of the ongoing experience includes a photoshoot throwing on a Kentucky jersey for the first time where he told staffers he planned to wear No. 77 as a Wildcat this upcoming season. It’s a number that’s only been worn by 18 players in the history of the NBA and twice in Lexington — Bill Spivey and Harold Hurst both sported it in the 1950s.

Today, though, NBA superstar Luka Doncic is the king of the No. 77, the one who made that number cool.

Well, so he thinks. Kriisa, who once said “it’s pretty easy to get into his head” after guarding Doncic in the 2022 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, believes the five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA First Team member stole the number from him.

“We did a photoshoot and we gave him a jersey, and in this conversation, he said he was gonna be No. 77. My GA actually made the comment, said, ‘Oh, you’re a huge Luka Doncic fan?’ And he was like, ‘No! I had this number way before Luka started wearing it! He took it from me!’” Pope said of Kriisa. “Honest to goodness, that just happened not too long ago, with no hesitation. ‘No, Luka took my number, man. What are you talking about?’”

We have no proof to argue against his claim, therefore we are going to run with it as fact and say Luka Doncic did, in fact, steal the number from Kriisa. He’s taking it upon himself to take it right back and wear it with dignity with Kentucky across his chest.

It suits him better, anyway.

“I love this kid,” Pope said.