Dončić makes Lakers debut
Slovenian basketball superstar Luka Dončić made his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers to standing ovations, scoring 14 points in 23 and a half minutes on the floor during his new team's 132-113 wire-to-wire victory over the Utah Jazz, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
To celebrate the Slovenian point guard's home debut following his shock trade by the Dallas Mavericks, all spectators at the Crypto.com Arena received gold T-shirts with his name and No. 77.
Even multiple NBA champion LeBron James wore the T-shirt during warm-ups, urging Dončić to play his game and not to worry about fitting in with the Lakers.
Dončić described his debut in the Lakers jersey as a "special moment". "The way they received me, everybody, teammates, front office, everybody here. I heard a lot of noise when I was introduced, so I really appreciate it."
"I was a little bit nervous before the game but once I stepped on to the court it was fun. Just being out there again felt amazing," the 25-year-old Slovenian said after his first game in almost seven weeks since he strained his left calf on Christmas with the Dallas Mavericks.
He was cheered on from the stands by his fiancée, daughter and father, as well as Dirk Nowitzki, the former Dallas Mavericks star and his first mentor at his former club.
"I will always be a Mav for life, but had to come support my guy 77 Luka Dončić in the first game of his new chapter," Nowitzki wrote in a post on X.
"For him to show up, great friend, great mentor ... I really, really appreciate it," Dončić said of Nowitzki.
Alongside Dončić and James, the Lakers' first line included Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes. Right from the start, the Ljubljana native had an assist on Hayes' alley-oop dunk and scored his first points in his new jersey after his trademark step-back three for a 14:10 lead.
By halftime, which the Lakers won 72:47, the Slovenian scored 11 points on a slightly worse shot, but the home team controlled the situation and won 132:113.
In 23:33 minutes on the floor, Dončić scored 14 points, five rebounds and four assists with one turnover. He hit five of 14 shots from the field, including only one of seven three-pointers. He hit all three free throws.
James was the Lakers' top scorer with 24 points (10/17 from the field) and eight assists in 29 minutes. Reaves finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Hachimura had 21 points.
It was the Lakers' sixth consecutive win and 10th in their last 11 games, and 32nd overall this season, which puts them in fourth place in the West with 19 losses.
"We can be very dangerous," Dončić said. "I think the ball was moving very well on the offensive end."
"I thought he's handled it really well and he played really well tonight," Lakers coach JJ Redick commented on Dončić's debut on the team.
Even before the game Dončić made a good impression on LA by donating $500,000 (€485,000) to wildfire relief efforts through his foundation.
