Luka Dončić hits stepback 3-pointer for 1st points in Lakers debut.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Dončić scored 14 points in limited playing time during his debut with the Lakers on Monday night, joining their starting lineup alongside LeBron James and immediately getting into the flow during Los Angeles’ 132-113 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Dončić got multiple standing ovations from a Los Angeles crowd wearing thousands of gold T-shirts with his name and No. 77. He scored 11 points while the Lakers streaked out to a 25-point halftime lead, and he sat down for good with 3:07 left in the third quarter with the Lakers far ahead in their sixth consecutive victory.
The Slovenian superstar’s first bucket was a 3-pointer in the opening minutes on his second shot for the Lakers. Dončić added three rebounds and three assists — none prettier than a three-quarter-court strike to James for a layup late in the first half.
At guard. Number 77. From Slovenia. LUUUUUUUUKAAAA DONČIĆ pic.twitter.com/YxjdAvapjA
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 11, 2025
The game was Dončić’s first in nearly seven weeks since he strained his left calf on Christmas with the Mavericks, who shocked the sports world by trading their 25-year-old centerpiece and NBA scoring champion. The grateful Lakers gave up Anthony Davis and Max Christie.
After a full week to settle in and to return to full strength, Dončić joined James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes as starters for the streaking Lakers, who had won five straight and 11 of 13 even before adding a five-time All-NBA selection to their lineup.
Lakers coach JJ Redick, who played alongside Dončić for 13 games in 2021 with the Dallas Mavericks, was eager to see what the Slovenian superstar would do in his much-hyped debut with his new team.
“Excitement level is high,” Redick said. “I don’t think anything in our approach or game plan for Utah changes. It is always a challenge in-season to integrate, and we have to be able to give each other patience for that.”
Dončić didn’t disappoint: His first touch was an alley-oop assist to Hayes, and he hit his 3-pointer moments later. He was serenaded with “Luka! Luka!” chants at the first dead ball, and several times thereafter.
That crowd included Dirk Nowitzki, who overlapped with Dončić for one season in Dallas and served as his mentor. Dončić appeared to be the natural heir to the German Hall of Famer’s incredible run in Dallas — until current Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison decided otherwise.
Dončić played the first 6:56 before checking out alongside James — likely a coincidence due to Dončić’s minutes restriction while he returns to full strength. The Lakers are expected to have one of their superstars on the floor at nearly all times when Dončić is up to speed.
“Feel like it’s best right now to ease Luka back in to playing NBA action,” Redick said. “I think if it was up to Luka, he would probably play 48 minutes, but we’re thinking long-term and we want to be safe.”
Dončić returned with about eight minutes left in the first half, and he helped the Lakers on their way to a big lead with several key plays.
Everybody received a Dončić T-shirt to mark the occasion at the Lakers’ downtown arena — including LeBron James, who warmed up before the game in the gold No. 77 shirt.
James (ankle) was also listed as probable on the latest injury report. Dalton Knecht (personal), who returned to the Lakers after their trade for Hornets center Mark Williams was rescinded, has also been upgraded to probable for tonight’s game.
Dončić was followed by dozens of cameras as he warmed up for about 10 minutes before the game, and the Lakers’ arena played the Serbian music he favors for pregame workouts.
Dončić participated in a 5-on-5 “stay-ready” game with teammates and the Lakers’ coaching staff Wednesday, and Redick said Doncic has experienced no setbacks in his recovery from the calf injury.
L.A. had been playing excellent basketball even before they added Dončić, last season’s scoring champion and a five-time All-NBA selection. Los Angeles had won five straight and 11 of 13 after Reaves scored a career-high 45 points to lead the Lakers past Indiana 124-117 on Sunday without Dončić or James, who sat out to rest his sore ankle.
Dončić has watched three straight Lakers victories from their bench since arriving in Los Angeles a week ago. He saw Reaves’ decimation of the Pacers while sitting next to the 40-year-old James, a player often described by Doncic as his idol.
Dončić began Monday by donating $500,000 to fire recovery efforts in his new community, making an immediate impression with his pledge to help with the damage caused by the rampant wildfires that devastated parts of Southern California last month — including Pacific Palisades, where Redick’s home was lost.
A message from @luka7doncic to Los Angeles. 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/fhoa30nIjY
— Luka Dončić Foundation (@LD77Foundation) February 10, 2025
“It’s been so sad to see and learn more about the damage from the wildfires as I landed in LA,” Dončić wrote on his Luka Dončić Foundation’s social media channels. “I can’t believe it, and I feel for all the kids who lost their homes, schools and the places where they used to play with their friends. Today, my foundation is donating $500,000 to immediate recovery efforts. I am also committed to helping rebuild courts, playgrounds and fields that were destroyed, because every kid needs a safe place to play.
“To everyone affected by these fires: we’re here to help, now and for the long haul.”
Dončić signed his note: “Your new neighbor.”
Dončić’s initial donation is being made to the Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund. He also plans to donate “significant additional funding over the next two years” with a focus on rebuilding children’s play spaces, according to a spokesperson.
