Los Angeles Embraces Luka Doncic, Lakers Cruise To Victory In His Debut

Barely a week after the massively controversial trade that took star Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers, Doncic returned from a strained calf muscle that sidelined him for over a month to play his first game in Los Angeles as a Laker. Part of the team’s statement? Every one of the seats inside Crypto.com Arena was draped with a brand new Lakers Luka Doncic jersey shirt, emblazoned with his classic #77 and bright yellow.

“He came out … and obviously the place went crazy,” said teammate Austin Reaves. “It was awesome. I thought the energy from that point forward was great. His introduction in the starting lineup was one of the loudest I’ve heard since I’ve been here.”

Doncic’s introduction to Los Angeles comes amid a period of acclimation where he has seemed eager to embrace his new city – including his Foundation contributing $500,000 to wildfire relief efforts. Former Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki also attended the game, making a powerful statement of loyalty and support to the star who had been his presumptive torchbearer.

The Lakers went on to win the game 132-113, as Doncic posted 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes. He played 19 minutes with LeBron James, which the Lakers won by a net 17 points.

It wasn’t a statement game for Doncic, who went 5-for-14 from the field and 1-for-7 from three, but he was able to generate chemistry from his new teammates, albeit restricted by a cap on his minutes.

“Since I came here, I just wanted to play with them,” said Doncic following the game. “Every game I saw, they played amazing, very connected, and for me, it was just I want to be there with them.”

His introduction should lighten the load on James and Reaves, leaving them free to contribute more defensively and down the stretch. Lakers coach J.J. Redick was pleased with the effort, commenting postgame that he had thought of the game as a “no agenda game, beyond winning a basketball game and playing the right way.”

The stunning trade seems to have done its job in revitalizing the team. Now, the grind of the season begins anew.

“It’s a new team. New everything,” Doncic said. “But the way they helped me, teammates… it was just a lot of support for me. You could see when I came to the arena, I saw all the Luka jerseys. It was just a surreal feeling.”