Luka Doncic put his best foot forward in his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers, leading his new team to a dominant win against the Utah Jazz. The 25-year-old, who was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks earlier this month in a blockbuster trade, had missed time because of a calf injury since December. Doncic registered 14 points in just 24 minutes on the court, leaving fans wanting to see more.
Looking back on his debut, Doncic was happy about the reception. “The crowd cheering for me being introduced was special. I got a little nervous, but walking out on the court felt amazing,” he said.
One sequence, in particular, highlighted that possibility, as Doncic threw a full-court bullet to LeBron James. He lauded LeBron’s basketball IQ when he said,
“His IQ is insane. He has a different perspective on the game, and to have two of those guys out there is going to be big for our team.”
Doncic’s arrival strengthens a Lakers team that is looking to challenge for the title. With LeBron (40) still doing LeBron things and Doncic’s transcendent skill set, the Lakers are in a prime position to make a playoff run. As the season unfolds, fans will be excited to see this new pairing work together.