Luka Dončić called his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers "a special moment" after helping his new team secure a 132-113 victory over the Utah Jazz.
The five-time NBA All-Star made his first appearance for the Lakers after a stunning trade that saw him leave the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis. Dončić had been recovering from a calf injury, but he came out strong, scoring an early three-pointer that earned loud cheers from the home crowd. He finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists in just 24 minutes of play.
Despite his early success, Dončić left the court briefly in the first quarter for treatment on his left calf. He returned to finish the game but exited again late in the third quarter with the Lakers holding a commanding 93-69 lead.
"I heard a lot of noise when I was introduced - it was a special moment," Dončić said after the game. "The way they received me, it was amazing to see. 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."
LeBron James, the Lakers star, played well alongside Dončić, scoring a game-high 24 points and contributing eight assists and seven rebounds. With this win, the Lakers are now fourth in the Western Conference, while the Jazz remain near the bottom, ranked 14th.
In other NBA action, Nikola Jokić led the Denver Nuggets to a dominant 146-117 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, finishing with 40 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.
Despite Anthony Edwards’ impressive 44-point performance, the Minnesota Timberwolves fell short against the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing 128-107. The Cavaliers currently sit atop the Eastern Conference.
Stephen Curry delivered a season-high 38 points for the Golden State Warriors, guiding them to a 125-111 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Curry made six three-pointers, while Jimmy Butler, who was playing in his second game with the Warriors after a trade from the Miami Heat, added 20 points.
Luka Doncic - Los Angeles Lakers
Instagram: @lukadoncic
Nicknames: The Matador, El Matador, Cool Hand, The Don, Wonder Boy, El Niño Maravilla, Swaggy L, Luka Legend, Too Easy, Luka Magic
Position: Point Guard & Shooting Guard
Height/Weight: 6-6, 230 lbs (198 cm, 104 kg)
Shoots: Right
Current Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Born: February 28, 1999 (Age: 25) in Ljubljana, Slovenia
NBA Draft: 2018, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall) by the Atlanta Hawks
NBA Debut: October 17, 2018
Experience: 6 years
Luka Dončić is widely regarded as one of the brightest stars in basketball, having made a seamless
The next Lakers game is away to Utah Jazz on Wednesday Feb 12 6:00 PM PST. To view the full Lakers schedule, check out the official NBA Lakers schedule here.
