Luka Don
ić Shines Alongside LeBron James in Debut as Lakers Rout Jazz 132-113
A Star is Born
Luka Don
ić 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.
A Standing Ovation
Don
ić 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.
A First Impression
The Slovenian superstar’s first bucket was a 3-pointer in the opening minutes on his second shot for the Lakers. Don
ić finished with five rebounds and four assists — none prettier than a three-quarter-court strike to James for a layup late in the first half.
A New Chapter
The game was Don
ić’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.
A Smooth Transition
After a full week to settle in and to return to full strength, Don
ić joined James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes as starters for the streaking Lakers, who had won 11 of 13 even before adding a five-time All-NBA selection to their lineup.
Coach’s Perspective
Coach JJ Redick, who played alongside Don
ić for 13 games in 2021 with the Dallas Mavericks, was eager to see what Don
ić would do in his much-hyped debut with his new team.
A Patient Approach
“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.”
Don
ić’s Debut
Don
ić 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.
A Special Moment
That crowd included Dirk Nowitzki, who overlapped with Don
ić for one season in Dallas and served as his mentor. Don
ić 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.
Conclusion
Don
ić’s debut was a successful one, as he quickly meshed with his new teammates and showed flashes of his incredible talent. The Lakers will continue to ease him back into action, but it’s clear that he’s already making an impact on the team.
FAQs
Q: How many points did Luka Don
ić score in his debut with the Lakers?
A: 14 points
Q: How many rebounds and assists did Don
ić finish with?
A: 5 rebounds and 4 assists
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: Lakers 132, Jazz 113
Q: How many consecutive victories has the Lakers won?
A: 6
