LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic scored 14 factors in restricted taking part in time throughout his debut with the Lakers on Monday night time, becoming a member of their beginning lineup alongside LeBron James and instantly moving into the stream throughout Los Angeles’ 132-113 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Doncic received a number of standing ovations from a Los Angeles crowd sporting 1000’s of gold T-shirts together with his identify and No. 77 — together with James, who warmed up earlier than the sport in the identical shirt that was distributed to followers.
“I did not play in a very long time … all of the Luka jerseys, it was only a surreal feeling,” Doncic mentioned.
He scored 11 factors whereas the Lakers streaked out to a 25-point halftime lead, and he sat down for good with 3:07 left within the third quarter with the Lakers far forward of their sixth consecutive victory.
The Slovenian celebrity’s first bucket was a 3-pointer within the opening minutes on his second shot for the Lakers. Doncic completed with 5 rebounds and 4 assists — none prettier than a three-quarter-court strike to James for a layup late within the first half.
The sport was Doncic’s first in practically seven weeks since he strained his left calf on Christmas with the Dallas Mavericks, who shocked the sports activities world by buying and selling their 25-year-old centerpiece and NBA scoring champion.
After a full week to settle in and to return to full power, Doncic joined James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes as starters for the streaking Lakers, who had received 11 of 13 even earlier than including a five-time All-NBA choice to their lineup.
Doncic performed solely 24 minutes because the Lakers deliver him again intentionally from his harm. His legs aren’t fairly there but — he went 1 for 7 on 3-point makes an attempt in his debut — however his playmaking instantly meshed together with his new teammates.
“I believe he dealt with it properly,” mentioned Lakers coach JJ Redick, who performed alongside Doncic for 13 video games in 2021 with the Mavericks. “Figuring out Luka, there was most likely just a little little bit of nerves taking part in for the Lakers for the primary time … I assumed he is dealt with it very well and he performed very well tonight.”
Redick was amongst many in Los Angeles desperate to see what Doncic would do in his much-hyped debut together with his new crew. Doncic did not disappoint: His first contact was an alley-oop help to Hayes, and he hit his 3-pointer moments later. He was serenaded with “Luka! Luka!” chants on the first lifeless ball, and several other occasions thereafter.
That crowd included Dirk Nowitzki, who overlapped with Doncic for one season in Dallas and served as his mentor. Doncic seemed to be the pure inheritor to the German Corridor of Famer’s unbelievable run in Dallas — till present Mavericks normal supervisor Nico Harrison determined in any other case.
“For him to point out up, nice pal, nice mentor … I actually, actually admire it,” Doncic mentioned of Nowitzki.
Doncic performed the primary 6:56 earlier than trying out alongside James — doubtless a coincidence attributable to Doncic’s minutes restriction whereas he returns to full power. The Lakers are anticipated to have certainly one of their superstars on the ground at practically all occasions when Doncic is in control.
“Really feel prefer it’s finest proper now to ease Luka again in to taking part in NBA motion,” Redick mentioned earlier than the sport. “I believe if it was as much as Luka, he would most likely play 48 minutes, however we’re considering long-term and we wish to be secure.”
Doncic returned with about eight minutes left within the first half, and he helped the Lakers on their option to a giant lead with a number of key performs.
Doncic was adopted by dozens of cameras as he warmed up for about 10 minutes earlier than the sport, and the Lakers’ enviornment performed the Serbian music he favors for pregame exercises. The Lakers launched him final earlier than the sport, giving him the spot usually reserved for James, which led to a different standing ovation.
Doncic mentioned James texted him concerning the participant introductions Monday morning and provided to do no matter order Doncic wished. Doncic mentioned he appreciated the gesture to let him go final and that it will return to James shifting ahead.
“He let me have my second,” Doncic mentioned of James, who returned from a one-game harm absence Monday when the Lakers started a home-and-home set with the Jazz heading into the All-Star break.
Doncic has watched three straight Lakers victories from their bench since arriving in Los Angeles per week in the past. He started Monday by donating $500,000 to fireplace restoration efforts in his new neighborhood, making a direct impression together with his pledge to assist with the injury attributable to the rampant wildfires that devastated elements of Southern California final month — together with Pacific Palisades, the place Redick’s house was misplaced.
“It has been so unhappy to see and study extra concerning the injury from the wildfires as I landed in LA,” Doncic wrote on his Luka Doncic Basis’s social media channels. “I can not consider it, and I really feel for all the children who misplaced their properties, faculties and the locations the place they used to play with their mates. At the moment, my basis is donating $500,000 to speedy restoration efforts. I’m additionally dedicated to serving to rebuild courts, playgrounds and fields that have been destroyed, as a result of each child wants a secure place to play.
“To everybody affected by these fires: we’re right here to assist, now and for the lengthy haul.”
Doncic signed his observe: “Your new neighbor.”
Doncic’s preliminary donation is being made to the Group Basis Wildfire Restoration Fund. He additionally plans to donate “important extra funding over the following two years” with a give attention to rebuilding kids’s play areas, in accordance with a spokesperson.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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