Before the Los Angeles Lakers even stepped onto the court Monday night, the energy inside Crypto.com Arena was electric. Fans had waited more than a week to see Luka Dončić make his highly anticipated debut in the purple and gold. The 25-year-old phenom had been sidelined since Christmas Day due to a calf strain, but now, the moment had finally arrived. And no one was more ready for it than LeBron James.
"Luka, be your f---ing self," James told Dončić in the pregame huddle, his words caught on ESPN's broadcast. "Don't fit in, fit the f--- out. Be yourself."
For Dončić, that moment was surreal.
"For him to say something like that just feels amazing," Dončić said after the game, still soaking it all in. "It gives me confidence. And after that speech, it was chills. I was just happy to be a part of it."
The crowd of 18,997 fans—each finding a gold No. 77 T-shirt draped over their seats—roared as Dončić emerged for warmups. Serbian music, his personal favorite, blasted from the arena speakers as he fired off deep three-pointers, each shot met with eager phone screens capturing every move. It was clear: this was no ordinary night in Los Angeles.
Even his former Dallas Mavericks teammate, Dirk Nowitzki, made the trip to witness the spectacle, sitting alongside Dončić's father, Saša, in the stands. The love and support were everywhere.
"He came out ... and obviously the place went crazy," Lakers guard Austin Reaves said. "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."
James, always the leader, made sure his new teammate felt at home. Earlier that day, he had texted Dončić, letting him know he was there for whatever he needed. And in a true passing-the-torch moment, James—who is usually introduced last—let Dončić have that honor.
"He let me have my moment, so I really appreciate it," Dončić said. "I mean, today, he lent me this one. But from now on, he'll be the last."
When the game tipped off, Dončić wasted no time making an impact. Less than a minute in, he found center Jaxson Hayes for an alley-oop dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Seven weeks away from the game hadn't dulled his instincts one bit.
"I was a little bit nervous before," Dončić admitted. "I don't remember the last time I was nervous before the game. But once I stepped on the court, it was fun. And just being out there again felt amazing."
Sure, the rust was there—he shot just 5-for-14 from the field, including 1-for-7 from deep—but it didn’t matter. What stood out was his instant chemistry with his new teammates. The Lakers were clicking.
By halftime, the Lakers had built a commanding 22-point lead, punctuated by a beautiful half-court outlet pass from Dončić to James, who finished the play with an easy layup. The new big three—James, Dončić, and Reaves—were already showing flashes of greatness.
"I thought our three main guys did a nice job of playing off of each other," Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. "Sometimes you can have agendas in a game. I felt like this for our group was a no-agenda game beyond winning a basketball game and playing the right way."
Reaves certainly did his part, putting up 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. James, ever the dominant force, led all scorers with 24 points, adding 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and—perhaps the only blemish—7 turnovers. His night ended early in the fourth quarter after a collision in the lane, but he assured reporters he’d see them in Salt Lake City for the Lakers' next game against the Jazz.
Redick confirmed both Dončić and James are expected to suit up for that game, the Lakers’ last before the All-Star break. If this was any indication of what’s to come, Lakers fans are in for something special.
This wasn’t just about Dončić’s debut—it was about momentum. The Lakers had won 12 of their last 14 games, surging to fourth place in the Western Conference, leapfrogging the Houston Rockets. And Dončić, who had watched from the sidelines as the Lakers beat the Clippers, Warriors, and Pacers, was itching to contribute.
"Since I came here, I just wanted to play with them," Dončić said. "Every game I saw, they played amazing, very connected, and for me, it was just—I want to be there with them."
As he made his way from the tunnel to the locker room, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka was waiting. This was the man who orchestrated the blockbuster trade with Dallas, bringing Dončić to L.A. in the first place. He embraced his newest superstar, sealing the start of what could be a legendary chapter in Lakers history.
"It's a new team. New everything," Dončić reflected. "But the way they helped me—teammates, Rob, Jeanie [Buss, Lakers owner]—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."
And surreal is the perfect word. From James' heartfelt welcome to the roaring crowd, to the highlight-reel passes and sheer energy in the building, it was a night to remember. The Lakers didn’t just add a star—they added a new spark. And with Dončić in the mix, the road ahead just got a whole lot more exciting.
Login