Los Angeles Lakers fans enthusiastically welcomed Luka Dončić to the team in his debut at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night. Dončić joined the starting lineup alongside LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxon Hayes, but was limited by a minute restriction due to a calf injury.
Despite this, fans were thrilled to see the Slovenian guard play, with chants of his name echoing through the arena whenever he touched the ball. Dončić’s impressive playmaking ability brought the crowd to their feet on multiple occasions.
In his first game back after missing several weeks with a calf injury, Dončić recorded an assist in the first minute and scored his first points just three minutes into the game. Although his shots weren’t as precise as usual, he showed promise in his return to action.
The Lakers’ victory over the Utah Jazz marked a promising start for the new addition, who received a warm welcome from fans dressed in his jersey with number 77. Coach JJ Redick is confident in the team’s current center rotation, but may explore buyout options.
Notable injuries saw LeBron James exit the game during the fourth quarter due to pain in his midsection. Despite this, the Lakers’ dominant performance secured a 132-113 win against the Jazz.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/lakers/2025/02/11/luka-doncic-los-angeles-debut-takeaways/78401587007