By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic’s debut with the Los Angeles Lakers combined with a 132-113 victory against the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Several celebrities hit the crypto.com Arena to watch the Slovenian sensation, including former teammate Dirk Nowitzki, a special advisor for the Dallas Mavericks.
“I will always be a Mav for life, but had to come to support my guy, 77, Luka Doncic, in his first game of his new chapter,” 46-year-old Nowitzki explained his attendance via a post on X.
Returning to action from a left calf strain, 25-year-old Doncic lasted 23 minutes, tallying 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
“The way they received me, everybody, teammates, front office, everybody here. I heard a lot of noise when I was introduced. So, I really appreciate it,” he described his first game as a Laker in a postgame interview with ESPN, “It was a special moment.”
“A great friend, a great mentor. So, it really means a lot he was able to show up here,” he added on the support by Nowitzki.
Another European option for head coach JJ Redick emerging from the blockbuster trade centered on Doncic, German Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery), is projected to remain sidelined for several more weeks.
Logging a sixth straight win, the Lakers improved to 32-19 in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, 3.5 games safe inside the top-six zone leading directly to the Playoffs. On Wednesday, the last team outing before the All-Star break, they visit the Jazz in Delta Center.
On the wrong end, Finnish Lauri Markkanen finished with 17 points, three rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist over 28 minutes. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not play.