Luka Doncic is in an ecstatic mood following his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers in their 132-113 win over the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena, Afrosport reports.
Doncic wore the purple and gold colours of the Lakers for the first time Monday night since the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Slovenian scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half having started for Los Angeles, his first game since Christmas Day with the Mavericks.
“I didn’t play in a long time first of all,” Doncic remarked on his Lakers debut. “It’s a new team, new everything.
“But like the way they helped me, teammates, Rob [Pelinka], Jeanie [Buss]. It was just a lot of support for me. You could see… When I came to the arena, I could see all the Luka jerseys. It was just a surreal feeling.”
The five-time All-Star received an ovation befitting one of the league’s best players as the sold-out crowd of 18,997 people inside the Crypto.com Arena was handed gold T-shirts with his name and No. 77 behind it.
“Special the way they received me, everybody,” Doncic said on his reception from the fans. “It was amazing to see.
“I was a little nervous before. I don’t remember the last time I was nervous before a game. But once I stepped on the court, it was fun. And just being out there again felt amazing. ”
Fans have waited week-long for the 25-year-old to finally team up with LeBron James, and the two stars did not disappoint, with the latter seen propping the younger Doncic up while in the pre-game huddle.
“I mean, special. He sees the game in a different way than a lot of people, and his IQ is insane,” Doncic said on playing alongside James. “And just, you know, to have two guys like that on court, I think it’s going to help the whole team out.”
James, however, was not Doncic’s only hero in attendance on Monday night, as former Mavericks forward and Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki made the trip to see his former teammate.
The pair played together in Dallas as Nowitzki’s final NBA season coincided with Doncic’s rookie campaign.
“A lot, man. Just for him to show up,” said Doncic on having Nowitzki in the Arena. “Great friend, always looked up to him, great mentor.
“So for him to show up, you know, fly all the way from Dallas was amazing, and I really, really appreciate it.”
With his debut now out of the way, Doncic, who shot 5-for-14, including 1-for-7 from beyond the arc, will be in action on Wednesday night when the Lakers take on the Jazz in Utah in the final game of their back-to-back.
