Feb. 4, Los Angeles: A ‘shell-shocked’ superstar and a dream realized
When Luka Dončić received the call that he was being traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers, it was the start of a whirlwind 72 hours that would see him transition from a Dallas star to a key player in the Lakers’ lineup. The trade was a shock to many, including Dončić himself, who was described as “shell-shocked” by the news. The Lakers, recognizing the emotional impact of the trade, opted for a low-key introductory news conference. Instead of the usual fanfare, Dončić and Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations and general manager, Rob Pelinka, sat on barstools, fielding questions from reporters.
Dončić’s first game with the Lakers was against the LA Clippers, and it was a game day when he was introduced. The Lakers were already in game mode, and Dončić was asked about teaming up with LeBron James, a player he had admired since his rookie season. “It’s just like a dream come true,” Dončić said with a smile. “I always look up to him. There’s so many things I could learn from him. And I’m just excited, just to learn everything and now I get to play with him. So it’s an amazing feeling.”
Despite the excitement surrounding his move to L.A., the fact that Dallas moved on from Dončić was perplexing to many. When asked about the Mavericks’ decision, Dončić chose to take the high road, saying, “I would say I always take the high road.” He also dismissed the theory that he did not plan to sign a supermax extension with the Mavericks, stating, “Absolutely not. Easy answer.”
That night, as the Lakers faced the Clippers, LeBron James let his game do the talking, scoring 26 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals, leading the Lakers to a victory. Seated next to James at the end of the bench was Dončić, who was taking it all in. “Luka’s been my favorite player in the NBA for a while now,” James said after the game. “I’ve always just tried to play the game the right way and inspire the next generation. And Luka happens to be one of them. And now we’re teammates. So it’ll be a very seamless transition.”
Feb. 10, Los Angeles: The first game of the Luka-LeBron era
More than an hour before Dončić arrived at Crypto.com Arena for his first game with the Lakers, LeBron James was already there, wearing one of the gold No. 77 T-shirts placed on every seat in the arena to mark the occasion. The lower bowl was empty, except for James, a few NBA photographers, and some support staff members. James’ longtime friend and right-hand man, Randy Mims, explained that James has incorporated early reps to maintain an edge in his 22nd season. “We’re watching them put the floor together,” Mims said of the arena workers they sometimes meet during these prep sessions.
The game against the Utah Jazz was a blowout, with the Lakers scoring 72 points in the first half. Dončić, though rusty, managed to make an impact, hitting James with a missile of an outlet pass that led to an easy score. Despite going 5-for-14 from the field, Dončić’s presence was felt, especially when he scored an and-one layup in the third quarter. James celebrated the sequence with Dončić, high-fiving him and tapping him on the behind.
Before the game, James had texted Dončić, offering him the honor of being announced last in the starting lineup. In the pregame huddle, James encouraged Dončić to be himself, saying, “Luka, be your f—ing self. Don’t fit in, fit the f— out.” Dončić later said, “After that speech, it was chills. I was just happy to be a part of it.”
Feb. 12, Salt Lake City: One play, even in a loss, shows tantalizing potential
With the All-Star break approaching, both James and Dončić considered sitting out the game against the Utah Jazz to rest and rehab injuries. However, they decided to play, showing their commitment to each other and the team. The Lakers lost 131-119, but James pointed to a sequence in the third quarter that made playing worthwhile. Dončić set a screen for Austin Reaves, causing a switch that allowed him to back down Jordan Clarkson and whip a pass to James for a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer.
“I’ve worked on my outside shot and my catch-and-shoot game for quite a while now to be able to sync up with someone like Luka,” James told ESPN. On the next possession, Dončić delivered a no-look, behind-the-back pass to Reaves, who knocked down a wide-open 3-pointer. “That’s a beautiful thing,” James said. “And for our guys to have two guys that are like Luka and myself always trying to find guys and pinpoint guys, I think it’s going to be beneficial for us.”
Feb. 13-18, All-Star break: A ‘beast’ awakened and an early review from KD
During the All-Star break, Dončić took the opportunity to get away to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to clear his mind. However, he didn’t completely disconnect from basketball. Lakers assistant coach Scott Brooks joined him in Cabo, and they worked out on a private outdoor court for two hours a day. Dončić also lifted weights at his hotel gym.
Despite not publicly commenting on the Mavericks’ disparaging remarks about his weight and conditioning, a source close to Dončić said the comments served as motivation. “A beast was awakened inside him,” the source said.
Back at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco, the James-Dončić partnership was a hot topic of conversation. Kevin Durant praised James’ ability to welcome new teammates, saying, “He don’t got to feel like he don’t have to do too much to make guys comfortable. He just plays his game. He fits in with anybody.”
Feb. 19, Charlotte: ‘Obviously, I’m going to need some time’
The Lakers’ first game after the All-Star break was against the Charlotte Hornets, a makeup game due to a previous postponement. The Hornets won 100-97, but it wasn’t due to Mark Williams, whose trade to the Lakers was rescinded due to a failed physical. The Lakers’ offense struggled, shooting 15-for-51 on 3-pointers and committing 18 turnovers.
Despite the loss, Dončić remained positive about his new team. “I’m happy to be here, man,” he said. “This is one of the greatest clubs in the world. I’m just happy to be here. Obviously, I’m going to need some time, but I’m happy to represent the Lakers.”
Feb. 20, Portland: ‘We all have to transform our game’
With Dončić sitting out the game against the Portland Trail Blazers, LeBron James led the Lakers to a 110-102 win, becoming the first player in NBA history with multiple 40-point games after the age of 40. James credited his performance to a good day’s rest and treatment on his left foot and ankle.
Despite Dončić missing four of the seven games since the trade, James emphasized the importance of Dončić being himself. “Just want him to be himself — when he gets back to himself,” James told ESPN. “Obviously, he’s been out since Christmas and I think he told me or said it to us, that’s the most he’s ever been out since he started playing basketball — because of an injury. Obviously, it’s not going to happen overnight, but I believe that in order for us to ultimately be the team that we want to be with him here, he has to have the ball, he has to be able to put us all in position, he has to be him. The seven years that we’ve seen in the NBA with Luka, we want that Luka.”
After the game, James checked in with Dončić on his plans for the night. “Hey, Don,” James said, using the mafia-inspired nickname for his new teammate. “Where are you going tonight?” Dončić replied, “Sleep. I got to get some sleep.”
Feb. 22, Denver: A quarterback, a wide receiver and a huge win
The Lakers and Dončić had a challenging history at Ball Arena, but they broke through with a 123-100 win over the Denver Nuggets. Dončić had 32 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals, while James contributed 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Austin Reaves also had a strong performance with 23 points and 7 assists.
One of the game’s highlights was Dončić’s perfect outlet pass to James, setting up an easy dunk. “I’m a natural-born wide receiver and he’s a natural-born quarterback, so it fits perfectly,” James said. Dončić also connected with James on a lob for a dunk, marking their first alley-oop together. “I’m happy to get my first alley-oop with him,” Dončić said after the game. “Next time, he’s going to throw it to me.”
Originally Written by: Dave McMenamin
