The Los Angeles Lakers welcomed Luka Dončić with open arms during his debut on Monday night, as they decimated the Utah Jazz, 132-113. Dončić finished the game with 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 24 minutes, but he was beaming from ear to ear when discussing his newest teammate and the words shared before they took to the court.
Luka Dončić Raves About LeBron James’ Pregame Message
As the Lakers got ready to take the court, LeBron James remarked to Dončić, “Luka, be your f***ing self; don’t fit in, fit the f*** out,” which gave Dončić a full confidence boost.
Dončić appreciated those words, as he remarked after the game, “I mean, it’s like I said before. It’s special,” following the Lakers’ victory. “You know, for him to say something like that feels amazing. Give him confidence. After that speech, it was chills. So I was just happy to be part.”
luka on lebron telling him to just “be luka” 🥲 pic.twitter.com/hY5oKvYnzd
— claire de lune (@ClaireMPLS) February 11, 2025
For two players who have such a similar style, you might have been surprised at how seamless the fit on the court was between James and Dončić. This was Dončić’s first game back since missing six weeks due to a calf strain.
He was under a minutes restriction for the night, and he looked as if he was trying to ease his way into the game, but the Lakers are currently rolling, and Dončić will be a major part of ensuring they move further along come playoff time.
After the game, Dončić spoke about how his new teammate provided him with the words he needed to hear in his first outing since Christmas. James told him to simply go out there and be himself, which motivated Dončić to play his way on the floor.
As his minute restriction ramps up over the next few games, Dončić’s confidence and drive will likely see improvement as well. Some said Dončić did not look extremely happy on the sidelines during his first games as a Laker, but now that he’s taking the court, he seems a lot more comfortable.
The Dončić trade couldn’t have come at a better time for the Lakers, as they are knocking on the door of the top three spots in the West. The Denver Nuggets have a game-and-a-half lead on L.A. for the third seed, but the Lakers could very well find their way into the second seed if they can continue their current momentum.
The Mark Williams for Dalton Knecht trade was rescinded, which leaves them with a hole in the front court currently, but the buyout market should allow them to find the right pieces that they would need. The one concern for the Lakers going forward with Dončić at the helm is health and defense.
James experienced a minor abdominal injury that could cause concern going forward, as he has been extremely durable so far this season. At the age of 40, health is always a concern for a player who has been around for as long as James has. Luckily for the Lakers, Dončić is healthy enough to be on the court, while Austin Reaves has shown his promise to be their No. 3 on the court.
If the Lakers can continue getting the proper production from Reaves while Dončić and James remain fully healthy, there’s a chance for the Lakers to be a dangerous team come playoff time. Their defense has shown signs of improvement, but they still need one more frontcourt player to replace some of the production that Anthony Davis brought. Time will tell if their acquisition of Alex Len or the current tandem of Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko presents them with a proper option.