Renewed LeBron, Energetic Lakers Shine in Luka Doncic’s Debut

Mavericks fans may hate to admit it, but Luka Doncic seems to be right at home in the yellow and purple. After the biggest trade of the year, if not the last decade, that sent the ex-Mavericks superstar to the Lakers for Anthony Davis (among others), Doncic finally got his chance to put on a show for the home crowd.

While he didn’t set the building on fire like some may have hoped, the crafty point did more than enough to help Los Angeles get an easy win against the visiting Jazz. He passed well, hustled on defense, pulled in hard rebounds, and hit some tough shots to help his team to victory.

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Those attributes are exactly what the Lakers hoped would happen when bringing him in, and he delivered on all fronts. Even if there were some growing pains due to him needing to gel with the offense, his presence alone could propel LA to the top of the Western Conference.

An Easy Start

The Jazz, who fell to an abysmal 12-40 record after Monday's loss, were one of the best possible first matchups for Doncic. Not only did they not put any pressure on him, but the easy opponent allowed him to feel out his new team.

Overall, his stats weren’t terribly impressive. He scored fourteen points to go with four assists and five rebounds. Even so, that spread shows why he’s one of the best players in the league. He isn’t one dimensional, and can help his team in a myriad of ways.

He also forces the opposing team to completely reevaluate their defense

When the Lakers had James and Davis, teams knew they had to get physical and out-muscle them down low. With Doncic at the top of the key, that strategy is no longer viable.

Teams now have to deal with a superstar guard outside and James down low. That’s an incredibly tough ask for anyone, let alone a team like the Jazz. Utah was completely outmatched all night, losing the lead early and never coming close to getting it back.

Doncic did shoot a poor 5-14 from the field, including 1-7 from three, but a dip like that is expected in his first game. The fact that he still found ways to score is more important, and a huge boost for LA.

Bigger Than His Stats

It’s hard to overstate just how much the new addition means to the Lakers. Davis is one of the best centers in the league, but he cannot take over like Doncic can. The guard isn’t just a few stats, he’s a generational talent who makes everyone around him better.

That gravity was fully on display against the Jazz. Not only did Rui Hachimura shine with 21 points and six rebounds, but Austin Reaves continued his recent hot streak with 22 as well. Even James looked like he turned back the clock, scoring 24 points to go with 7 rebounds and 8 assists.

The tough forward was everywhere against Utah, running the floor, making hustle plays, and sprinting with an almost renewed energy that seemed to be waning just a few weeks ago.

A Much-Needed Break

Doncic represents a lot of hope for the Lakers. He can score, play strong defense, and run the offense. More importantly, he can help LeBron get a breather.

James and Davis, while both superstars in their own right, are on the tailend of their careers. Using them together with a rather shallow bench made the Lakers extremely susceptible to injuries and put a lot of pressure on James.

Doncic will provide the future hall of famer with more opportunities to sit on the bench without worrying about losing the game. That will give James more longevity and ensure he’s in tip-top shape for the playoffs.

Doncic did only play 24 minutes in his debut, but that was due to the matchup and timing more than anything else. There’s no doubt he’s only going to see the court more and more as the Lakers look ahead.

“Feel like it’s best right now to ease Luka back into playing NBA action,” head coach J.J Redick said after the game. “I think if it was up to Luka, he would probably play 48 minutes, but we’re thinking long-term and we want to be safe.”

Going for Best in the West

While a win against the Jazz is hardly reason to crown the Lakers just yet, the duo of Doncic and James could very well be the best in the league. They now have a two-dimensional offense with two of the best players in the world.

Not only that, but at 32-19 and on a six game winning streak, they are firmly cemented in the Western Conference. They have the fourth seed, and could make a play for any of the top three before the season is over.

That’s why the Jazz game was so important. Even if Doncic didn’t play his best, the team came together around him and cruised to an easy win. It wasn’t just an easy win, it was a glimpse of the future and showed there’s plenty more winning to come.