Los Angeles (AP) – Luka Doncic was the last starter introduced by the Los Angeles Lakers, an honor normally reserved for LeBron James. When Dononic jogging under the spotlight on a dark courtyard through a cord of its new teammates, its new fans have risen and have ruled while carrying thousands of gold t-shirts with its name and number.
Even a young superstar could feel the magnificence of the moment.
“I was a little nervous before,” said Donic. “I don’t remember) the last time I was nervous before the match. But once I came back to the field, it was fun. Being right there, it was incredible.
The beginnings of Doncic with the Lakers were short and succeeded on Monday evening, but that stung the anticipation of all the people involved for his days and years in advance in Los Angeles.
Doncic scored 14 points when he only played 23 minutes, immediately entering the current with James and his teammates during Los Angeles 132-113 victory Above UTAH jazz. Dononic added five rebounds and four assists-no prettier than a three-quarter strike in James for a lay-up at the end of the first half.
Doncic was grateful to play basketball after almost seven weeks of lack of injuries, and he was happy to start exceeding the upheaval of his life since the Dallas Mavericks shocked the world of sport 10 days ago Exchange of their 25 -year centerpiece and NBA champion.
Dononic has obtained several standing ovations from a crowd of Los Angeles wearing thousands of shirts n ° 77, but his pre-match introduction was something that he will remember for a long time.
“The simple fact that the applause be in the arena was absolutely incredible,” said Donic. “It was my favorite game – and play again.”
Dononic said James had sent him a text in the morning and proposed to do anything to help – and Dononic took him back by taking the last place of intro. They will exchange for the next Lakers’ home game next week, said Donic with a smile.
“Show what kind of person it is,” said Doncic. “He let me spend my moment.”
The Slovenian striker The first bucket was a pointer at 3 In the first minutes of his second blow. Doncic scored 11 points while Los Angeles finished a 25-point lead at halftime, and he sat for good with 3:07 to do in the third quarter with the standing lakers in their sixth consecutive victory .
The game was the first of Doncic since he set his left calf at Christmas. After a full week to settle in Los Angeles and to come back to full power, Donci joined James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes as entries for the Strike Lakers, who had won 11 of the 13 even before adding a Quintuple All- selection of the NBA to their range.
The Lakers are so on a restriction of minutes after his lack of injury. His legs are not yet completely there – he went 1 for 7 on attempts of 3 points during his beginnings – but his creation of games immediately spread with his new teammates.
The first touch of Doncic was an aid to the alley in Hayes, and he struck his 3 points a few points later. He was serenade with “Luka!” Luka! Sing at the first dead ball, and several times later.
“I just think it could be a thing of beauty, the way we can manipulate the game on the offensive side and get what we want each possession,” said Reaves, who scored 22 points. “Luka is one of the best passers -by in the world … But yes, I think it’s just the high level IQ that goes hand in hand with pieces that really match. (Dononic and James) can pull the ball, pass the ball and really play in the right direction. »»
This crowd included Dirk Nowitzki, who was overwhelmed with Doncic for a season in Dallas and was his mentor. Donic seemed to be the natural heir to the incredible race of the German reputation temple in Dallas – until the current director general of the Mavericks, Nico Harrison, decides otherwise.
Coach JJ Redick, who played alongside Doncic for 13 games in 2021 with the Mavericks, was satisfied with the balance and patience of Donic in a historic match.
“Knowing Luka, whether he will admit it or not, there was probably a little nerves playing for the Lakers for the first time, and the anticipation of this building,” said Redick. “I thought he had managed it very well, and he played very well tonight. … He did not succeed in Luka. He managed to play the right basketball and play Laker basketball. »»
James returned on Monday from an injury from a match when the Lakers started a home set with jazz heading for the stars.
“I don’t see any people where these two play together is not a good thing,” said Utah coach Will Hardy. “Their mentally treatment speed is incredible, and therefore I am sure they will understand it.”
Doncic had watched three consecutive victories from their bench since his arrival in Los Angeles a week ago. Reaves scored a 45 -point career summit To direct the Lakers after Indiana 124-117 on Saturday without Doncic or James, who sat down to rest his painful ankle.
Doncic started on Monday by donating $ 500,000 to make recovery efforts in its new community, making an immediate impression with its commitment to help the damage caused by endemic forest fires which devastated parts of southern California last month – including the Pacific palisades, Where Redick’s house was lost.
“It was so sad to see and find out more about the damage of forest fires when I landed in Los Angeles,” wrote Doncic on the social networks of his Luka Doncic. “I cannot believe it, and I feel for all the children who have lost their house, their schools and the places they played with their friends.”
Dononic has signed his note: “Your new neighbor.”
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
