The Los Angeles Lakers finally have Luka Doncic in a pre-season game after the Slovenian star debuted in loss to the Phoenix Suns. He scored 25 points in that game in just 22 minutes. Pre-season games don’t mean that much LA’s next one carry more weight, at least for Doncic.
Lakers are set to meet Luka’s former team Dallas Mavericks who traded him unexpectedly in February. It was a trade regarded as the most shocking in NBA history. Doncic himself is still not over it and admits that he will always feel a certain way about going back to his former team, even if it is just a pre-season game.
“I mean, it’s obviously going to be something,” he told reporters after their game against the Suns.
“Obviously I’m going to feel something every game I play against them. I am kind of starting a new chapter here … but … it’s always going to be something.”
Doncic already met the Mavs multiple times last season. He even recorded a triple double against them on the first time they met.
The Mavs have on from him, too, as they picked first in this draft and selected Cooper Flagg. They are also banking on their veteran core of Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Kyrie Irving in their quest to win a title immediately after that Doncic trade.
Luka Doncic and DeAndre Ayton dynamics
The biggest concern right now for head coach JJ Redick is building chemistry between his players, especially now that he has a new starting center.
They were able to do that in the Suns game. DeAndre Ayton had a great time playing with Doncic and the former Suns player is just in awe of what his star teammate can do with the ball.
“Luka is different. He’s truly a one dimensional player when comes to that pick and roll,” the 2018 first pick said when asked about Doncic.
“It feel like he got eyes in the back of his head. That was really fun seeing how he starts to do his Luka magic.”
He clarified though that there’s still a lot of adjustment to be made.
Deandre Ayton describes connecting with Luka Doncic on their first lob together: “I have to be patient and just really reading his eyes … but rolling fast at the same time, putting pressure on that big.” He marveled at some of the passes Luka made. pic.twitter.com/xG2xKbZigp
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 15, 2025
Doncic and Ayton, together with Austin Reaves, will be the leaders of the team at the moment as they wait for Lebron James to recover from his sciatica injury.
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