The emotions Luka Doncic saved non-public through the previous two months began pouring out.
Actually.
Moved to tears by a two-minute montage that performed on the video scoreboard at American Airways Heart on Wednesday night time, Doncic later recalled pondering, “There’s no way I’m playing this game.”
He didn’t have a alternative.
Doncic wiped his eyes with a towel, walked by a gauntlet of high-fiving reserves and joined the Lakers’ different starters on the ground.
What adopted was a efficiency described by Lakers coach JJ Redick as “superhuman.” Not even Doncic may clarify what occurred.
Greater than two months after the Dallas Mavericks traded him to the Lakers, Doncic returned to the world he known as his residence for greater than six years.
His line within the Lakers’ 112-97 victory: 45 factors, eight rebounds, six assists and 4 steals.
This was the form of second during which Shohei Ohtani would have blasted a ball into the higher deck, and that’s what Doncic did.
What Doncic did on Wednesday was the basketball equal of Ohtani homering final month within the Dodgers’ season-opening sequence in Tokyo or homering thrice final yr on the night time he turned the primary 50/50 participant in baseball historical past.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic shoots over Mavericks Anthony Davis (3) and Dereck Energetic II (2) in Dallas Wednesday.
(Julio Cortez / Related Press)
On probably the most high-profile stage he’s performed on in a Lakers uniform, with the eyes of all the basketball world on him, Doncic delivered.
“He’s teary-eyed still as we walk out on the court for the tip ball,” Redick mentioned. “To have the emotional resolve to then go put on that kind of performance, it’s superhuman.”
Little surprise why Doncic stays beloved right here.
He’s beloved in Dallas for a similar causes Ohtani is now beloved in Los Angeles. As a result of he’s fearless. As a result of he delivers. Extra particularly, as a result of he delivers when he’s anticipated to.
By no means was a efficiency like this from Doncic as anticipated because it was on Wednesday night time.
Doncic’s commerce to the Lakers has remained a supply of controversy due to how silly it was, just about everybody exterior of Mavericks basic supervisor Nico Harrison questioning why anybody would half methods with a generational expertise who continues to be solely 26.
Lakers star Luka Doncic waves to the group and acknowledges cheers from followers as he walks off the court docket in Dallas Wednesday.
(LM Otero / Related Press)
Doncic didn’t wish to be traded, and Mavericks followers didn’t need him to be traded, creating an odd dynamic within the enviornment during which followers of each the house and visiting groups had been on the identical facet: Doncic’s facet.
When James tried free throws simply 4 seconds into the sport, “Fire Nico” chants began. The chants had been heard all through the sport.
As clearly shaken as Doncic was by the emotionally-charged atmosphere earlier than the sport, he appeared totally unaffected throughout it.
“You call that an out-of-body experience,” James mentioned.
Doncic shot and shot and shot.
By the tip of the primary quarter, Doncic had 14 factors. By halftime, he had 31. The 30-point half was his first with the Lakers and the 14th of his profession.
“I thought he was gonna get 50,” Redick mentioned, jokingly including, “I was disappointed.”
Doncic completed the sport 16-of-28 taking pictures, together with seven of 10 on three-pointers. He acknowledged he was drained by the expertise.
Requested what he was pondering when he checked out of the sport and acquired a standing ovation from what was once his residence crowd, he replied, “Honestly, I don’t really know. I wasn’t even thinking.”
Doncic mentioned he encountered bother sleeping on Tuesday night time, although the Lakers had performed earlier within the day in Oklahoma Metropolis. He mentioned he awoke exhausted on Wednesday. Strolling into the world, Doncic mentioned he was “a little bit of both, happy and angry.”
Nonetheless, he delivered.
James defined what this might imply for the Lakers within the postseason.
“I mean, he’s battle tested,” James mentioned. “He’s been in big moments, he’s played in big moments throughout his career. Literally less than a year removed from the NBA finals, so he knows what to expect. He’s special with it.”
Doncic was already a longtime star when he moved to Los Angeles, simply as Ohtani was final yr. Now, Doncic could have the prospect to do what Ohtani did, to grow to be a champion, to grow to be a civic hero.
He simply has to ship once more.
