Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James finally made his debut this season after missing 14 games due to a sciatic issue. He played his first game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. This marked a historic feat as he became the only player to play in 23 seasons in the league.
Luka Dončić, who has been playing exceptionally for the Lakers in the absence of James, has now shared his thoughts on playing alongside a four-time NBA champion and what it means to him to share the court.
Luka Dončić Reflects on Sharing the Court With LeBron James
In his season debut, James delivered an excellent performance. He scored 11 points, 12 assists, and three rebounds in his 30 minutes of play. Meanwhile, Dončić yet again had an exceptional day on the court; he poured 37 points, the highest in the game, with 10 assists and five rebounds. These performances helped the Lakers to secure a 14-point win over the Jazz. They extended their win streak to three.
LeBron James made his NBA-record 23rd season debut tonight!
👑 11 PTS
👑 12 AST
👑 @Lakers W pic.twitter.com/LkuBu0TkHH— NBA (@NBA) November 19, 2025
In the post-game press conference, Dončić made it clear just how much the moment meant to him playing alongside James. He heaps praise and asserts that he is looking forward to playing more games alongside the four-time MVP.
“I mean honestly just sharing the court with him [James] is special and this is thing that other people can’t. He is here to help us all so it’s amazing it was only his first game back and he plays amazing. I’m excited to play more,” Dončić said.
“Sharing the floor with him is special.”
Luka Dončić on playing alongside @KingJames! https://t.co/UPFznuVjYT pic.twitter.com/OQ6LqCD17q
— NBA (@NBA) November 19, 2025
In the absence of James, Dončić and Austin Reaves have been able to carry the load and deliver outstanding performances, helping the team win matches. The Slovenian player has averaged 34.6 points with 46.9% from the field, 32.7% from three-point range, and 8.6 rebounds.
With James’ comeback, the Lakers are looking more solid than ever. They currently have 11 wins and four losses, placing them in fourth position in the Western Conference. Above them, the Houston Rockets are at third, the Denver Nuggets at second, and at the top, the defending champion Oklahoma Thunder. They have won 14 games and lost just one.
Next for the Lakers is the Sunday showdown again with the Jazz, but this time at the Delta Center in an away game.
