Luka Dončić put on a scoring masterclass with his 51-point double-double in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. The mercurial guard’s efforts also recorded 10 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and a block in his 37 minutes on the floor.
The win saw the Lakers improve to 41-25 and move up to third in the Western Conference standings. After the game, Dončić had a cheeky response when asked by a reporter about how he channels criticism about his on-court persona.
Luka Dončić Drops Hilarious Response to Owning His ‘Pain in the A**’ Reputation
Dončić had the media in stitches with his answer to developing a ‘Pain in the A**’ reputation on the court. One of the reporters asked him if he was always a player who had the image, to which the Lakers star said, “Maybe. I think a little bit, yeah. Maybe that’s what made me a little bit good at basketball.”
The last few weeks have seen Dončić cop massive flak for complaining about the referees and the game officials. This has earned divisive reactions from fans and analysts, with one segment believing that Dončić’s constant complaining would do no good to him or the team. His dominance against the Bulls can be attributed to Matas Buzelis, who had some words for Dončić.
LUKA 50-BALL 🔥
LAKERS WIN FOURTH STRAIGHT 👀 pic.twitter.com/5Sd3Tk4tKH
— ESPN (@espn) March 13, 2026
“Somebody started talking to me, so that woke me up,” he told, according to ESPN. “I’m not going to say what he said, but if I said that, I would definitely get a tech.” The Lakers and Dončić are aware that another technical foul on him leads to an automatic one-game suspension.
This has seen the Lakers’ mainstay manage his emotions over the last couple of games. That said, what hasn’t changed is the combative nature that has made him one of the more proficient and lethal offensive players in the modern-day NBA.
His performances this season have seen the playmaker make a solid claim for his first NBA MVP. Over the last few seasons, he has been a constant top-five candidate in the race, but should he indeed continue his scintillating run and help the Lakers finish in the top three, there’s every reason to believe he is in the mix to win the marquee award.
The Lakers will be buoyed by his form and their recent successful stretch. The win against the Bulls makes it their fourth consecutive victory, and seventh in their last eight.
Up next, Dončić and the Lakers play the Denver Nuggets on Saturday to end their five-game homestand. They hit the road for a two-game series against the Houston Rockets. The next three games will define where the Lakers will end in the standings, and all eyes will be on their superstar guard to see if he can continue his rich vein of form.
