The Los Angeles Lakers’ 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz extended their win streak to three. The match took place at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday. This match will go down in the history books because LeBron James made his season debut and became the first player to play 23 seasons in the league.
Amid the historic feats, a playful exchange between James and Deandre Ayton brought extra charm to the night, which Ayton later shared in the post-game press conference.
Deandre Ayton Shares a Nostalgic Alley-Oop Memory With LeBron James
James missed 14 games due to a sciatic issue and finally made his much-awaited debut this season on Tuesday against the Jazz. He played for 30 minutes, in which he secured 11 points, 12 assists, and three rebounds.
During the match, a moment came in the second quarter when James tossed a perfectly placed lob over the defense that allowed Ayton to rise and throw down the alley-oop.
During the post-game press conference, a reporter asked Ayton about the moment. He shared a funny story about his second alley-oop from James, and he told him that the first one had come a decade ago, when he was in eighth grade.
“I was telling him a fun fact. He threw me an alley-oop. I said, ‘That’s my second alley from you.’ The first one was when I was in eighth grade at your camp. It’s kind of crazy, you know. It was fun.” Ayton said.
Deandre Ayton caught his second-ever lob from LeBron James tonight.
The first? As an 8th grader at @KingJames‘ camp 😅 https://t.co/UPFznuVjYT pic.twitter.com/Xf2quWPCvc
— NBA (@NBA) November 19, 2025
Furthermore, when asked how James reacted to the story, Ayton recalled, “He laughed and asked me where was in, I told him it was in the LeBron James camp in Las Vegas. I remember playing and everything.”
For Ayton, the moment remained a surreal full-circle experience, from catching James at a summer camp to playing alongside him on an NBA court. During his 30 minutes on the court, he scored 20 points, one assist, and an impressive 14 rebounds.
As for the Lakers, Luka Dončić once again put on an impressive performance, scoring 37 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds, while Austin Reaves’ 26 points helped the team secure a 14-point victory over the Jazz. The team currently stands in fourth position with 11 wins and just four losses.
Dončić and Reaves have been able to carry the load in James’ absence. Now that the four-time NBA champion is back, Lakers fans can expect dominant performances from the team and a rise to the top.
On Sunday, November 23, it will be interesting to see how James, Dončić, and Reaves play alongside each other against the Jazz at the Delta Center.
