Did Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant see the spark in Luka Dončić before anyone else did? Dallas Mavericks star Klay Thompson thought so. “He [Dončić] brought Kobe out of the house to go watch him play. Kobe doesn’t just give that love to those who don’t earn it,” Thompson had said earlier this year.
Thompson was talking about a game in Dončić’s second season in the NBA, where the Mavericks played in Los Angeles. Dončić was getting ready to inbound the ball when he heard someone trash-talking him in Slovenian behind him. He turned around only to discover it was Bryant, sitting courtside with his daughter, Gigi.
Now, the Slovenian has put on the uniform that Bryant once graced. And on the night of the start of his first full season with the Lakers, Dončić somewhat justified Thompson’s words. Despite LA dropping the season opener against the Warriors 119-109, Dončić’s stat sheet placed him with a handful of the Lakers’ legends, including Bryant.
Luka Dončić Finds His Place Among Lakers Legends With His Opening Night Stats
On October 21, Dončić lit up the Crypto.com Arena with a near triple-double performance. The Slovenian guard put up 43 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. Although his three-point shooting was subpar (2-of-10), he shot a scorching 63% from the field (17-of-27). Stat nerds took no time digging into the pages of history, and Dončić was right there alongside Bryant.
The Lakers’ Spectrum Sportsnet broadcast revealed that Dončić grabbed the third spot for most points scored on an opening night in the Lakers’ history. The only other Lakers ahead of him? Elgin Baylor’s 52 points on October 18, 1959 (the only Laker to score 50 to begin a season), and Bryant’s 45 against the Houston Rockets on October 30, 2007.
Sheesh pic.twitter.com/gsS40JvaJW
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) October 22, 2025
Even more impressive is that, with this performance, he left behind two legendary Lakers, Jerry West and James Worthy. Meanwhile, ESPN’s NBA insider Dave McMenamin revealed another fascinating stat.
“From ESPN Stats & Info: Luka Doncic is the 2nd Lakers player with 35 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a season opener all-time, joining Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 vs the Trail Blazers,” McMenamin wrote.
From ESPN Stats & Info: Luka Doncic is the 2nd Lakers player with 35 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a season opener all-time, joining Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 vs the Trail Blazers.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 22, 2025
If we look around the league, only a handful of active NBA players are ahead of Dončić in terms of points scored on opening night, including Ja Morant, James Harden, Jaylen Brown, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving. However, according to Real Sports, Dončić joined Michael Jordan as the only guards in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a season opener.
Guards with 40/10/5 in a season opener:
Michael Jordan (1989)
Luka Doncic (Tonight) pic.twitter.com/hy5kywtCO1— Real Sports (@realapp) October 22, 2025
However, there is another stat that might sting the Lakers guard. According to OptaSTATS, “Luka Dončić is the first player in NBA history to open a season with a 40-point double-double but lose by double digits.” That serves as a brutal reminder that the rest of the Lakers squad needs to step up around their centerpiece in the absence of LeBron James.
The Lakers face another tough test in the Minnesota Timberwolves in their second game. Last season’s playoff humiliation at their hands is still fresh. It remains to be seen if the retooled Lakers roster can avenge their first-round exit against Anthony Edwards and Co.
