Luka Doncic takes the mic after LeBron’s exit and leads Lakers past Warriors

Luka Doncic opened the Lakers’ season with a moment LeBron James might once have owned: he took the microphone at center court and addressed the crowd. “It’s the start of something new. It’s going to be a special season,” Doncic said. With LeBron now on the Philadelphia 76ers, the moment presented Doncic as the public face of a new chapter in Los Angeles. 

It wasn’t a replacement for LeBron, whose place in Lakers history is unique. It was a sign that Doncic is beginning to take on the team’s public-facing leadership role. He will have to earn that standing game by game, and he made a strong first case that night: the Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 127-105 in the season opener.

Doncic backs up his message with a statement win

Doncic led the Lakers with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. He scored 23 points before halftime and capped the first half with a shot from near half court. Austin Reaves added 23 points, while Walker Kessler scored 26 in his Los Angeles debut.

Slovenian star Luka Doncic led the Lakers in scoring as Los Angeles pulled away in the third quarter, despite Stephen Curry’s efforts to keep the Warriors within reach.

Doncic’s uniform carried personal touches, too: a patch recognizing his selection to the All-NBA First Team; four beads on the laces of each shoe, including two hearts and the letters “G” and “O” in honor of his daughters; and a purple wristband with Jumpman and Luka logos.

Those details accompanied a performance in which he led the team on the court and spoke to its fans before the game.

The game also featured a heated exchange with Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who guarded Doncic. The two traded words in the first half, and Lendeborg received a technical foul.

The opener offered both a promise and an early glimpse of Luka Doncic’s new role. The Lakers won convincingly, and he led their offense. Taking on the leadership LeBron left behind will be a season-long challenge. The microphone was the first gesture; keeping the team at that level will be the real test.