When Luka Dončić was traded to the Lakers, GM Rob Pelinka made it clear that they chose the 26-year-old not just for his offense but also for his defense.
Unfortunately, in their recent game against the Orlando Magic, the Purple and Gold struggled defensively, meaning Dončić didn’t perform his best on that end of the court.
The former Mavs star didn’t hesitate to take responsibility for it. Following the 118-106 loss, Luka Dončić took accountability for the team’s struggles when asked who should step up. It’s good to see the Lakers star embracing his role as a leader alongside LeBron James.
Luka Doncic said, “I think me and Bron, think we should be the guys to do that. That’s on me. Obviously, I’ve got to do better, I’ve got to talk more. I talked in the first half, then just kind of voice down and I shouldn’t do that.”
Luka Dončić: "I think we just got to look back at the way we played at that 8-game winning streak… I think we just got a little bit satisfied, we can't afford that right now." #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/YrorMZIQtE
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 25, 2025
During Monday night’s game, Luka Dončić was strong on offense, scoring 32 points while adding seven rebounds and seven assists. However, the Lakers’ defensive lapses proved costly. Even LeBron James’ 24-point contribution couldn’t save them from losing to the Magic.
The Lakers started strong but began to struggle defensively in the third quarter, allowing the Magic to outscore them 34-18. Orlando’s Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combined for 62 points, exposing the Lakers’ defensive weaknesses and securing the win for the Magic.
Luka Doncic shares heartfelt moment with Jamahl Mosley post-Lakers loss
After the Los Angeles Lakers’ tough 118-106 loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday night, Luka Doncic took a moment to reconnect with a familiar face—Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley.
Mosley was an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks from 2014 to 2021 and worked closely with Doncic during the Slovenian star’s first three NBA seasons.
Their bond was clear as they embraced and exchanged words after the game, covering their mouths to keep the conversation private.
Luka and Mosley 👀 pic.twitter.com/cMn5Tty2yl
— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) March 25, 2025
Later, various Twitter accounts shared their special moment.
