Puka Nacua, Luka Doncic Swap Jerseys Following LA Lakers Debut
Feb 11, 2025, 12:29 AM
(Photos courtesy of Ronald Martinez and Katelyn Mulcahy, Getty Images)
(Photos courtesy of Ronald Martinez and Katelyn Mulcahy, Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – Luka Doncic and Puka Nacua in the City of Angels. What a time to be alive.
Following Doncic’s much-anticipated with the LA Lakers, the NBA superstar swapped jerseys with his fellow Los Angeles sports star.
Luka and Puka swapping jerseys postgame 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vccBCtASJs
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 11, 2025
Los Angeles Welcomes Luka Doncic With Open Arms
Not just the entire NBA world, but the entire North American sports world was tuned in as Luka Doncic donned the purple and gold for the first time in his young career.
NBA Hall of Famers, celebrities, and other professional athletes alike were all in attendance at Crypto.com arena on Monday night.
Dirk Nowitzki, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Adele, Will Ferrell, and Nacua just to name a few.
Luka Doncic has officially played his first game as a Los Angeles Laker 😤 pic.twitter.com/Mc1FAl4LVO
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 11, 2025
After missing over 60 days of action with a calf injury sustained on Christmas Day, Doncic returned to the floor with a minutes restriction.
In 23 minutes, he posted 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
The Lakers didnt need a trademark ‘Luka Magic’ performance to top the Jazz though. Led by 24 from LeBron James and 22 from Austin Reaves, Los Angeles cruised to a 132-113 win over the Utah Jazz.
RELATED: Luka, LeBron, Lakers Lambast Jazz
The @utahjazz appeared blinded by the bright lights against the Luka and LeBron-led @lakers. #TakeNote https://t.co/Wca8YacH39
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 11, 2025
Los Angeles sports fans know as well as anyone that the Lakers may have pulled off the fleece of the millennium by trading for Doncic in a package centered around Anthony Davis less than two weeks ago.
However, the fans clearly aren’t taking this blessing for granted.
The arena was packed hours before tip-off as Doncic got the Steph Curry treatment in warm-ups. The golden response didnt end there.
Every time Doncic scored, touched the ball, or even stood up, the arena erupted in cheers.
Although the Slovenian superstar was caught off-guard by the move, he made it clear post-game that he has found a new home.
“I heard a lot of noise when I was introduced. … It was a special moment.”
Luka Doncic on how it feels to be a Laker 🥺 pic.twitter.com/80d5Rcb2Yl
— ESPN (@espn) February 11, 2025
Los Angeles: The City Of Stars
Doncic is just the latest in a long list of sports royalty to play in LA. This list extends across all sports.
The basketball list is obvious with names like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jerry West.
But even in other sports. Wayne Gretzky, Marcus Allen, Sandy Koufax, and Deacon Jones are all-time greats who called Los Angeles home at one point in their careers.
Even just looking at the last five years you’ll see names like LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, and Aaron Donald. If Nacua and Doncic stay in LA and remain on their current career paths, their names will be added to the sports legacy in Southern California.
🏈 @AsapPuka & @KingJames 🏀 pic.twitter.com/R23XBk3Bz5
— NBA (@NBA) February 11, 2025
About #LocalsInTheNFL
For over five years, KSL Sports has provided coverage on all NFL players with ties to the state of Utah.
Whether they attended Utah or BYU or grew up in the Beehive State, we keep you caught up with how the locals are performing on the highest stage.
From highlights to trades and other breaking news, check out our Locals In The NFL coverage here.
