Luka Doncic exploded in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Denver Nuggets, scoring 21 points with three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block. The Slovenian guard torched Denver’s defense to give the Lakers a 46-29 lead against the team that eliminated them from the Playoffs for the last two seasons.
During the game, Doncic was on the receiving end of trash-talk from some Nuggets fans yelling ‘Ball don’t lie’ after he missed a free throw. Doncic put that fan back in his place by making a simple observation and then knocking down his second free throw with ease, roasting the trash-talking fan.
Fan: “Ball don’t lie Luka!”
Luka Doncic: “I got 20 you talking about ball don’t lie.”
Luka Doncic: *Makes free throw” “BaLl DoNt LiE!”
Rando: “Ball don’t lie Luka!”
Luka: “I got 20 you talking about ball don’t lie.”
*Makes free throw”
Luka: “BaLl DoNt LiE!” pic.twitter.com/lYFu8x4Mx5— Panda Hank (a broken fan) (@pandahank41) March 20, 2025
Doncic is averaging 26.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 8.1 assists on the Lakers since joining, hoping to lead them to another win tonight. LeBron James has been absent with a groin injury for the last two weeks, although the Lakers have won their last two games after losing four straight after James got hurt.
Credit: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
The team is learning to play without James with Doncic as the team’s primary offensive weapon. Even after LeBron returns, Luka will likely be tasked as the team’s primary perimeter creator and ball-handler, so the franchise will have to be cognizant of the same. James is arguably the smartest player in NBA history and has embraced a different role knowing he can rely on Doncic offensively.
Fans who trash-talk Luka rarely get to be happy after he acknowledges them. He’s one of the few players in the NBA who gets freakishly motivated when disparaged by fans or players, so ensuring he isn’t worked up could be a path to success for the Nuggets.