LOS ANGELES — Luka Dončić apparently decided ordinary preseason statistics were insufficient Thursday night, so he added a 40-foot three-pointer and a technical foul to make sure the box score accurately reflected that Luka Dončić had played basketball.
The Lakers star finished with 23 points in 25 minutes during a 114-110 win over Sacramento, but the actual performance was better summarized as: impossible shot, arguing, technical, victory.
In other words, a complete Luka game.
Dončić’s highlight came in the first half when he launched a one-legged three from somewhere near the edge of acceptable basketball geography and watched it drop through the net.
Officials briefly considered awarding four points before remembering they are not allowed to reward nonsense.
Luka then completed the traditional second half of the experience by exchanging words with referee Aaron Smith until Smith assessed him a technical foul.
“Beautiful,” one Lakers fan said. “The jumper is back. The conditioning is back. He’s already annoyed with the officials. We’re ready.”
Team officials reportedly remain encouraged by his preseason progress, particularly after confirming he can once again produce the two foundational elements of Luka basketball: make shots nobody should attempt, and complain about something.
The regular season has not even started.
Luka appears fully prepared.
