Luka Doncic kept the basketball world waiting for his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was initially projected to play against the Indiana Pacers, prompting ESPN in adjusting their national television schedule just to cover his grand debut.
Yet in the end the Lakers listed to put Doncic out with a calf strain. While LeBron James was on the injury list due to a left ankle soreness. Both are expected to return to face the Jazz in the next game.
Luka Doncic drops hilarious trash talk vs. Rick Carlisle before Lakers-Pacers game
Even if Doncic remained in street clothes, the Lakers managed to prevail over the Pacers, outlasting the road team with a 124-117 victory.
And interestingly right before his Lakers team took the win, Doncic dropped an interesting subtle trash talk already against the Pacers.
According to ESPN play-by-play commentator Dave Pasche, both Doncic and Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle greeted themselves and exchanged pleasantries prior to the marquee matchup.
While Carlisle offered words of good luck to the new chapter of the Slovenian star, Doncic, in his part, went brutal that his Pacers team went lucky that he wasn’t playing this weekend.
“They exchanged a hug as we were about to meet them. Coach Carlisle, before the game, he wished Luka good luck.
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“Luka [responded], ‘You should be happy I am not playing today,” Pasche narrated.
“He’s just joking with his former coach,” he clarified.
Rick Carlisle knows Doncic’s talent
It should be noted that Carlisle served as Doncic’s first mentor since the 25-year-old entered the NBA. The two shared partnership for three years within the Mavericks before the seasoned coach stepped down in his position in 2021 to reunite with the Pacers organization.
Although both of them had ups and downs, Carlisle acknowledges Doncic’s generational traits and special basketball talent. And while Doncic literally joked in their recent interaction, Carlisle himself can certainly agree with his former superstar’s statement.
As such, with Doncic out, Carlisle saw Austin Reaves taking over at the other hand for the Lakers. Reaves dropped a career-high 45 points to lead the Lakers’ victory over the Pacers — their ninth over the last 10 games.
