Luka Doncic Joins LeBron James on Historic List in Lakers-Pelicans

Luka Doncic had a historic first half in the Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans game

Mar 4, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) controls the ball against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic's short tenure in L.A. has started strong, with the Lakers shooting up the Western Conference standings. On Tuesday night, the five-time all-star made team history against the New Orleans Pelicans with a special first-half performance.

Doncic finished the half with 20 points, five rebounds, and nine assists, joining teammate LeBron James as the only player in Lakers history to finish a half with those numbers in the play-by-play era. The Slovenian-born guard's arrival in Los Angeles was a shocking jolt to the NBA world right before last month's trade deadline.

Luka Doncic in the first half:

20 PTS
5 REB
9 AST

Joins LeBron James as the only Lakers to reach these numbers in a half in the play-by-play era. pic.twitter.com/c1yw18ZIIN

— StatMamba (@StatMamba) March 5, 2025

In the eight games Doncic has played in a Lakers uniform, the former first-round pick has averaged 22 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists. The Lakers have won their last six games and look like true contenders in the Western Conference. Doncic led his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, to the NBA Finals last season before losing to the eventual champion Boston Celtics.

Game. On. pic.twitter.com/cxSvHJOtI4

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 5, 2025

Many wondered how a player of Doncic's status and stature in the league was available to be traded, and the five-time All-NBA player is proving game by game just how massive of a move this was for both franchises. The Lakers traded all-star forward Anthony Davis in exchange for Doncic, hoping his pairing with guard Kyrie Irving would keep the Mavericks in contention.

Irving tore his ACL on Monday evening and is out for the year, while Davis is sidelined with an abductor strain. Dallas is currently ranked 10th in the West, right on the threshold of the Play-In Tournament.

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