The Los Angeles Lakers lost 119-109 to the Golden State Warriors on the opening night of the 2025-26 NBA season. The team was missing LeBron James, but there are already far larger concerns about the roster. One undisputed bright spot on the night, though, was Luka Doncic’s stellar performance.

Doncic was peerless on Tuesday night, racking up 43 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists in the game. He also played excellent defense, at times stopping Stephen Curry in isolation. He made a lot of it look really easy, too. All this while doing something no Laker has managed since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.

MORE: Warriors star jokes about LeBron James’ age after Golden State’s opening night win

From ESPN Stats & Info: Luka Doncic is the 2nd Lakers player with 35 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a season opener all-time, joining Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 vs the Trail Blazers.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 22, 2025

“Luka Doncic is the 2nd Lakers player with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a season opener all-time, joining Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 vs the Trail Blazers,” Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported even as the game was being played out.

Doncic blew past that stat line with ease, too. A near 40-point triple-double on opening night is a strong statement, to say the least. Luka’s 43 points are also the third-most of any Laker in an opening night game, behind only Elgin Baylor and Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant holds up the Championship trophy along with teammate Shaquille O’Neal, who holds up his third MVP trophy. Mandatory Credit: Michael J. Terola/Abury Park Press-USA TODAY NETWORK

Shaq and Kobe had one another, but Doncic’s co-star is injured at the moment. A lot was made of LeBron James’ body language on opening night, and it seems like Luka will have to carry the team on his back for a while more. The only positive on that front for the Lakers is that he seems to be ready to do just that.

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