The Los Angeles Lakers took care of business Tuesday night, rolling past the Dallas Mavericks 124-104 at Crypto.com Arena. But while the scoreboard showed a dominant win, the moment that had fans buzzing didn’t come from a high-flying dunk or a LeBron James highlight reel. It came from the sideline - and from Luka Dončić’s jacket.
With Dončić sitting out for the fourth straight game due to a left hamstring strain, the Slovenian star was in street clothes, watching from the bench. That’s when Lakers head coach JJ Redick, mic’d up for the broadcast, decided to shift from X’s and O’s to fashion critique.
“What kind of jacket is that? A blouson jacket?”
Redick asked, eyeing Dončić’s outfit with the same intensity he might use to dissect a defensive rotation. Dončić, never one to shy away from a little banter, fired right back: “You don’t know anything about style.”
The exchange didn’t stop there. Redick kept probing: “How would you qualify that jacket?
It’s not a bomber, it’s not a tour jacket.” Dončić, clearly done with the fashion interrogation, deadpanned, “It’s a jacket.”
Teammate Luke Kennard couldn’t help but laugh, and eventually Redick settled on calling it a “blouson jacket” before walking away with a grin.
The lighthearted moment was a reminder of the chemistry between Redick and Dončić, who spent a brief stint as teammates in Dallas during the 2020-21 season. But beyond the laughs, the bigger storyline remains Dončić’s health - and what it means for the Lakers down the stretch.
LeBron James made sure the Lakers didn’t miss a beat in Dončić’s absence, putting together a vintage performance: 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. That triple-double made him the oldest player in NBA history to record one, another milestone in a career full of them. With the win, Los Angeles moved to 33-21 heading into the All-Star break, and they’re starting to build some momentum at just the right time.
Injuries have been a recurring theme for the Lakers this season. Austin Reaves only recently returned from a calf strain, and Dončić’s hamstring issue has now kept him sidelined for four straight games.
The good news? Redick said the expectation is that Dončić will be ready to go when the Lakers resume play on February 20 against the Clippers.
That return could be a major boost. Before the injury, Dončić was leading the league in scoring at 32.8 points per game, while also averaging 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists. He tops the NBA in both free throw attempts and makes - a testament to how often he puts pressure on opposing defenses and how central he is to the Lakers’ offensive engine.
Looking ahead, the Lakers have 10 of their next 13 games at home - a golden opportunity to make a second-half push. If Dončić returns at full strength, the Lakers will have their offensive catalyst back on the floor, and with LeBron still defying time, this team could be gearing up for a serious run.
Jackets aside, the Lakers are starting to look like a team with all the pieces falling into place.