Late in the Lakers’ 129-118 win over the Bulls on Monday night, Jaxson Hayes decided to turn a routine fast break into a moment straight out of All-Star Weekend. After jumping a passing lane and taking off in transition, Hayes went for an Eastbay dunk - yes, the between-the-legs kind you typically only see in dunk contests.
In a live NBA game. With defenders on the floor.
That’s not just flair; that’s confidence.
It didn’t take long for the highlight to make its rounds, and one of the first to chime in was Luka Dončić. The Mavericks star responded with some playful shade, saying he pulled off the same dunk over a decade ago.
Now, let’s be real - Luka isn’t exactly known for his above-the-rim game. When he does dunk, it’s more of a “blink and you’ll miss it” rim grazer than a poster.
But sure enough, social media detectives dug up the footage: a 13-year-old Dončić pulling off an Eastbay dunk in warmups. The clip has been circulating again, and it’s got the league talking.
Jake LaRavia’s reaction to the viral video of Luka’s EastBay dunk as a teen:
— LakersMuse (@LALMuse) January 27, 2026
“AI is crazy nowadays” 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/qM7LMx3udd
Even some Lakers players couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Jake LaRavia chimed in on Instagram, joking that the video had to be AI-generated. “AI is crazy nowadays,” he wrote, leaning into the disbelief with a nod to the era of deepfakes and digital trickery.
While the Lakers have had their share of off-court storylines lately, moments like this show the team’s chemistry is still intact. They’ve been holding steady in the absence of Austin Reaves, and the energy on the bench - and online - suggests a group that’s still having fun and staying connected. LaRavia’s comment might’ve been lighthearted, but it’s a small window into a locker room that’s kept its sense of humor through the ups and downs.
The Lakers will look to keep that momentum going when they head to Cleveland for a Wednesday night showdown with the Cavaliers. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM ET, and if Hayes has anything else up his sleeve, don’t blink - you might miss another dunk-of-the-year candidate.