Watching Luka Dončić’s first game as a Laker today, is this team about to become addicted to alley-oops?

In LA’s matchup against the Jazz, the first three offensive plays were all alley-oop attempts. LeBron James started it by throwing one to Jaxson Hayes, followed by Luka dishing another to Hayes. Then Luka tried to set up LeBron for an alley-oop, though it didn’t connect. This signals a clear trend: with Anthony Davis traded and Mark Williams sent back, the Lakers want to maximize Hayes’ potential. His elite athleticism is a perfect target for two playmaking giants like James and Luka—throwing lobs to a mobile center comes naturally to them.

Some worry about two ball-dominant stars sharing the rock, but fear not. In Luka’s debut, he showed flashes in three quarters: 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists. His chemistry with LeBron was instant. LeBron even joked, “Austin Reaves is our No. 1 ball-handler here, then Luka, and I’m third.” That speaks volumes—LA’s offensive flow will only improve. The only lingering question: without a traditional big man, how will they match up against teams with dual centers?

But let’s table that for now. For now, let the Lakers run their offense and keep the alley-oops coming.