No LeBron? No Problem! That’s probably the sentiment in Los Angeles right now after Luka Doncic helped the Lakers dominate the Denver Nuggets. Doncic put up a 31-point masterclass against Denver yesterday. But now, we can’t help but discuss a savage moment involving the Slovenian and Payton Watson.

Doncic went off during the first quarter in last night’s game with 21 points! Luka’s intensity and grit were on full display last night. He even got into it with a fan. And the 5x All-Star didn’t appreciate it when Payton Watson blocked one of his shots. Watson then immediately told Doncic, “Give me that s–t.” Luka instantly retaliated, saying, “Shut the f— up. You know that.”

Who knew Luka Doncic had this level of petty in him? Probably not Payton Watson. And definitely not the fan who tried to heckle him after a missed free throw.

As Luka stepped to the line, the fan saw an opening and went for it, repeatedly shouting, “Ball don’t lie, Luka!” after his miss. But Doncic wasn’t about to let it slide. With a smirk, he fired back, “I got 20, and you talking about ball don’t lie.”

The fan kept pushing, but this time, Luka drained the free throw. And he made sure to have the last word—turning around, yelling, “Ball don’t f—ing lie!” right back at them. Savage.

The Denver Nuggets seemed like they were the Kryptonite for the Purple and Gold. They knocked LA out in the first round of the playoffs last year and swept them in the Conference finals the year before that. But the Lakers didn’t have Luka Magic on their side during those losses. And his addition to the team has vastly improved them. However, this improvement has been mutually beneficial, as the broadcasters pointed out during the Lakers-Nuggets game.

Live Broadcasters Claim JJ Redick has unlocked something within Luka Doncic that Jason Kidd Never Could

“Defense wins championships. And we’re bringing in one of the best two-way players in the league,” Nico Harrison said, trying to justify the inexplicable Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade.

Sure, he’s not wrong—defense does win championships, and AD is a monster on both ends. But let’s be real—Luka Doncic’s defense is criminally underrated. His insane offensive arsenal steals the spotlight, making it easy to overlook the hustle and effort he puts in on the other end of the floor.

The question is, was this trade really about defense? Or did Dallas just give up a generational offensive talent for a maybe?

But it seems that coach JJ Redick is now taking Luka’s two-way game to another level. The on-air announcers for ESPN’s broadcast of the Lakers-Nuggets game were quick to point this out. “He’s got great instincts, obviously, offensively, but JJ Reddick says he’s got excellent instincts defensively too. He just hasn’t always had that full-time commitment to defense,” said Mike Breen.

Tim Legler then backed him up. “You know, he’s got the IQ for it, and then he also has a component that’s so important for teams defensively… But, Luka ends defensive possessions because he’s such a great defensive rebounder. It’s such a weapon to have as your point guard, a guy that can regularly get eight to ten defensive boards a game,” he added.

And honestly? They’re not wrong! Luka’s defense has been a huge factor in the Lakers’ recent surge. In his last 10 games, he’s racked up 74 defensive rebounds—that’s 7.4 per game. But rebounding is just part of the story.

His elite basketball IQ allows him to see plays develop before they even happen, disrupting offenses before they get going. The proof? He’s averaging 2.2 steals per game over that stretch, showing he’s more than just a scoring machine.

Not only is Luka dropping MVP-level numbers on offense, but he’s also defending at an All-Star level. If he keeps this up, the Lakers might not just compete with the Nuggets—they might leapfrog them in the title race. And somewhere, Nico Harrison has got to be kicking himself right now.