Nearly a week has passed since the Lakers fell to the Bucks on March 13, but Luka Doncic’s performance that night is still a hot topic. With LeBron James sidelined, the 5x All-Star did everything he could to keep L.A. in the fight, dropping 45 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Despite his efforts, the Lakers couldn’t avoid a 126-106 loss. But it wasn’t just about the stats—Doncic had a little fun at Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother, Thanasis, who was courtside. TNT’s Brian Anderson even pointed out how Doncic kept looking in Thanasis’ direction after knocking down shots, almost like he had a point to prove.

One of the standout moments came in the second quarter when the Slovenian drained a three and immediately locked eyes with Thanasis. The Bucks forward wasn’t just a silent spectator, though—he responded with a few words and a smirk, keeping the playful back-and-forth alive.

And now he has finally revealed what they talked about.

During an episode of Thanalysis Show, Thanasis made it clear that there was no trash talk—just a friendly exchange between two longtime friends. “I was like, ‘Hey, what’s up, bro?’ He’s good, hermano, what’s up and everything, you know, he speaks Spanish,” Thanasis explained. He also revealed that their conversations shift between languages, saying, “Actually, it doesn’t matter that. It’s funny, like, you know, whichever one.”

Thanasis also shared how the 6-foot-6 guard playfully responded to their interaction mid-game. “He was like, ‘Hey man, today,’ and I’m like, ‘Hey, hey, take your time.’ He was like, ‘No, no, I gotta play today.’ So that’s what it was like—he was scoring, he looked at me like, ‘I told you, I gotta play today. I gotta play.’”

For those who thought Thanasis was fueling the Lakers’ superstar’s dominant night, he pushed back on that idea. “What do you mean stop?” he said when asked if he ever considered easing up on the banter. The host said “I got a text that night that said, ‘TA needs to stop talking s— to Luka. We don’t need him going off for 80.’”

Beyond their NBA matchups, Thanasis revealed a deeper connection with Dončić, dating back to their European basketball days. Before Luka Doncic became an NBA superstar, he had already faced off against the elder Antetokounmpo in a high-stakes battle overseas.

When Doncic was asked about the craziest atmosphere he’s ever played in, yes, the same viral clip, he didn’t even have to think. “It was the Quarter-Finals of the EuroLeague against Panathinaikos, in OAKA,” he said. That series was pure chaos, and Thanasis was right in the middle of it.

“When we played against each other… for the Final Four in the EuroLeague, it was Panathinaikos vs. Real Madrid. Coach was like, ‘Thanasis, you got an assignment.’ I was like, ‘What?’ ‘You gotta chase this kid around.’ And I remember I was chasing him like there was no tomorrow,” Thanasis recalled.

For those who still think there was tension, Thanasis made it clear they’re friends, Luka even calls him when he’s in Green. But more importantly, he felt that even if they weren’t, the former Bucks player doesn’t get the hype. “Why does everybody have to be so many? So, friends, I understand. You don’t have to be enemies, but why do I have to be friends with everybody?” he said.

Fast forward to today, and their dynamic is still just as entertaining. That viral moment where Dončić stared down Thanasis after drilling a three? Just another chapter in a long-standing battle that started in Europe. But Doncic wasn’t just having fun—he was putting on a show. And his latest masterpiece came against the Lakers‘ biggest postseason roadblock, the Denver Nuggets.

Luka Doncic has another phenomenal night without LeBron James

For the Lakers, facing the Nuggets had been a nightmare. Two straight postseason exits at Denver’s hands made it feel like they had the upper hand, no matter the matchup. But then, everything changed. L.A. landed Luka Doncic, and suddenly, the hunted became the hunter. The Purple & Gold have now taken two of their last three games against Denver. Even in the lone loss, a shorthanded squad pushed them to the brink.

Their latest win? A 120-108 beat down on Wednesday night that didn’t even tell the full story.

Luka was locked in before the game even started, walking onto the court like it was his personal stage, Slovenian music blasting. When the game tipped off, he went straight to work—setting up a Jaxson Hayes dunk, grabbing boards, drilling jumpers, and putting the Nuggets in a hole before they knew what hit them.

Luka had already dropped 20 in the first quarter. The Lakers never trailed, ballooning their lead to 30 while Nikola Jokic could only watch from the bench. Last year, fans joked about L.A. dodging Denver in the playoffs. Now? With Doncic at the helm, they might just be itching for that rematch.