Luka Dončić's Lakers Debut Draws 2.01M Average Viewers

Luka Doncic made his highly anticipated debut with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, leading to a significant viewership boost for ESPN, with the game averaging 2.01 million viewers and peaking at 2.55 million. The Lakers triumphed over the Utah Jazz with a score of 132-113, showcasing Doncic's arrival with a warm welcome from fans, including special shirts for attendees. Despite Doncic's modest performance, scoring 14 points in 24 minutes, the game's ratings were reported to be 42% higher than ESPN's average last season. This debut marked the biggest cable audience for an NBA game since Klay Thompson's return in November and highlighted the growing interest in the Doncic-LeBron James partnership. Doncic’s father expressed initial frustration over the trade from Dallas but has since moved on, emphasizing that it’s a common practice in the league. The Lakers' next nationally televised game is set for February 22 against the Nuggets, followed by a matchup with the Mavericks just days later.