Lakers vs Kings: Luka Doncic calls Novak Djokovic ‘the GOAT’ after LeBron James snap

Luka Doncic has praised Novak Djokovic as the “greatest of all time” after playing a starring role in the Los Angeles’ Lakers’ 128-104 win over the Sacramento Kings in front of the tennis legend.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion posed with Doncic and teammate LeBron James after the Lakers earned consecutive wins, with the Slovenian providing 28 points and nine assists and the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player adding 24 points.

“Novak, for me, is the GOAT,” said Doncic. “For him to be here watching me is unbelievable. I’m really excited he’s here.”

Greatness!@DjokerNole x @KingJames x @lukadoncic pic.twitter.com/W5vMMVM73t

— NBA (@NBA) March 2, 2026

Luka Doncic: Why Lakers guard is ‘daring’ and ‘special’

The Lakers, who ended a three-match losing run by winning 129-101 at the Golden State Warriors, on Saturday, are now 5-5 and sixth in the Western Conference, while the Kings are 2-8 and bottom of the pile.

Doncic joked that he had intentionally fallen over before shooting an off-balance three-pointer during the third quarter.

LUKA, HOW???

Slips, regathers, and swishes the three 🤯 pic.twitter.com/GvOKXFPCY5

— NBA (@NBA) March 2, 2026

“There’s a daring to Luka’s game,” coach JJ Redick said of that moment. “It’s one of the many reasons that makes him such a special player.

“In that stretch from him, he made a bunch of amazing plays and we got our pace back.

“We had six games in eight nights. Then to play back-to-back, one on the road and one at the home, where nobody is getting heavy minutes in either game is important.”

LEBRON HAMMERS HOME THE ALLEY-OOP 👑

Smart hustles for it.
Skips it up to James.
Over to Reaves.
Back to James for the SLAM!

What a sequence 🤯 pic.twitter.com/6jISczJTCx

— NBA (@NBA) March 2, 2026

In 13 minutes of action, the Lakers’ Maxi Kleber made all three of his shots for six points and contributed six rebounds and a block.

“I’ve really enjoyed playing with Maxi since our days at Dallas [between 2018 and 2025],” said Doncic. “He does all the things that sometimes don’t show in the statistics. Playing with him is amazing.”

NBA results: Knicks beat Spurs, Celtics see off 76ers

Elsewhere in the NBA on Sunday, the New York Knicks ended the San Antonio Spurs’ 11-game winning run and the Chicago Bulls ended their 11-game losing spiral by beating the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Boston Celtics reached 40 wins with a 114–98 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers, including 29 points for Jaylen Brown and 27 for Neemias Queta .

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 7-3 at the top of the Western Conference after a 100-87 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

What’s next in the NBA? Fixtures, schedule

The NBA action resumes with four matches on Tuesday.