Luka Dončić’s teammates were not about to let a moment like this pass quietly. The Lakers star threw down a two-handed dunk in Tuesday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets, a play so uncommon that the locker room erupted into full-scale trolling after the game. According to Basketball Reference, it was Dončić’s third dunk in the past two seasons, two of them coming since his move to Los Angeles.
The play itself was vintage Luka in everything except the finish. He slipped past a screen, attacked open space, and elevated for a clean slam that had the Lakers bench standing before the ball even hit the floor. What followed was the kind of internal celebration that tends to trend online: teammates replaying the dunk on tablets, zooming in on the rim grab, and jokingly debating whether it qualifies for the league’s dunk tracker at all.
For Dončić, whose game is built on pace control, shot creation, and surgical passing rather than explosive athleticism, the dunk was an unexpected highlight in a season where he has taken on even more offensive responsibility. Since joining the Lakers, his scoring has climbed, his usage has spiked, and his connection with the team’s shooters has created one of the most fluid offenses in the league.
The victory over Charlotte kept Los Angeles near the top of the Western Conference standings. Dončić finished with another high-efficiency performance, combining scoring and playmaking while continuing to build rhythm with the Lakers’ revamped rotation. The locker-room banter underscored the team’s chemistry, something noticeably stronger this season as the franchise pushes for a deep playoff run.
Dončić laughed the trolling off after the game, saying the dunk was “nothing special,” though teammates insisted they might request a commemorative poster. For a player known for step-backs, cross-court lasers, and unhurried brilliance, moments like this are rare enough to become instant talking points.
The Lakers will return to action later this week, and while no one expects Dončić to become a high-flying forward overnight, the team seems determined to make every dunk count.
