Luka Doncic may be just 25 years old, but on Saturday night in Memphis, he sounded more like a grizzled veteran in his mid-thirties.
With 33 seconds remaining in a physical, high-scoring battle between the Lakers and Grizzlies, Doncic found himself airborne — and not in the good way.
After receiving an inbounds pass near the sideline, the Slovenian star was shoved by a Grizzlies player and went flying straight into the Memphis bench. The contact, though minor, sent Doncic tumbling into the laps of assistant coaches and staff.
Moments later, as he stood up brushing himself off, cameras caught him muttering with a grin:
“I’m too old for this sh*t.”
The moment went viral instantly. Fans couldn’t get enough of the self-deprecating humor from the Lakers star, who had just spent 38 grueling minutes battling a desperate Grizzlies team.
And he did plenty. Doncic finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, helping guide the Lakers to a 134-127 win.
The victory vaulted them into sole possession of the fourth seed in the Western Conference with eight games remaining. More importantly, it was a bounce-back win after a brutal loss to Chicago in their previous outing.
While Doncic’s numbers were impressive, it was the physicality of the game that took a toll. The Grizzlies hounded him with constant contact, but the whistles were few and far between.
Despite that, Doncic never stopped grinding. And his chemistry with LeBron James continues to grow. In fact, earlier in the game, the two recreated an iconic moment — a no-look pass from Luka leading to a LeBron slam, captured in a photo that mirrored LeBron’s legendary snapshot with Dwyane Wade from their Miami Heat days.
Doncic’s hilarious sideline remark may have been in jest, but the wear and tear on his body is real. He’s logged heavy minutes this season and has carried the Lakers through stretches with LeBron missing time due to injury. But with the King now back, and Austin Reaves rounding into peak form, Doncic no longer has to do it all himself.
Saturday was a testament to that. The Lakers’ Big Three of Doncic, LeBron, and Reaves combined for 85 points, 21 rebounds, and 25 assists, accounting for 120 of the team’s 134 total points. They became the first trio in NBA history to each log at least 25/5/5 with two or more three-pointers made in a single game.
But even amid the history, the highlight fans will remember most?
Luka in the Grizzlies bench, flashing a grin and saying what every NBA veteran has felt at some point: “I’m too old for this sh*t.”
