All eyes in the basketball world had their sights set on LeBron James vs. Nikola Jokic, the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. Every time James suits up for an NBA game, he not only extends his own all-time record, he makes the world wonder if it’ll be his last time playing against a given team or superstar.
While Saturday night was that version of, “Will James ever play Jokic again?”, as the Lakers and Nuggets were facing off in their third and final matchup of the 2025-26 NBA regular season, all eyes wound up glued to Luka Doncic and his seemingly magical, mythical powers.
With approximately six seconds remaining in a tied game (125-125) in overtime, Doncic received a pass from Austin Reaves on the left side of the court just beyond the Nuggets’ three-point line. Doncic continued left, moving away from a double-team, making a measured move along the baseline, in rhythm, fading away from his own basket. He rose, and his shot was up and in with 0.5 seconds remaining in overtime, giving the Lakers a 127-125 lead.
All 18,997 in attendance inside crypto.com Arena erupted, instantly celebrating the Lakers forty-second win of the season. But after the game, it was James who couldn’t hold back, filling his postgame comments to reporters in front of his locker with adulation, and an occasional f-bomb.
“Just a big-time shot by a (expletive) generational player,” James said.
“Just a big-time shot by a f—ing generational player. … We wanted the last shot. We wanted to put the ball in our guy's hands. So, it's going to be just the first of many game winners like that for him and in a Lakers uniform.” – LeBron James on Luka Doncic’s game winner pic.twitter.com/UhTsEIovS6
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 15, 2026
James would go on, giving a more in-depth answer to how and why the ball wound up in Doncic’s hands, rather than his own, or potentially Reaves.’ But first, take a look at the shot itself, as it’s worth watching, more than once, to fully appreciate the generational-talent that is, (Luka) Doncic:
LUKA HITS THE GO-AHEAD JUMPER TO WIN IT FOR THE LAKERS IN OT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/CIkuCBvExv
— NBA (@NBA) March 15, 2026
Doncic’s absolutely incredible shot, brought his final stat-line to 30 points on 10-for-26 shooting from the field, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds, three blocks, and one steal, also accounting for triple-double No. 7 on the season (in 55 games). This heroic performance comes just two days after Doncic set a new Lakers career-high in points when he dropped 51 on the Chicago Bulls.
James went on, doling out nothing but praise for No. 77 following the Lakers’ fifth consecutive win.
“We wanted the last shot. We wanted to put the ball in our guy’s hands… And he just hit one of his patented step-backs, so it’s going to be just the first of many game winners like that for him,” James said.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
