The Los Angeles Lakers gave their fans plenty to celebrate on Wednesday. For Luka Dončić, making those fans feel part of the season’s first victory mattered, too.

Dončić finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists as the Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 127-105 on opening night. Alongside Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler, he helped deliver an encouraging first look at the team’s new core.

But his connection with the crowd extended beyond the scoring.

“We want the support from fans, I know they work hard, to get to the games, to get to the arena so I always have something in me that, I need to have that connection with the fans,” Dončić said. “So, just trying to welcome them to the new season and, that they know that we really appreciate their support.”

That appreciation accompanied a performance that allowed L.A. to take control well before the closing minutes.

Dončić entered the season with a central role in shaping both the Lakers’ offense and their identity.

His ability to control possessions gives L.A. its offensive foundation. His leadership carries another responsibility: helping a roster with several new pieces develop the familiarity needed to sustain success.

When asked about being a leader and the face of the franchise, Dončić described the opportunity with appreciation.

“Obviously the Lakers, is one of the biggest organizations in the world, if not the biggest,” Dončić said. “It’s a lot of honor just to be the face of the franchise and I hope I can stay here long.”

Wednesday offered an encouraging starting point. Kessler scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds in his regular-season Lakers debut, while Reaves contributed 23 points and six assists.

Their combined 77 points showed how difficult the Lakers can become to defend when both guards create openings and Kessler consistently makes himself available around the basket.

The next step is developing that connection across different opponents and defensive approaches. One productive night provides a useful foundation, particularly for a group still learning its best combinations.

Dončić’s most memorable basket arrived just before halftime, when he connected from half court.

For coach JJ Redick, the shot reflected something he has watched repeatedly, including during their time together in Dallas.

Redick explained that the Lakers shoot for money collected through a team fine system at shootarounds, with Dončić regularly winning those competitions.

That comfort helped explain why the coach was hardly surprised by the opening-night highlight.

For Dončić, though, the larger satisfaction came from returning to meaningful competition.

“Yeah, I couldn't wait for this day to come,” Dončić said. “Obviously, preseason is different thing. You play games, but obviously when the regular season starts, it's a lot of fun. And I'm just happy to be back on court playing.”

The Lakers received an immediate return on that excitement. Their lead reached 35 points in the fourth quarter, giving the home crowd a comfortable finish after months of anticipation.

Dončić now has an opening victory to build on and an opportunity to keep strengthening the connection he wants with both his teammates and Lakers fans.