Lookalike Crashes Lakers Bench Before Rockets Game

A man who resembled Luka Dončić made an unexpected appearance on the Lakers' bench.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 1:53am

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A cubist, geometric painting featuring overlapping planes of purple, gold, and red, conceptually representing the disruption caused by an unauthorized individual on the Lakers' bench.A Luka Dončić lookalike's unexpected appearance on the Lakers' bench raises security concerns ahead of a crucial playoff game.Los Angeles Today

A man who bore a striking resemblance to Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić unexpectedly crashed the team's bench before their playoff game against the Houston Rockets. The unidentified individual, wearing a Lakers jersey, was quickly escorted off the court by security.

Why it matters

Dončić is one of the NBA's biggest stars, so a lookalike showing up on the Lakers' bench caused a stir and raised questions about security protocols at Crypto.com Arena.

The details

The man, who was not named in reports, appeared to be wearing an authentic Lakers jersey with Dončić's number 77. He walked onto the court and sat down on the Lakers' bench, surprising players and staff, before being quickly removed by arena security.

  • The incident occurred just before the start of the Lakers' playoff game against the Houston Rockets on April 18, 2026.

The players

Luka Dončić

A superstar player for the Los Angeles Lakers and one of the NBA's most recognizable faces.

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What they’re saying

“It was a pretty wild scene. One minute the guy's just sitting there, and the next the security guards are rushing over to escort him out.”

— LeBron James, Lakers Forward

What’s next

The Lakers organization and Crypto.com Arena officials are reviewing security footage to determine how the lookalike was able to access the team's bench area.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for tighter security measures at NBA arenas to prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to sensitive team areas, especially during high-profile playoff games.