Now that one of many wildest trades in NBA historical past is finished, the query on everybody’s lips is when will Luka Doncic make his debut for the Lakers?
Doncic has been on the bench since Christmas on account of a left calf harm.
There are a number of reviews round about his return, however ESPN’s Shams Charania is reporting that there’s ‘optimism’ that Luka might play his first sport with the Lakers Saturday.
“There may be optimism he’s going to have the ability to make his Lakers debut on Saturday in opposition to Indiana,” Charania mentioned on SportsCenter. “The Lakers have 5 video games earlier than the All-Star break; that was Luka Dončić’s aim to return earlier than the All-Star break even earlier than this commerce to L.A.”
Previous to Shams’ report, Marc J Spears says that Luka will take the court docket barely later.
“I’m listening to he’s focusing on subsequent week, the Lakers play at house in opposition to Utah subsequent Monday, and on the street in Utah subsequent Wednesday, a possible return from his calf harm,” Spears mentioned on ESPN.
After the All-Star break, the Lakers will face the Hornets on February 19, so the Slovenian celebrity might additionally make his debut then.
Earlier than the commerce was introduced, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Mavs have been initially planning a February 8 return, however have been apprehensive about his conditioning and pushed it again a couple of days.
Luka’s latest teammate, LeBron James, has just about the other downside to Luka in the case of conditioning.
At 40 years of age, he continues to amaze on the basketball court docket and averaging 34.7 minutes per sport this season.
Apparently, LA are actually hoping that LeBron will present a terrific instance to Doncic on the bodily dedication it takes to be elite for a very long time within the NBA, Dan Woike says.
“The Lakers are hopeful that James cannot solely pair with Doncic within the quick time period, however may also present an instance to the younger star in the case of the kind of bodily dedication it takes to maintain availability and greatness,” Woike wrote.
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