When is Luka Doncic making his LA Lakers debut? Superstar closing in on first game after blockbuster trade
Luka Doncic is finally closing in on making his Los Angeles Lakers debut after his blockbuster trade. The NBA world was sent into a frenzy last Sunday after it was announced that Doncic was being traded to the Lakers. Doncic is almost ready to make his Lakers debutGetty In one of basketball’s most crazy, unexpected moves ever, the Dallas Mavericks swapped their franchise man for Anthony Davis. Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris also joined the Lakers in the switch, with Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick going to Dallas. Doncic is reported to have cried when he found out about the move but he’s now in LA and set for his debut. Lakers fans have seen him sitting courtside watching LeBron James and co. in their last couple of games. Now, they’re going to get to see him on the court… When is Doncic making his Lakers debut? Doncic looks set to make his debut on Monday, February 10. Lakers head coach JJ Redick said on Thursday: “Probably more likely Monday. No commitment made on anything. “But probably trending more toward Monday.” That would see Doncic miss the Indiana Pacers game on Saturday, which would be a blow to ESPN after they swapped their coverage. Instead, Doncic now looks likely to debut against the Utah Jazz. Doncic has been carrying an injury since ChristmasGetty Speaking more on his new superstar’s condition, Redick continued: “All is well. All is positive. “Hopefully we get the word at some point in the next few days that he is going to play. We all want to see him in a Laker uniform.” He added: “We want him to feel confident. We want our medical staff to feel confident. We don’t want to rush anything here. “I think we’re all anticipating that. I know the fans are anticipating that, and certainly our players and our coaching staff are anticipating that. “I think the one thing we all have in the back of our mind as we’ve shifted and had to recalibrate here in the last week — we’re not going to be able to just snap our fingers and it’s all going to work right away. “There’s work to be done once he’s healthy and back in the lineup, and that’s going to be fun.” Doncic hasn’t played an NBA game since Christmas Day after suffering a calf strain while with the Mavericks. It’s been over a month since he took to the court and he’s already missed multiple games with the Lakers. The injury is one of the reasons why Doncic is not going to be taking part in the All-Star game later this month. Before his trade, reports claimed that the Slovenian was aiming for a potential comeback to action on February 8. And that was the date that Lakers head coach Redick suggested Doncic would make his debut for the team. However, he now isn’t expected to feature against the Pacers, instead making his first appearance on Monday.
Luka Doncic is finally closing in on making his Los Angeles Lakers debut after his blockbuster trade.
The NBA world was sent into a frenzy last Sunday after it was announced that Doncic was being traded to the Lakers.
In one of basketball’s most crazy, unexpected moves ever, the Dallas Mavericks swapped their franchise man for Anthony Davis.
Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris also joined the Lakers in the switch, with Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick going to Dallas.
Doncic is reported to have cried when he found out about the move but he’s now in LA and set for his debut.
Lakers fans have seen him sitting courtside watching LeBron James and co. in their last couple of games.
Now, they’re going to get to see him on the court…
When is Doncic making his Lakers debut?
Doncic looks set to make his debut on Monday, February 10.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick said on Thursday: “Probably more likely Monday. No commitment made on anything.
“But probably trending more toward Monday.”
That would see Doncic miss the Indiana Pacers game on Saturday, which would be a blow to ESPN after they swapped their coverage.
Instead, Doncic now looks likely to debut against the Utah Jazz.
Speaking more on his new superstar’s condition, Redick continued: “All is well. All is positive.
“Hopefully we get the word at some point in the next few days that he is going to play. We all want to see him in a Laker uniform.”
He added: “We want him to feel confident. We want our medical staff to feel confident. We don’t want to rush anything here.
“I think we’re all anticipating that. I know the fans are anticipating that, and certainly our players and our coaching staff are anticipating that.
“I think the one thing we all have in the back of our mind as we’ve shifted and had to recalibrate here in the last week — we’re not going to be able to just snap our fingers and it’s all going to work right away.
“There’s work to be done once he’s healthy and back in the lineup, and that’s going to be fun.”
Doncic hasn’t played an NBA game since Christmas Day after suffering a calf strain while with the Mavericks.
It’s been over a month since he took to the court and he’s already missed multiple games with the Lakers.
The injury is one of the reasons why Doncic is not going to be taking part in the All-Star game later this month.
Before his trade, reports claimed that the Slovenian was aiming for a potential comeback to action on February 8.
And that was the date that Lakers head coach Redick suggested Doncic would make his debut for the team.
However, he now isn’t expected to feature against the Pacers, instead making his first appearance on Monday.
