LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic is set to resume his efforts with the Los Angeles Lakers, and indications suggest he will be back to his usual performance levels soon.
According to Coach JJ Redick, Doncic will likely not face any restrictions on his minutes this week following a cautious reintroduction into the lineup before the All-Star break.
Doncic will take the court for the third time since his return when the Lakers take on Charlotte on Wednesday night. He missed 6 1/2 weeks due to a strained left calf injury sustained on Christmas while playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
Prior to the All-Star break, the Slovenian sensation played in the last two games for the Lakers, totaling just 47 minutes of playtime as the team carefully integrated him back into gameplay. Following this, Doncic benefited from several days of rest while other top NBA players participated in the All-Star Game in San Francisco.
Redick commented to media on Tuesday after the Lakers’ practice, stating, “He’ll be fine. That extra five, six days of All-Star break was good for him. His minutes will be up on Wednesday, and I don’t think there’s going to be any sort of restrictions going forward.”
Doncic made a major move to the Lakers on February 2 in a blockbuster trade that involved sending Anthony Davis to the Mavericks.
In addition, LeBron James is currently listed as questionable for the matchup against the Hornets. He missed the final regular-season game before the All-Star break and was unable to participate in the exhibition, marking the end of his 20-year streak of All-Star appearances. The veteran forward is dealing with soreness in his left foot and ankle at 40 years of age.
The Lakers and Hornets are returning to action earlier than other NBA teams due to a rescheduled game, initially postponed due to devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Redick and his family were impacted by the Pacific Palisades blaze, losing their home in the process.
Following the All-Star break, Los Angeles will undertake a challenging schedule with three games across three cities in four days, including matchups in Portland on Thursday and Denver on Saturday.
