LOS ANGELES — The recent trade that brought Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers has significantly changed the outlook for a franchise eager to make another championship push alongside veteran LeBron James and star Anthony Davis. The presence of Doncic, a dynamic player, has energized the team, creating a promising decade ahead. If he can quickly establish chemistry with James, the Lakers could become serious contenders for the title this season, especially if they manage to fill the center position left vacant by Davis’s absence.
However, any ambitions for a strong season finale hinge on Doncic’s recovery and his subsequent debut with the Lakers. The 25-year-old Slovenian guard has not played since Christmas, which has unfortunately excluded him from being eligible for the All-NBA team for the first time in five years.
Doncic’s injury occurred when he strained his left calf during the second quarter of a game against Minnesota. The injury was severe enough that he remained on the court while the play continued and later limped to the locker room. Consequently, he missed the next 19 games and returned to the Mavericks’ lineup for just two games before suffering another setback. Prior to that, he was sidelined for two more games due to a bruised left heel. Since his rookie season in 2018-19, Doncic has only managed to play in 70 games during a single season.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka indicated that Doncic will engage in 5-on-5 practice drills soon, which is a significant step toward his return. Following this practice, the team plans to collaborate with Doncic’s personal training staff to strategize his comeback. Both Doncic and the Lakers express optimism about his imminent return, potentially before the conclusion of their current home game stretch against the Clippers and three more contests in Los Angeles over the upcoming week.
Doncic has committed to a cautious approach this time around, emphasizing the importance of allowing his injury to heal fully, especially after previously playing through minor injuries that ultimately set him back. “For the first time, I took my time (to) get it to heal 100%,” Doncic mentioned. He stressed the difference this time, saying he aimed to avoid returning before being completely healthy.
With 34 games remaining in the regular season after Tuesday night’s matchup, the Lakers have plenty of time to carefully manage Doncic’s return. Pelinka reassured fans, stating, “We’re going to take it one day at a time just to make sure that the calf injury is in a good and safe place.” He added that Doncic’s status is currently “day to day,” and if all goes well with his recovery, Doncic could be playing soon.
Quando Luka joins the roster, the Lakers will likely have him starting alongside the versatile Austin Reaves in the backcourt. He is expected to take over the role held by Max Christie, the young player who was recently traded to the Mavericks along with Davis. Since trading D’Angelo Russell on December 29, Los Angeles has not relied heavily on a traditional point guard, although veteran Gabe Vincent remains in the rotation.
While James and Reaves have been driving a large portion of the Lakers’ offense, Doncic is known for holding the ball often. This aspect could align well with James’s desire to play more off-ball this season. A key strategy will likely involve using pick-and-roll plays that make the most of James and Doncic’s collective talents. Former NBA player JJ Redick, who has played with Doncic in Dallas, would surely be excited to envision how they could create scoring opportunities together.
On the defensive side, the Lakers may face challenges without Davis providing rim protection, possibly causing an overall decline in their defensive performance. Nevertheless, it’s not hard to envision James and Doncic attempting to win games through sheer offensive capability, a plan that may often be feasible given their exceptional skills.
