El Segundo, California – Luka Doncic is on track to potentially make his Los Angeles Lakers debut this coming Saturday, as confirmed by coach JJ Redick on Wednesday. Doncic took part in his first practice with the Lakers following a surprising trade from the Dallas Mavericks last weekend. The talented Slovenian had been sidelined since suffering a left calf strain on Christmas Day.
Despite his recent practice, Doncic is not expected to play in the Lakers’ game against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night. However, he could return for either the match against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday or the Utah Jazz on the subsequent Monday. Redick reported that the team is evaluating Doncic’s condition on a day-by-day basis and expressed optimism about his return within the next few games. During his first practice, there was no contact, but the team managed to get about 45 minutes of productive work in. A ‘stay-ready’ game is planned for Doncic in the next couple of days, which will help in making a final decision regarding his return on Saturday.
The interest in Doncic’s return is also reflected in the media. Shortly after Redick’s comments, ESPN announced that it would air the game between the Pacers and the Lakers on Saturday, replacing a previously scheduled Jazz-Suns game.
During Tuesday night’s game at Intuit Dome, Doncic watched as LeBron James led the Lakers to a commanding 122-97 victory over the Clippers, marking the ninth win for the Lakers in their last eleven games. James is still adjusting to the recent trade of his close friend and teammate Anthony Davis but is enthusiastic about teaming up with Doncic, whom he has described as his favorite player in the NBA.
Doncic participated in 5-on-5 drills during his first practice with the Lakers and ended the session chatting amicably with Redick, James, assistant coach Scott Brooks, and Dorian Finney-Smith. Finney-Smith played with Doncic in Dallas for over four years and joined the Lakers shortly after Christmas in a trade with Brooklyn. He remarked on his happiness at having Doncic as a teammate, despite having mixed feelings about how Dallas handled Doncic’s contract situation.
Finney-Smith also addressed the Mavericks’ reported worries regarding Doncic’s conditioning and weight, defending his character and motivation to play. He stated that Doncic is incredibly dedicated and often plays the majority of the game, pointing out how he averaged 40 minutes per game during last year’s playoffs. Finney-Smith dismissed concerns about Doncic’s fitness by highlighting his impressive production on the court.
Redick expressed confidence that Doncic would seamlessly adapt to playing with James and the Lakers’ system. He noted that the key challenge would be understanding the team’s specific language, though he believed Doncic’s extensive basketball knowledge, particularly from his time in Dallas, will facilitate a smooth transition. The Lakers focus on intelligent offensive basketball will be enhanced by Doncic’s ability to read the game, providing an additional dimension to their strategy.
