When Will Luka Doncic Make His Debut for the Lakers?

Now that one of the wildest trades in NBA history is done, the question on everyone’s lips is when will Luka Doncic make his debut for the Lakers?

Doncic has been on the bench since Christmas due to a left calf injury.

There are multiple reports around about his return, but ESPN’s Shams Charania is reporting that there’s ‘optimism’ that Luka could play his first game with the Lakers Saturday.

“There is optimism he is going to be able to make his Lakers debut on Saturday against Indiana,” Charania said on SportsCenter. “The Lakers have five games before the All-Star break; that was Luka Dončić’s goal to return before the All-Star break even before this trade to L.A.”

Prior to Shams’ report, Marc J Spears says that Luka will take the court slightly later.

“I’m hearing he’s targeting next week, the Lakers play at home against Utah next Monday, and on the road in Utah next Wednesday, a potential return from his calf injury,” Spears said on ESPN.

After the All-Star break, the Lakers will face the Hornets on February 19, so the Slovenian superstar could also make his debut then.

Before the trade was announced, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Mavs were originally planning a February 8 return, but were worried about his conditioning and pushed it back a few days.

Luka’s newest teammate, LeBron James, has pretty much the opposite problem to Luka when it comes to conditioning.

At 40 years of age, he continues to amaze on the basketball court and averaging 34.7 minutes per game this season.

Apparently, LA are really hoping that LeBron will provide a great example to Doncic on the physical commitment it takes to be elite for a long time in the NBA, Dan Woike says.

“The Lakers are hopeful that James can not only pair with Doncic in the short term, but can also provide an example to the young star when it comes to the type of physical commitment it takes to sustain availability and greatness,” Woike wrote.