LOS ANGELES — One week after one of the most surprising trades in NBA history, which brought five-time All-Star Luka Doncic to Los Angeles, the Lakers appear to be on the cusp of showcasing their newest star.
Doncic is expected to make his Lakers debut in Monday’s game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers’ last home game before the All-Star break.
The Lakers will play the Jazz again on Wednesday in Salt Lake City before the break.
Doncic has been sidelined since Dec. 25 because of a strained left calf. There was optimism that the 25-year-old star could’ve returned for Saturday’s home win over the Indiana Pacers, but that didn’t come to fruition.
“For the first time, I took my time to get it to heal 100%,” Doncic said during his introductory press conference on Feb. 4. “Other times I just wanted to go back on the court playing basketball and not really be healthy 100%.
“So this time, I just took my time, which was a normal amount of time to get back to 100%.”
Similar to Saturday, the NBA announced that Monday’s Lakers vs. Jazz matchup will nationally-televised by ESPN in anticipation of Doncic’s highly-anticipated Lakers debut.
Saturday could also be the first time Doncic and LeBron James share the floor together as the Lakers’ new 1-2 punch.
James missed Saturday’s win over the Pacers because of left ankle soreness for his fourth missed game of the season.
If everything goes according to plan, coach JJ Redick expects to have Doncic and James on Monday.
“I don’t know why we wouldn’t,” Redick said. “We’re not trying to hold guys out. Obviously, with Bron, just a little bit of increased soreness on that foot after the other night. And Luka is progressing well, but we’ll make that decision in real time on Monday.”
Doncic has previously referred to the 40-year-old James as his “idol”.
“It’s just like a dream come true,” Doncic said of James. “I always look up to him. There’s so many things I could learn from him. And I’m just excited, just to learn everything and now I get to play with him. So it’s an amazing feeling.”
The admiration is mutual, with James saying Doncic has been his favorite player for a while.
“I’ve been watching him since he got into this league,” James said. “And what he’s capable of doing is special. He’s a super-duper special talent.”
A player who won’t be available for the Lakers is Mark Williams, with the Lakers’ trade with the Charlotte Hornets for the 7-footer, 241-pound big man being “rescinded” because of a “failure to satisfy a condition of the trade,” the team announced on Saturday evening.
ESPN’s Shams Charania, citing unnamed sources, reported after the announcement that Williams’ physical with the Lakers showed multiple non-back-related issues and that “the team failed him on the exam.”
With the trade being voided, rookie wing Dalton Knecht, veteran wing Cam Reddish and their 2031 unprotected first-round draft pick will return to the Lakers.
JAZZ AT LAKERS
When: Monday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/radio: ESPN, Spectrum Sportsnet/710 AM
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