Luka Doncic’s return to court is reportedly located around the corner.
According to Mark Stein, the new Los Angeles Lakers superstar is currently targeting Monday’s return to the Utah Jazz due to calf tensions.
Doncic has already started training with his team and is taking part in a 5-5 scrimmage on Wednesday. He also joined the Lakers on the bench during Tuesday’s victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
There was earlier hope that Doncic could return as early as Saturday, to the point that ESPN succumbed to the broadcast schedule for the Lakers’ game against the Indiana Pacers that day. Lakers manager JJ Reddick said Doncic could play that day, but TNT’s Jared Greenberg reported Thursday that another 5-5 scrimmage was pushed back on Friday, leading to a delay .
Here’s what Reddick said on Wednesday:
“We’re just valuing it every day. We hope he’ll come back within the next few games,” Redick said after practice. “He was a participant. We had contactless practice today. But we did a good job for about 45 minutes. And at some point he would play a stay-attached game. And then, On two days of Thursday and Friday, he has a little more opportunity to play live basketball. And then he makes a decision on Saturday. If not Saturday, hopefully it’s Monday.”
Doncic has not appeared in the game since Christmas Day, when he suffered a calf injury to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers’ Luka Doncic era is about to begin
The Lakers bought Doncic on Saturday in the most shocking trade in NBA history. In exchange for the first pick with Anthony Davis, who won the Lakers Championship in 2020, and Max Christie, Los Angeles acquired the player who made five straight All-NBA teams, reaching the first NBA final, 25 He’s in the tracks at the Old Hall of Fame.
There were no prior indications that a deal was coming for any of the players involved. Doncic was polite during an introduction press conference with the Lakers on Tuesday, but whispered to grab a grab over the string of events that took him out of Dallas. The Mavericks defended the trade by highlighting the defensive upgrades Davis brings and long-term concerns about Doncic’s conditioning and upcoming Super Max contract.
For Los Angeles, the trade leaves Doncic as the long-term face of the Lakers, with LeBron James venturing into the wrong side of 40 more, perhaps becoming a free agency this offseason. The trade has been widely regarded as a Lakers coup and is on track to show off a new star next week.
