Luka Doncic ought to make his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers quickly.
On Wednesday, Doncic participated in his first observe with the Lakers since becoming a member of the crew in a surprising commerce with Dallas final weekend. Regardless of Lakers coach JJ Redick initially saying Donic may make his debut over the weekend, it’s going to now in all probability come Monday night time towards the Utah Jazz.
“Most likely extra doubtless Monday,” Redick mentioned. “No dedication made on something, however in all probability trending extra towards Monday.”
This is what else we learn about when Doncic will swimsuit up for the Lakers.
How lengthy has it been since Doncic final performed?
The Slovenian famous person hadn’t performed for the Mavericks since he strained his left calf on Christmas Day. He missed the Mavs’ subsequent 19 video games till he was traded to the Lakers.
The Lakers have performed two video games since Doncic landed in LA. Doncic watched from the bench at Intuit Dome on Tuesday night time whereas LeBron James led a 122-97 blowout of the Clippers for the Lakers’ ninth victory in 11 video games. He didn’t play towards the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night time, both
Is there an opportunity Doncic performs on Saturday?
It is unlikely at this level that Donic will play when the Lakers host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.
“We would like him to really feel assured,” Redick mentioned Thursday. “We would like our medical workers to really feel assured. We do not wish to rush something right here. I feel we’re all anticipating that. I do know the followers are anticipating that, and positively our gamers and our teaching workers are anticipating that. I feel the one factor all of us have behind our thoughts as we have shifted and needed to recalibrate right here within the final week — we’re not going to have the ability to simply snap our fingers and it is all going to work instantly. There’s work to be completed as soon as he is wholesome and again within the lineup, and that is going to be enjoyable.”
Doncic participated in a 5-on-5 “stay-ready” recreation with teammates and the Lakers’ teaching workers Wednesday, and Redick mentioned Doncic has skilled no setbacks in his restoration from the calf damage.
“All is effectively. All is optimistic,” Redick mentioned. “Hopefully we get the phrase sooner or later within the subsequent few days that he’s going to play. All of us wish to see him in a Laker uniform.”
He ended the exercise on the court docket chatting with Redick, James, assistant coach Scott Brooks and ahead Dorian Finney-Smith, who was Doncic’s teammate in Dallas for four-and-a-half seasons. Finney-Smith joined the Lakers shortly after Christmas in a commerce with Brooklyn.
“We’re type of simply assessing it day-to-day,” Redick mentioned Wednesday. “We hope to have him again inside the subsequent few video games. We simply had noncontact observe at present, however we obtained some good work in for about 45 minutes, and he’ll have a stay-ready recreation sooner or later over the subsequent two days. He’ll have some extra alternatives to play reside basketball, after which we’ll decide on Saturday. If it is not Saturday, hopefully it is Monday. [But] these choices will probably be made on Saturday.”
How is Doncic jelling to date together with his teammates?
James remains to be coming to grips with the commerce of Anthony Davis, his shut good friend and teammate for five-and-a-half years, however already sounded enthusiastic about forming a brand new partnership with Doncic, his self-described favourite NBA participant.
“Though I do not like the best way issues went down — I really feel like he positively ought to have gotten that cash — however I am completely satisfied he is on my facet now,” Finney-Smith mentioned.
Finney-Smith additionally laughed on the Mavs’ reported issues about Doncic’s conditioning and weight.
“I do know him, [and] he needs to play the entire recreation,” Finney-Smith mentioned. “I feel like he performed 40 minutes each recreation final playoffs. That is one factor about LD. He needs to play. I do not actually take a look at the noise. I take a look at his manufacturing. If I am placing up these sorts of numbers, perhaps I must be 270 [pounds].”
Will the Dallas Mavericks remorse buying and selling Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers?
At any time when Doncic will get again on the court docket, Redick would not assume he could have many issues adjusting to taking part in alongside James within the Lakers’ schemes on each ends.
“The most important studying curve is simply the language,” Redick mentioned. “He is aware of basketball. He is aware of it at a excessive stage. We use numerous the ideas that he utilized in Dallas, which numerous groups use. We’ve not reinvented the wheel or something. We’re trending within the route of taking part in actually clever offensive basketball, and then you definitely add in Luka, who’s a supercomputer on the court docket, who can see every little thing and has seen each protection, each protection, it provides one other layer for certain.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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