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LUKA IN LALA LAND. NBA basketball player Luka Doncic reacts as he attends his first press conference after being traded from Dallas Mavericks to Los Angeles Lakers, at the UCLA Health Training Center, in El Segundo, California, U.S., February 4, 2025. REUTERS/Daniel Cole
REUTERS
After an NBA landscape-shattering trade between Los Angeles and Dallas, Mavericks-turned-Lakers superstar Luka Doncic anticipates debuting against the Utah Jazz, one game after the Lakers' next assignment against Indiana
Five-time All-NBA guard Luka Doncic is expected to make his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday (Tuesday, February 11, Manila time) against the visiting Utah Jazz.
The Lakers host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, but coach JJ Redick said he wasn’t counting on playing Doncic, who is making his way back from a calf injury.
“Probably more likely Monday,” Redick said Thursday night. “No commitment made on anything, but probably trending more toward Monday.”
Doncic took part in 5-on-5 drills at practice on Wednesday without setbacks.
“All is well. All is positive,” Redick said. “Hopefully we get the word at some point in the next few days that he is going to play. We all want to see him in a Laker uniform.”
Doncic was acquired from the Mavericks in a blockbuster deal late Saturday that sent star forward Anthony Davis to Dallas.
Doncic, who turns 26 this month, has been working himself back to health after sustaining a left calf strain in the Mavericks’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas Day.
He has averages of 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 22 games (all starts) this season. He has played only for Dallas in his seven-year NBA career after being selected third overall by the Hawks in the 2018 draft. Atlanta sent his draft rights to the Mavericks in exchange for the draft rights to Trae Young.
In addition to Doncic, the Lakers also picked up Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in the trade. The Mavericks, in turn, received Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick.
The Utah Jazz helped to facilitate the trade and received Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round draft pick via the Los Angeles Clippers from the Lakers. Dallas also sent a 2025 second-round selection to Utah. – Rappler.com
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