Luka Doncic is nearing his Los Angeles Lakers debut after participating in his first practice with the team. The Slovenian superstar, acquired in a trade from Dallas, could take the court against Indiana on Saturday or Utah on Monday.
Luka Doncic could make his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. Doncic participated in his first practice with the Lakers since joining the team in a stunning trade with Dallas last weekend. The Slovenian superstar hadn't played for the Mavericks since he strained his left calf on Christmas Day.
Doncic won't play when the Lakers open a three-game homestand against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, but last season's NBA scoring champion has a good chance to return when the Lakers host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday or the Utah Jazz on Monday night. 'We're kind of just assessing it day by day,' Redick said. 'We hope to have him back within the next few games. We just had noncontact practice today, but we got some good work in for about 45 minutes, and he'll have a stay-ready game at some point over the next two days. He'll have some more opportunities to play live basketball, and then we'll make a decision on Saturday. If it's not Saturday, hopefully it's Monday. (But) those decisions will be made on Saturday.' The NBA's broadcasters were paying attention: Shortly after Redick spoke, ESPN announced it would televise the Pacers-Lakers game on Saturday, bumping a Jazz-Suns game.Doncic watched from the bench at Intuit Dome on Tuesday night while LeBron James led a 122-97 blowout of the Clippers for the Lakers' ninth victory in 11 games. James is still coming to grips with the trade of Anthony Davis, his close friend and teammate for 5 1/2 years, but already sounded excited about forming a new partnership with Doncic, his self-described favorite NBA player. Doncic participated in 5-on-5 work in his first Lakers practice. He ended the workout on the court chatting with Redick, James, assistant coach Scott Brooks and forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who was Doncic's teammate in Dallas for 4 1/2 seasons. Finney-Smith joined the Lakers shortly after Christmas in a trade with Brooklyn. 'Even though I don't like the way things went down — I feel like he definitely should have got that money — but I'm happy he's on my side now,' Finney-Smith said. Finney-Smith also laughed at the Mavs' reported concerns about Doncic's conditioning and weight. 'I know him, (and) he wants to play the whole game,' Finney-Smith said. 'I think like he played 40 minutes every game last playoffs. That's one thing about LD. He wants to play. I don't really look at the noise. I look at his production. If I'm putting up those kinds of numbers, maybe I should be 270 (pounds).' Whenever Doncic gets back on the court, Redick doesn't think he will have many problems adjusting to playing alongside James in the Lakers' schemes on both ends. 'The biggest learning curve is just the language,' Redick said. 'He knows basketball. He knows it at a high level. We use a lot of the concepts that he used in Dallas, which a lot of teams use. We haven't reinvented the wheel or anything. We are trending in the direction of playing really intelligent offensive basketball, and then you add in Luka, who's a supercomputer on the court, who can see everything and has seen every coverage, every defense, it adds another layer for sure.
LUKA DONCIC LOS ANGELES LAKERS NBA TRADE DEBUT LEBRON JAMES INDIANA PACERS UTAH JAZZ
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
When will Luka Doncic debut with Lakers?Both Doncic and the Lakers seem certain he’ll be in uniform soon, hinting it could be before the Lakers finish their current stretch of four games in Los Angeles over the next seven days.
Read more »
Luka Doncic Could Debut for Lakers on SaturdayLuka Doncic, acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers in a trade, could make his debut as early as Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. Doncic, who has been recovering from a calf strain, participated in his first practice with the team and is expected to play live basketball in the next two days. Coach JJ Redick said the decision will be made on Saturday, with Monday's game against the Utah Jazz as another possibility.
Read more »
Luka Doncic Traded to Lakers, Expresses Gratitude to Dallas FansLuka Doncic, the Slovenian superstar, has been traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. Doncic penned an emotional farewell message to Dallas fans, expressing his gratitude for their support and acknowledging his desire to have spent his entire NBA career with the Mavericks. The trade marks a significant shift for both teams, with the Lakers gaining a young, talented star and the Mavericks entering a new era.
Read more »
Doncic Thanks Dallas Fans After Shock Trade To LakersLuka Doncic bids farewell to Dallas Mavericks fans after being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Read more »
Luka Doncic Bids Emotional Farewell to Dallas as Trade to Lakers FinalizedLuka Doncic penned an emotional goodbye to Dallas on February 2nd, the same day he was officially traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. Doncic expressed his deep gratitude to the city for its unwavering support throughout his tenure with the Mavericks, highlighting the special bond he formed with the fans. Despite the trade, Doncic remains thankful for the opportunities he had in Dallas, vowing to continue pursuing his passion for basketball and bringing joy to fans wherever he plays.
Read more »
Luka Doncic Traded to Lakers in Blockbuster Deal Involving Anthony DavisIn a surprising turn of events, the Dallas Mavericks have traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. The deal, which also involves the Utah Jazz, is considered a major shakeup in the NBA. Doncic, a three-time All-Star, joins LeBron James and a young Lakers core, while Davis heads to Dallas to team up with Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks, aiming for a more defensive-minded approach, believe Davis will be a valuable asset.
Read more »