Now that the dust has settled on one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, the next step is about to begin. Luka Dončić is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, who gave up Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick in exchange for one of the best players in the world.
But, now that he’s officially a member of the purple and gold, fans are beginning to wonder, when will Dončić make his Los Angeles debut?
What Is Luka Dončić’s Injury?
Before he got unceremoniously shipped off to LA, Dončić had been nursing a calf injury that he suffered on Christmas Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The lengthy layoff has made him ineligible for any awards this year. Nevertheless, as he said in his introductory press conference, the Slovenian is looking to come back fully healthy this time.
“For the first time, I took my time. Get it to heal 100%. Other times, I think I just wanted to get back on the court and playing basketball and not really be healthy 100%. This time, I just took my time, which was a normal amount of time, to get back to 100%.”
Similar calf issues have persisted throughout Dončić’s career, with the former Dallas Mavericks guard missing time in the preseason and even during the 2022 NBA playoffs due to injury concerns.
Yet, there is some good news for Lakers fans. That time on the shelf is nearing its end.
When Is Dončić Returning?
During the same press conference, it was Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka who detailed the timeline for his newest acquisition’s return.
“We have 5-on-5 scheduled tomorrow for Luka and we’re going to take it one day at a time just to make sure that the calf injury is at a good and safe place. So I would truly say, at this point, he’s day-to-day. We’re going to take it one step at a time. But if all those days go well and Luka feels good and confident, he’ll be in a game soon.”
Since then, the Lakers have played one more game, against their city rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers. During the broadcast, sideline reporter Jared Greenberg mentioned that the expectation around the Los Angeles team was that his debut could come on Saturday, Feb. 8, against the Indiana Pacers.
Even by the earliest estimates, that puts the game against the Golden State Warriors out of reach. But worry not Lakers fans, the moment when Dončić and LeBron James share a court together isn’t too far away.
How Does Dončić Impact the Los Angeles Lakers?
For this season, Dončić might not be able to make a major impact. That’s because playing alongside another ball-dominant wing in James will take some getting used to. There might be some adjustments and growing pains.
Moreover, with Davis departing from a team ranked 21st on defense, a drop-off on that side of the floor is a near guarantee. Still, there is infinite upside to the Lakers acquiring Dončić.
A five-time All-Star and first-team All-NBA selection at just 25, Dončić theoretically has the entirety of his career ahead of him. And there is a real possibility that he spends the rest of it with the Lakers, and they are instant contenders for the next decade-plus.
But even in the short term, with the addition of Mark Williams to the lineup, the Lakers are treating this season as a priority. If the team can gel together quickly, rising from the No. 5 seed might not take much time.
On the season, Dončić is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game.
