When is Luka Doncic expected to debut for the Lakers? Latest update on his injury status
The NBA community was taken by surprise on Sunday morning when news broke that the Dallas Mavericks, following their NBA Finals appearance, had traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis and a 2029 first-round draft pick.
Numerous fans criticized the Mavericks’ decision, arguing that a 25-year-old player who recently ranked third in MVP votes holds significantly more value than a 31-year-old who last achieved that in the 2017-18 season. However, the trade comes with a significant concern: Doncic is recovering from a calf injury, sidelining him since Christmas.
He has now missed over a month of games, marking the longest absence in his career, although he has consistently played over 60 games in prior seasons. So, when can we expect to see Doncic in his new Lakers uniform?
Here’s the latest on his calf injury recovery.
Update on Luka Doncic’s injury
Return likely before All-Star weekend
There’s hope that Doncic will be back on the court before the NBA All-Star weekend kicks off on Valentine’s Day. Prior to the trade being confirmed, NBA insider Marc Stein had reported that the Mavericks were looking at a potential return on February 8, but expressed concerns over his conditioning, which pushed the return date back a few days.
John Gambadoro, another reporter, reinforced this by stating that Doncic was expected to return on February 8 for a home game against Houston, following a five-game road trip for the Mavericks.
These updates suggest that Doncic is nearing full recovery and may only need a few extra days to regain his usual form. While the Lakers currently sit fifth in the Western Conference, they are only 4.5 games ahead of the 11th-ranked Golden State Warriors, making them anxious for Doncic’s return.
Watch for February 10 or 12
On Monday, ESPN’s Marc Spears mentioned that Doncic has his sights set on returning either on February 10 when the Lakers face off against the Jazz in LA, or on February 12 when they head to Utah.
These games are the last two for the Lakers before the All-Star break, with their next game after that not slated until February 19 against Charlotte.
