By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Confirming earlier projections, before the deal between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers on the blockbuster trade stunning the basketball world, Luka Doncic might be cleared for action and thus debut with the Lakers on Saturday.
Remaining on the injury list with a left calf strain, the 25-year-old Slovenian combo guard watched his new team destroy the Los Angeles Clippers in Intuit Dome on Tuesday. He is expected to also sit out the meeting with the Golden State Warriors in crypto.com Arena on Thursday. However, there is optimism on him playing in the next home game, against the Indiana Pacers on the upcoming installment of NBA Saturdays.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the updated timeline on Tuesday, during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
Laker Lukapic.twitter.com/5IXPfrFLhu
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) February 5, 2025
Following a lopsided win over the Clippers, LeBron James talked about Doncic becoming his new teammate.
“The first time I heard it, I thought it was for sure fake,” he mentioned, “But when AD FaceTimed me, talked to him for quite a while, and even when I got off the phone it didn’t seem real. It didn’t seem real until I saw Luka today and I saw the clip of AD at the Dallas shootaround. That’s when it finally hit me.”
😅 Even LeBron can’t believe Luka is really a Laker!
🗣Lebron James: “Listen, Luka [Doncic] is a big-time player. 25 years old, hasn’t even reached his prime yet, and he’s done some amazing sh*t in our league already… I’m happy to have him, and LA is happy to have him”. pic.twitter.com/4XTRE6Zv0M
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) February 5, 2025
Besides Doncic, German Maxi Kleber is also on the injury list following a move from the Mavs to the Lakers. The 33-year-old forward had surgery on his right foot and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks, he mentioned on Tuesday.