Luka Dončić was reportedly targeted Monday against jazz to lakers -debut

On By Littum

Luka Dončic’s return to the court is reportedly just around the corner.

Los Angeles Lakers’ new superstar who are currently out due to a veal strain is aimed at a return Monday against Utah Jazz, According to Marc Stein.

Dončić has already started practicing the team and participating in a 5-to-5-scrimmage Wednesday. He also joined Lakers on the bench during their victory on Tuesday against Los Angeles Clippers.

There were previously hopes that Dončić could return as early as Saturday, to the point that Espn bent Lakers’ games against Indiana Pacers that day on her broadcasting plan. Laker’s head coach JJ Redick said there was a chance that Dončić could play that day, but TNT’s Jared Greenberg reported on Thursday that another 5-to-5-scrimming was pushed back until Friday, leading to the delay.

Here’s what Redick said Wednesday:

“We are kind of just to assess that day by day. We hope to have him back within the next few matches, ”Redick said after practice. “He was a participant. We just didn’t have contact practice today. But we got some good job for about 45 minutes. And he has a ready -made game at some point. And over the next two days, Thursday, Friday, he has some more opportunities to play live basketball. And then we make a decision on Saturday. If it’s not Saturday, hopefully it’s Monday. “

Dončić has not appeared in a game since Christmas Day when he sustained a calf injury against Minnesota Timberwolves.

Inglewood, California February 4, 2025-Lakers LeBron James, Left, and Luka Doncic shares laughing at Clippers in the second half on the Intuit Dome on Tuesday. (Wally Scale/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)Inglewood, California February 4, 2025-Lakers LeBron James, Left, and Luka Doncic shares laughing at Clippers in the second half on the Intuit Dome on Tuesday. (Wally Scale/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

LeBron James and Luka Dončić. Soon. (Wally Scale/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Lakers acquired Dončić in perhaps the most shocking trade in the NBA story on Saturday. In return for Anthony Davis, who won a championship with Lakers in 2020, as well as Max Christie and a first round of elections, Los Angeles acquired a player who has made five straight NBA teams, just reached his first NBA finals and is on A Hall of Fame track of 25 years old.

There was no prior indication that the trade was coming – for any of the players involved. Dončić was polite during his initial news conference with lakers on Tuesday but has been whispered to be both Heart Bridge and Seventh About the sequence of events that took him out of Dallas. Mavericks has defended the trade by emphasizing the defensive upgrade that Davis brings and their long-term concerns about Dončić’s conditioning and upcoming supermax contract.

For Los Angeles, trade leaves Dončić as a Laker’s long-term face, while LeBron James ventures further into the wrong side of 40-and possibly free agency this season. The deal has been widely evaluated as a coup for Lakers and they are on their way to showing their new star in the next week.