When Will Luka Doncic Play for the Los Angeles Lakers?

Luka Doncic being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers will probably go down as one of the most shocking trades in NBA history. No one ever expected the Mavs to trade away their franchise cornerstone, who’s in his prime, for an injury-prone Anthony Davis. However, it's been a week since Luka linked up with his new Lakers teammates, but fans are still waiting for his debut. So, when will we finally see him in action?

Reports coming out from LA suggests that Luka Doncic’s debut could come very soon. Luka Doncic hit the practice court for the first time as a Laker after his blockbuster trade from Dallas last weekend. While head coach JJ Redick initially hinted at a weekend debut, it now looks like fans will have to wait until Monday night against the Utah Jazz to see him in action. “Probably more likely Monday,” Redick said. “No commitment made on anything, but probably trending more toward Monday.” 

How is Doncic settling in with his new teammates? 

It’s going to take time for both fans and players to fully process the magnitude of this trade. After all, never before in NBA history has a franchise shipped off its superstar without him actually requesting a move. And while all eyes have been on Luka Doncic’s arrival, Anthony Davis heading the other way has flown somewhat under the radar. Let’s not forget – Davis, not LeBron, was the Lakers’ best player this season. Now, without their defensive anchor, a deep playoff run feels like a long shot. 

LeBron is still adjusting to life without AD, his close friend and teammate for over five years. But despite the shock of the trade, he already sounds eager to link up with Doncic – his self-proclaimed favorite player in the league. Besides LeBron, Luka will also reunite with some of his former teammates. Dorian Finney-Smith, who played for the Mavs from 2016 to 2023, is also really excited to have Doncic back on his side. During a recent interview, he said, “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.” 

But despite the optimism surrounding Doncic’s arrival, many – including the Mavs’ front office – have questioned Doncic’s conditioning and fitness. However, Finney-Smith couldn’t help but laugh at the reports questioning Luka 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)." 

How long has it been since Doncic last played? 

Luka Doncic hadn’t suited up for the Mavericks since suffering a left calf strain on Christmas Day, sidelining him for 19 straight games before his blockbuster trade to the Lakers. Since arriving in LA, the Slovenian superstar has yet to make his debut. He watched from the bench at Intuit Dome on Tuesday night as LeBron James put on a show, leading the Lakers to a dominant 122-97 win over the Clippers – marking their ninth victory in 11 games. Doncic also sat out Thursday night’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors.