Luka so should make her long -awaited debut against Utah – Orange County Register

Los Angeles – A week after one of the most surprising professions in the history of the NBA, which brought the five -time All -Star Luka Donnte to Los Angeles, the Lakers seem to be on the verge of presenting their new star.

Doncic should make his debut at the Lakers in Monday’s match against Utah Jazz in Crypto.com Arena, the last home game of the Lakers before the stars break.

Lakers will play jazz again on Wednesday in Salt Lake City before the break.

Dononic has been sidelined since December 25 due to a tense left calf. There was optimism that the 25 -year -old star could have returned for the home victory on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers, but that did not materialize.

“For the first time, I took my time to heal it 100%,” said Dononic during his introductory press conference on February 4. “Other times, I just wanted to go back to the field to play basketball and I am not really in good health 100%.

“So this time, I just took my time, which was normal time to return to 100%.”

Similar to Saturday, the NBA announced that Monday Lakers VS Jazz’s match would be a television nationally by ESPN in anticipation of the long -awaited beginnings of Donic.

Saturdays could also be the first time that Douteic and LeBron James have shared speech together as a new punch 1-2 of the Lakers.

James missed the victory on Saturday against the Pacers due to the pain of the left ankle for his fourth failed match of the season.

If everything goes as planned, coach JJ Redick expects to have Donic and James on Monday.

“I don’t know why we wouldn’t do it,” said Redick. “We are not trying to hold the guys. Obviously, with Bron, just a little increased pain on this foot after the other night. And Luka is progressing well, but we will make this decision in real time on Monday. »»

Dononic has already qualified the 40 -year -old James as his “idol”.

“It’s like a dream come true,” said James. “I always look at him. There are so many things I could learn from him. And I’m just excited, just to learn everything and now I can play with him. So it’s an incredible feeling.

The admiration is mutual, James saying that Dononic has been his favorite player for some time.

“I have been looking at him since he entered this league,” said James. “And what he is able to do is special. It is a special super -duper talent. »»

A player who will not be available for Lakers is Mark Williams, with the Lakers Trade with the Charlotte Hornets for the Grand Man of 7 Feet and 241 pounds due to a “failure to satisfy a condition of the trade”. Announced the team on Saturday evening.

Shams Charania d’Espn, citing anonymous sources, reported after the announcement that Williams’s physique with the Lakers showed several problems not linked to the back and that “the team failed him on the exam”.

The trade being canceled, the recruit wing Dalton Knecht, the veteran Wing Cam Rougeâtre and their choice of repechage unprotected in 2031 will return to the Lakers.

Jazz at Lakers

When: Monday, 7:30 p.m.

Or: Crypto.com Arena

TV / Radio: ESPN, Spectrum Sportsnet / 710 AM

Originally published: February 9, 2025 at 2:50 p.m. PST