Luka Doncic Injury Update: Insider drops major report on new Lakers star’s potential injury return

Luka Doncic has reportedly been traded to the Lakers in a blockbuster deal, including Anthony Davis, who will lead Dallas instead. The trade shook the NBA, with little to no information being provided on this deal before it happened on Saturday, five days before the trade deadline.

Doncic's Lakers debut could take time as the teams officially finalize the move. The superstar guard has been injured since Christmas Day. Amid growing speculation of his potential return, insider John Gambadoro reported that Doncic was targeting a return against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 8 if he was still a member of the Dallas Mavericks.

With Doncic traded, he could play in the Lakers' jersey for the first time in the team's home game against the Indiana Pacers. Doncic suffered a left calf strain in his final game with the Mavericks against the Timberwolves on Dec. 25. He was initially set to be re-evaluated on Jan. 27.

Reports surfaced that Doncic was in contention to return before the All-Star break, and nothing has changed in that regard, except the latest update reportedly revealing his potential return date.

New Lakers star Luka Doncic blindsided by blockbuster trade

The Dallas Mavericks and LA Lakers shook the NBA after swapping arguably two of the top five players in the NBA on Saturday, Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis. Both were deemed as franchise cornerstones for the Mavericks and Lakers, respectively.

However, the Mavericks reportedly offered Doncic to the Lakers for Davis, and it didn't take too long for the parties to agree to a trade that is arguably the biggest-ever deal in the NBA. Dallas moved Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris with Doncic for Davis, Max Christie and the 2029 first-round pick.

The Utah Jazz were involved, too, making it a three-team deal. They took on Jalen Hood-Schifino's expiring contract for two second-round picks, one from LA and Dallas each.

The trade was just as shocking to Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis as everybody else in the NBA world. According to Shams Charania, the duo had no idea about these talks, and nor did LeBron James, who shares the same agent as Davis.