When will Luka Doncic make his Lakers debut? LeBron James' new running mate's potential debut date explored

Luka Doncic’s tenure with the Dallas Mavericks has reportedly come to an end. On Saturday, the Mavericks reportedly traded the Slovenian superstar to the LA Lakers in a blockbuster deal that sent shockwaves throughout the basketball world. The five-time All-Star is now set to team up with LeBron James for one of the most storied franchises in sports history.

Doncic is currently recovering from a left calf strain and has been sidelined since Christmas Day. According to reports, he was initially expected to make his return on Feb. 8.

Following news of his trade to the Lakers, fans were eager to know when he would make his debut in the Purple and Gold. However, with the deal yet to be officially finalized, Doncic’s first game as a Laker may take some time.

Considering his recovery timeline and the Lakers' schedule, Doncic is likely to make his debut in the second week of February. The team would ideally want him to play his first game at Crypto.com Arena in front of their home fans.

LeBron James and the Lakers have a three-game homestand, starting with the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 6, followed by the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 8 and the Utah Jazz on Feb. 10.

Depending on his recovery progress and any last-minute setbacks, Luka Doncic could make his Lakers debut against either the Pacers or the Jazz.

Luka Doncic has already missed several games this season

Luka Doncic has been sidelined for a significant portion of the season due to injury and is expected to miss more time as he continues his recovery. The young point guard has played in only 22 games so far, missing 26 of the Mavericks' 49 games this season.

When healthy, Doncic was performing at an All-NBA level and steadily climbing the MVP rankings. However, having already missed a major portion of the season, the Slovenian superstar is no longer eligible for All-NBA honors or the MVP award.

As for his numbers before the injury, the Lakers' newest addition was averaging 28.1 points per game on 46.4% shooting from the field, including 35.4% from beyond the arc. He also contributed 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game for the Mavericks before being sidelined.