Luka Dončić is poised to return to full strength for the Los Angeles Lakers, resuming his regular workload. 1 Coach JJ Redick anticipates that Dončić will not be subject to minutes restrictions this week, suggesting a return to full-game action following a period of careful workload management prior to the All-Star break.
“He’ll be fine,” Redick told reporters Tuesday night after the Lakers’ first practice back following the break. “That extra five, six days of All-Star break was good for him. His minutes will be up [Wednesday], and I don’t think that there’s going to be any sort of restrictions going forward.”
Los Angeles Lakers Now Lifting Luka Doncic Minute Restriction
Dončić is set to make his third appearance for the Los Angeles Lakers when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. This game marks his return to action following a six-and-a-half-week absence due to a strained left calf sustained on Christmas Day while playing for the Dallas Mavericks. Dončić participated in the Lakers’ final two games before the All-Star break, but his playing time was carefully managed, totaling just 47 minutes as the team eased him back into competition. The All-Star break then provided Dončić with several days of rest and recovery while the league’s top players gathered in San Francisco for the All-Star Game.
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The Los Angeles Lakers’ acquisition of Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks on February 2nd marked a seismic shift in the NBA landscape, with Anthony Davis heading to Dallas in the impactful trade. As the Lakers prepare to face the Charlotte Hornets, LeBron James’s availability remains uncertain. He missed the team’s final game before the All-Star break and subsequently sat out the midseason exhibition, ending his remarkable 20-year streak of All-Star appearances. James, now 40 years old, is currently managing soreness in his left foot and ankle.
This game between the Lakers and Hornets marks an earlier return from the All-Star break than the rest of the league, a result of a rescheduled game postponed last month due to the devastating wildfires that affected the Los Angeles area. Coach JJ Redick and his family were among those impacted, tragically losing their home in the Pacific Palisades fires. The Lakers’ schedule intensifies after the Hornets game, with three games in three different cities over just four days, including matchups in Portland on Thursday and Denver on Saturday.