Just days after the Lakers acquisition of Luka Dončić rocked the NBA, the commerce has additionally now altered ESPN‘s weekend lineup, with the network moving off the previously scheduled Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns game to highlight the Los Angeles Lakers-Indiana Pacers game this Saturday. That 4 p.m. ET contest at Crypto.com Arena is expected to be Dončić’s debut with the 17-time champion Lakers. It will alsop be out there on ESPN+ and Disney+.
The top-secret, midnight deal that despatched Dončić to the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks was broadly known as “the most shocking trade in NBA history.” It marked the primary time that two all-NBA gamers had been traded for one another throughout the common season — the Mavericks obtained L.A. famous person Anthony Davis. It was all of the extra stunning on condition that Dončić is 25 and never even in his prime but, led the league in scoring final season by averaging 34 factors after which guided the Mavericks to an surprising beginning within the NBA finals.
Dončić had been sidelined in Dallas just lately with a nagging calf pressure, and so missed the Lakers recreation in opposition to cross-town rival the Clippers final night time. Turns out the Lakers didn’t want him and received simply. The famous person was cleared to take part in 5 on 5 follow drills yesterday, based on Lakers coach J.J. Reddick, and video of him taking pictures at follow was posted on-line.
There had been hypothesis about when he would play his first recreation given the harm, however the ESPN schedule swap is a reasonably good indication that he’ll, certainly, play on Saturday. Expect massive rankings.