A key figure in Los Angeles is undoubtedly doing backflips right now…

The NBA and its fans are still processing the shock waves sent through the basketball world when the Los Angeles Lakers landed a stunning trade to acquire Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. While others are still taking it all in, there will be one man in Los Angeles who is happier than anyone else and ready to maximize this opportunity.

Doncic is working his way back from a calf injury at the moment, which will delay his debut with the Lakers for a little bit longer. However, told ESPN that it should not be too long of a wait to see the Slovenian superstar  on an episode of SportsCenter.

“Luka Dončić has been returning to basketball activities since that calf injury that he had, the calf strain. He’s had multiple calf strains over the last several years. He’s had two calf injuries just this year. But he has returned to practice and, from what I’m told, the goal is for him to make his Lakers debut before the All-Star break.”

Shams Charania

With the NBA All-Star break set to begin on Feb. 14, Doncic’s targeted return date should be on the horizon. Until then, one would imagine Lakers head coach JJ Redick is jumping for joy, staying up late at night, imagining all the creative ways in which he can utilize his new offensive weapon.

Redick’s history with Doncic makes this new pairing a great match

Redick has done a good job with  during the 2024-25 NBA season. The Lakers rank 13th in the league when it comes to offensive rating. While the roster remains a work in progress, that pairing of Redick and Doncic should yield results pretty quickly.

It is easy to forget now, but the Lakers head coach spent his final season in the league with the Mavericks. That 2020-21 campaign wound up being his last in the NBA. Before leaving the game behind as an active player, Redick got an up close and personal look at what makes Doncic tick as a player.

The two have seemingly maintained a relationship since the Lakers head coach finished his playing days. Doncic has made multiple appearances on Redick’s podcast in the last few years.

The best basketball that Luka will play in Los Angeles likely will not be in 2024-25. The around Doncic’s playing style first. However, once Rob Pelinka gets the extended opportunity to do so this offseason, this could end up becoming one of the best player-coach tandems in the NBA.