The second half of the NBA season is set to begin on Wednesday night. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena as they seek to make their push for the playoffs.
Shortly before the break, the Lakers acquired guard Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. It was a move that shocked the NBA world and took many people by surprise. While that sense of shock has faded, the Lakers are finding ways to maximize this roster.
Ahead of this contest against the Hornets, head coach J.J. Redick acknowledged the team will keep Doncic on a minutes restriction but he has hope that won't be the case going forward.
JJ Redick said that the team will keep Luka Doncic on a minutes restriction tomorrow against Charlotte, but he’s hopeful there won’t be a minutes restriction moving forward.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 19, 2025
Luka Doncic Will on Minutes Restriction on Wednesday
Doncic suffered a calf strain on Christmas when he was a member of the Mavs that forced him to miss an extended period of time. The Lakers want to be cautious with him going forward but it's a great development.
Doncic is one of the best players in the league at 25 years old. He's a five-time All-Star and five-time First Team All-NBA selection. He's played in two games with the Lakers thus far and is seeking to find his groove. In those contests, he's averaged 15 points, 4.5 rebounds, and four assists per game in 23.5 minutes.
With more minutes incoming and as he gets healthier, Doncic will play a massive role on this Lakers team. In his career, he logs 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game.
This is something that will greatly benefit LeBron James as well, who turned 40 years old in December. He's still playing at an elite level himself but is dealing with foot and ankle discomfort that caused him to sit out of the All-Star Game.
Having a player like Doncic who can take over the offense while James eases his way back into the fold is an underrated factor that will help Los Angeles.