Luka Doncic is expected to make his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers against the Utah Jazz on Monday evening after they acquired him in a stunning trade with the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 1.
He has been acclimating to his new surroundings after spending six-and-a-half seasons with the Mavericks. After learning about the extent of the devastating wildfires that hit the Southland recently, he is donating $500,000 to relief efforts.
Luka Doncic just donated 500k to LA kids who were impacted by the wildfires ❤️ pic.twitter.com/FOHKPIS6xH
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) February 10, 2025
Of the wildfires that hit the area, the Palisades and Eaton fires were the largest. Many thousands of structures were destroyed, and countless people’s lives have been upended as a result.
The extent of the fires was so immense that the Lakers had two games scheduled for early January against the Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio Spurs postponed.
Still, the Lakers have been coming together as a team lately. They have put together a five-game winning streak and have won 11 of their last 13 games, even though they have been a bit short-handed. Anthony Davis, who was sent away as the main chip in the Doncic trade, last played for L.A. nearly two weeks ago when he sustained an abdominal strain, and LeBron James wasn’t in action on Saturday versus the Indiana Pacers.
Doncic, who is 25 years of age, will give the franchise its next superstar to build around long after James leaves. He has put up James-like numbers by averaging 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists a game for his career so far. He should turbocharge a Lakers offense that has already been humming of late and make things easier on everyone, including James.
Doncic has been out of action ever since he came down with a calf injury on Christmas Day.
There have been questions about how James will ultimately react to not being the main star in the Lakers’ orbit anymore. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that James’ camp took note of how the franchise prioritized Doncic in terms of making roster moves right away after James had asked for roster improvements over the last couple of years.
Los Angeles agreed to send Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round draft pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams, an oft-injured but potential-rich center. However, the trade was rescinded because Williams’ physical revealed multiple issues.
Mark Williams' physical with the Lakers showed multiple issues and the team failed him on the exam, sources tell ESPN. The physical was not failed due to his back, however. https://t.co/lY4XrSIlHf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2025
According to McMenamin’s report, Williams was described by Doncic as someone he wanted to play with in the Purple and Gold.
