According to the Los Angeles Lakers, Luka Doncic is most likely playing in Monday night’s game against the Utah Jazz. This would be his debut game.

Officially on the injury report, he is listed as “probable.” ESPN has already put the game on their televised schedule, and Los Angeles is giving every fan in attendance a Doncic jersey.

With all these updates before the game, he will play. Unless something significant comes up as a setback, fans tonight will see the debut of the 25-year-old franchise leader.

LeBron James has also been listed as “probable” against Utah. James is expected to be a part of Doncic’s highly anticipated debut.

According to Marc J. Spears, Luka Doncic is looking to make his debut on February 10th against the Utah Jazz. That would line up with his original return date of February 8th.

Doncic had not played a game since he reinjured his calf on Christmas Day. The game against Utah would take place in Los Angeles.

“I’m hearing he’s targeting next week,” said Spears of Doncic’s debut with the Lakers. “The Lakers play at home against Utah next Monday. And on the road in Utah next Wednesday. A potential return from his calf injury.”

This decision was presumably discussed over dinner with JJ Redick after landing in Los Angeles Sunday night.

“I heard when Luka flew in last night, certainly, there was a lot of disappointment, anger, a lot of emotions. When he got in, he got off the plane and he spoke to Rob Pelinka for a while. That’s when reality started hitting. ‘Yo, I’m a Laker. This is kind of cool. This is great. I’m amongst celebrities. I’m in L.A. There’s a history here.'”

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Dallas Mavericks have made the shocking move to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. This is not a parody, as many thought when the news broke.

ESPN and other news sources have confirmed this, as Dallas initiated and sought out this deal with Los Angeles.

A Summary of the entire trade:

• Lakers: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris
• Mavericks: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 first-round pick
• Jazz: Jalen Hood-Schifino, two second-round picks

This blockbuster trade was a surprise, with it being very tight-lipped to the point where Doncic, LeBron, and Davis did not know this was happening. Davis feels “betrayed,” while Doncic remains “stunned.”

Dallas came to Los Angeles with this trade proposal, which soon got sorted through and accepted by both parties. Utah was the facilitating team to complete the transaction.

The Mavericks thought they would be in a better win-now position for a championship by acquiring the defensive stud. They felt as though the 25-year-old wouldn’t have committed to the Supermax contract worth up to $350 million. Plus, the organization saw his weight and conditioning as a problem.

For the Lakers, this is the perfect trade for them. First of all, they didn’t have to give up much to receive the generational player. Second of all, Los Angeles wanted Doncic to be the face of the franchise after LeBron retired from the game of basketball.

Mavericks’ General Manager Nico Harrison said he traded Doncic because “I believe that defense wins championships.”

“I believe that defense wins championships,” Mavs general manager Nico Harrison told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”

Per Marc Stein’s report, Doncic is targeting February 8th as his official return date from his calf injury. It would be two days after the trade deadline.

Due to the injuries, dieting decisions, and conditioning problems, this “motivated” the Mavericks to trade him as quickly as humanly possible.

With Doncic set to join the Lakers, he will no longer be eligible for the Supermax contract.

February 25th is the next time the Lakers and Mavericks are scheduled to face each other.