When Did Luka Dončić Finally Step Back on the Court? Latest on Lakers’ Star Ahead of Suns Clash……
Los Angeles — The long-awaited moment arrived: Luka Dončić made his preseason debut for the Lakers on October 14 against the Phoenix Suns, finally ending speculation over when he would take the court.
After sitting out the early preseason games as management and coaching staff proceeded cautiously following his EuroBasket duties, the Slovenian superstar returned with a bang — scoring 25 points, pulling down 7 rebounds, and dishing 4 assists in just 22 minutes of action, despite the Lakers falling 113–104.
Coach JJ Redick noted that Luka’s minutes would gradually ramp up, saying:
> “I would say there will most likely be a ramp-up from Game 1 to Game 2 in Luka’s minutes… what that total number looks like, we’re still talking to Javy [Barrio, Dončić’s athletic trainer] and Luka about what kind of makes sense.”
Redick didn’t sugarcoat his disappointment in the team’s overall effort: he called the performance “frustrating” given how much the supporting cast struggled.
Dončić, meanwhile, sounded both exhilarated and surprisingly humble in his postgame remarks:
> “I felt great … that was probably better than I expected. Those first games are kind of rusty, but I was just very happy to be out there again.”
The return comes just days before the Lakers kick off their regular season — and without a fully healthy LeBron James, who is sidelined with sciatica.
Lakers fans were left in awe — stunned, even — as their new franchise centerpiece showed no signs of rust. If that’s a “warm-up,” imagine what the real season has in sto
