Lakers to Remove Minutes Restrictions for Luka Doncic This Week

The five-time All-NBA superstar guard is going to be fully unleashed this week.

Feb 10, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) checks on guard Luka Doncic (77) after he was hit in the face against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers' shiny new toy is off the proverbial leash this week.

Per Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet, first-year L.A. head coach JJ Redick has revealed that five-time All-NBA superstar guard Luka Doncic will be playing without a minutes restriction following the team's Wednesday tilt against the Charlotte Hornets.

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The 6-foot-6 pro had played just 24 minutes in each of his first two games as a Laker, both against the Utah Jazz. And it appears that time constriction will remain for one more game. The Hornets game will be the first in a back-to-back set of bouts. Los Angeles will next suit up against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

He's been dealing with a calf strain injury since Christmas Day.

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

Doncic isn't the only Lakers starter who is set to suit up on Wednesday after being limited against the Jazz last week.

Vincent, too, seems to have recuperated from his injury, and has also been cleared to play.

Trudell adds that starting Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, who suffered a facial contusion during the first quarter and sat out the final frames of L.A.'s 131-119 loss to the Jazz last Wednesday, will be available for Los Angeles against Charlotte.

Jaxson Hayes (facial contusion) is cleared after missing the final 3 quarters of the Utah game on Wednesday night. Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent are also available tomorrow against Charlotte after missing that same Utah game.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 19, 2025

Swingman Dorian Finney-Smith, L.A.'s second-most important trade acquisition this season (with apologies to Mark Williams, who's now back with the Hornets after he failed his physical with the Lakers), is also slated to play one of the Eastern Conference's worst teams. Finney-Smith sat out the Jazz loss, as did reserve point guard Gabe Vincent.

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Vincent, too, seems to have recuperated from his injury, and has also been cleared to play.

Trudell also shared footage of the Lakers at a team practice at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo on Tuesday, and noted that Doncic had vanquished his new colleagues in a half-court shooting competition after that practice.

The Lakers are back on the hardwood, with Luka Doncic emerging victorious in a post-practice half-court shot contest (with Dalton Knecht dunking in the background): pic.twitter.com/PFlArbSi2R

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 19, 2025

Across 23.5 minutes in his two games against the Jazz, Doncic has averaged 15.0 points on .407/.267/.500 shooting splits, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks a night.

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