Fans are eagerly anticipating the moment when LeBron James and Luka Doncic play together in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey after the team made a huge trade to acquire Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis. However, it looks like fans will have to wait a little longer for that as Doncic is expected to make his debut for the Lakers on Monday night against the Utah Jazz.

Lakers supporters may also have to watch their team on Saturday without both Doncic and James. On Friday, James was listed as doubtful for the game against the Indiana Pacers due to left ankle soreness, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

If James isn’t available on Saturday, he should be ready for Doncic’s debut on Monday. The former Mavericks star hasn’t played since suffering a calf strain on Christmas Day, so it may take him some time to shake off the rust and get back to full fitness. Still, his talent is enough to deliver big performances, even while working through the recovery process.

If James is sidelined, Saturday will be a tough game for the Lakers without both stars. The Pacers have won seven of their last 10 games and have climbed to fourth place in the Eastern Conference, so beating them without James and Doncic will be a challenge. However, the Lakers have won eight of their last 10 and are riding a four-game winning streak, so they will enter the matchup with confidence, no matter who plays.

The Lakers will be focused on maintaining their top-six position in the Western Conference as they head into the final games before the All-Star break, preparing for the stretch run of the season. If they can avoid falling into the play-in tournament and develop chemistry between Doncic, James, Mark Williams, and the rest of the squad, they could become a formidable playoff contender in the West.