Lakers' JJ Redick: No Luka Doncic Minutes Restriction Going Forward After Calf Injury

The NBA All-Star break was well-timed for the Los Angeles Lakers, as Luka Dončić is in line for more action when his team returns to the court.

"He'll be fine," Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters Tuesday when discussing Dončić battling back from a calf injury. "That extra five-six days of All-Star break was good for him. His minutes will be up tomorrow. And I don’t think that there’s going to be any sort of restrictions going forward."

Los Angeles shocked the NBA world by acquiring the five-time All-Star from the Dallas Mavericks in a trade that also included Anthony Davis, but he had to sit out the first handful of games with his new team because of the calf injury that had previously sidelined him.

Dončić's return to the court for a Feb. 10 game against the Utah Jazz was his first contest since Dallas' Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Redick limited him to 24 minutes in that first game with the Lakers and then 23 minutes in the rematch against the Jazz just two days later.

Even in the limited minutes, it was clear what type of impact the five-time All-NBA selection will have on the Lakers. He tallied a combined 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the 47 minutes of action and showed quick chemistry with LeBron James.

Developing that on-court partnership will be critical, as both are ball-dominant playmakers who consistently draw double-teams. Their ability to work into space and read defenses with impressive passing when on the court together will make the Lakers a dangerous postseason matchup because opponents will not be able to double both of them.

Los Angeles opens post-All-Star-Game play with a back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers, so Redick may still need to watch Dončić's minutes in the immediate future.

Still, getting him ready to play 35-plus minutes a night for the stretch run and playoffs is surely the goal.

His ability to do so could also go a long way toward determining the Lakers' eventual seed, as they are in fifth place in the Western Conference standings and just a half-game behind the Houston Rockets and 2.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets.

Even moving up one spot would give the Purple and Gold home-court advantage in the first round, which would make them all the more difficult to eliminate with James and Dončić leading the way.