ESPN isn’t missing the chance to broadcast Luka Doncic’s potential Los Angeles Lakers debut.
NBA fans woke up Sunday to news of a seismic blockbuster. For the first time in league history, two first-team All-NBA players switched places when the Lakers landed Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade involving Anthony Davis.
A calf injury has sidelined Doncic since Christmas, but he could return soon. According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Doncic has a chance to play this Saturday against the Indiana Pacers.
ESPN will hope that’s the case. The network announced Wednesday that it will air Saturday’s game on ESPN, ESPN+, and Disney+ at 4 p.m. ET.
As a result, ESPN dropped Friday’s scheduled Western Conference showdown between the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz.
Meanwhile, the change bumps a marquee men’s college basketball matchup between No. 1 Auburn and No. 6 Florida from ESPN to ESPN2. Pittsburgh and North Carolina move from ESPN2 to ESPNU.
Conspiracy theorists will have plenty to say about the programming changes, but it’s hardly surprising to see ESPN roll out the red carpet for Doncic. Last year’s leading scorer has averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game since joining the league in 2018.
The five-time All-Star will join LeBron James on the famous franchise, which improved to 29-19 with Tuesday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Unfortunately for TNT, Doncic won’t be ready for Thursday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors.
“It won’t take long,” James said of building on-court chemistry with Doncic. “I can play with anybody, and I think he can as well,” he said. “So we’ll work well together.”
If Doncic doesn’t play Saturday, he could instead make his Lakers debut against the Jazz on Monday at 10:30 p.m. ET. That game currently won’t be nationally televised.
Fans will get plenty of more chances to see Doncic in purple and black. The Lakers have three nationally televised games in the last seven days of February and 13 more to finish the regular season.
Related: LeBron James Addresses Future With Lakers After Luka Doncic Trade