After altering its entire programming schedule on Saturday to make way for a Los Angeles Lakers game that notably did not feature newly acquired Luka Dončić or LeBron James, ESPN is gearing up to broadcast the superstar’s anticipated debut in purple and gold.
On Sunday, the network announced it will air Monday night’s game between the Utah Jazz and the Lakers at 10:30 p.m. ET, where Luka Dončić is expected to actually make his debut. The game will be shown on ESPN, ESPN+, and Disney+.
Programming Update: @ESPNNBA will present Luka Dončić’s expected Lakers debut on Monday | 10:30p ET | Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Lakers | ESPN, ESPN+, Disney+
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— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) February 9, 2025
In an effort to ensure Dončić’s debut reaches a national audience, ESPN made several changes to its programming schedule on Saturday. They pushed back the Duke-Clemson college basketball game by 30 minutes to accommodate the new NBA window, coinciding with the much-anticipated return of legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale, who was warmly received by the Clemson crowd at the start of the broadcast. Unfortunately, most viewers missed this memorable moment due to an NBA game that featured neither Dončić nor James.
Despite the setback, ESPN remains committed to showcasing Dončić in a Lakers jersey and is not straying from this strategy for Monday night.
