The Los Angeles Lakers are just 4-5 since having their seven-game winning streak snapped, and their two most recent losses came without Luka Doncic on the floor.
Doncic started against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 20 but played just 20 minutes before being ruled out for the rest of the night because of a left leg contusion. Lakers head coach JJ Redick deemed Doncic day-to-day, and he wound up sitting out Tuesday night in a loss to the Phoenix Suns.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the expectation is Doncic will return to the Lakers lineup on Christmas and do so in his newly unveiled Jordan Brand Luka 5 signature shoe:
“Luka Doncic is expected to play on Christmas Day against teh Houston Rockets. I’m told he’s undergoing a workout today, as long as that goes smooth for him, he will return to the lineup and debut his new signature shoe on Thursday.”
Jordan Brand shared an official first look at the upcoming Luka 5 on Wednesday, seemingly setting the stage for an exciting on-court reveal during the Lakers’ Christmas game against the Houston Rockets.
Coinciding with official release details being announced, marketing for the Luka 5 included a “Bad Luka, Nice Shoes” short film that features Adrian Wojnarowski and Boban Marjanovic.
The Luka 5 marks the first time one of Doncic’s signature shoes features full-length Zoom Strobel. It provides a responsive platform, and the new ISOband is designed to allow for a push off from the ground at any angle. Meanwhile the, ISOplate, a Doncic shoe signature staple, delivers underfoot stability and lateral support for quick directional changes.
“Working with Jordan Brand on the Luka 5 was about making something that fits my game and keeps evolving with me,” Doncic said in a statement. “The full-length Zoom Strobel and ISOband give me that extra pop and control so I can attack from any spot on the floor. Every time I lace them up, I know I’m ready to go.”
Luka 5 shoe colorways
The Luka 5 will be available starting Jan. 8 at Jordan.com and select retail locations. Doncic’s fifth signature shoe launches in a “Venom” (black and green) colorway, though Nike’s website also lists a “Viper Edge” (all-green) version as coming soon.
It’s not yet known which Luka 5 colorway Doncic will lace up on Christmas.
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