Bad news for the Los Angeles Lakers: Luka Doncic will be sidelined until at least the end of the regular season. The franchise confirmed that the Slovenian star suffered a grade 2 strain of his left hamstringan injury that reshapes the team’s season finale.
The injury occurred in the third quarter of a heavy loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder (139-96), with Doncic leaving the game and not returning. Further medical tests conducted in Dallas clarified the severity of the issue.
Recovery timeline and playoff outlook
A grade 2 strain typically requires about a month of recovery, but the Lakers have not set a precise return date. What is certain is that Doncic will miss the final five regular season games.
This raises questions ahead of the NBA Playoffs, which begin on April 18with Los Angeles already qualified and currently sitting third in the Western Conference.
The Lakers’ remaining schedule includes key matchups against:
- Dallas Mavericks (away)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (home)
- Golden State Warriors (away)
- Phoenix Suns (home)
- Utah Jazz (home)
Despite the absence of their leader, the team still holds a small cushion over its closest rivals and owns key tiebreakers.
Out of the awards race? The agent’s appeal
The injury could also impact Doncic’s chances in the race for individual awards. With 64 games played, he falls short of the 65-game minimum required by the NBA.
For this reason, his agent Bill Duffy has announced plans to file a formal request for an “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge”.
This season Luka Doncic has played at a historic level, leading the league in scoring and carrying the Lakers to third place in the West. He deserves to be recognized for what he’s done
Bill Duffy
Duffy also highlighted unique circumstances during Doncic’s season:
He missed two games for the birth of his second daughter in Slovenia and returned to the United States after just two days. He did everything possible to be there for his team and the league
Bill Duffy
The request will be evaluated jointly by the NBPA and the league.
MVP numbers: Doncic’s season
Despite the early shutdown, Doncic’s first full season in a Lakers jersey has been outstanding:
- 33.5 points per game (1st in the NBA)
- 8.3 assists (3rd in the league)
- 7.7 rebounds (2nd among guards)
- 1.6 steals (top 10 in the NBA)
Numbers that placed him firmly in the MVP race, even if – according to the latest media poll – he trails behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyamaand Nikola Jokic.
Lakers standings and outlook without Doncic
Los Angeles currently holds the third seed in the Westwith:
- +1 over Denver Nuggets
- +2.5 over Houston Rockets
- +3.5 over Minnesota Timberwolves
An advantage made even more valuable by the fact that the Lakers won the season series against all three teams.
Without Doncic, the goal is clear: protect their seeding and enter the playoffs with the healthiest roster possible.
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