Luka Doncic said Wednesday that his Grade 2 strain of the left hamstring remains on an uncertain timetable, stressing that he hopes to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers at some point in the postseason but has no firm date for clearance.
“Obviously this is a different injury than I’ve ever had,” Doncic told reporters. “It’s the second time I hurt the hamstring this season, so recovery has been a little longer. But I’m feeling good, working every day, and I’m trying to come back.”
The 25-year-old guard originally injured the same hamstring in February, missing four games and appearing only briefly in the All-Star Game. The latest setback occurred April 2, nearly five weeks ago, yet the club has offered few public updates. Early media projections suggested a four-to-six-week recovery, but Doncic said medical staff warned it could take roughly eight weeks.
He has resumed running drills but has not been cleared for contact, a necessary step before game action. “It’s very frustrating,” he said. “All I want to do is play basketball, especially at this time. It’s the best time to play. I’m proud of what my team is doing, but it’s tough to sit and watch.”
Spain Trip for PRP Treatments
Shortly after the injury, Doncic traveled to Spain for advanced therapy, receiving four platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections spaced four days apart. “Everybody knows Spain is one of the best places for that,” he explained, adding that Lakers doctors approved the plan and that he worked with familiar specialists overseas.
Regular-Season Dominance Interrupted
Doncic’s absence may have cost him a spot among MVP finalists. In his first full year with Los Angeles, he paced the league with 33.5 points per game, ranked third in assists at 8.3 and sixth in steals at 1.6. He appeared in only 64 games—just enough for award eligibility after the NBA granted an exemption for “extraordinary circumstances.”
During March, he poured in more than 600 points while guiding the Lakers to a 16-2 record that briefly positioned them for the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed. Without him, the club slipped to fourth and is now facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.
LeBron James underscored Doncic’s value after Tuesday’s Game 1 defeat. “When you’re playing the defending champions and you’re missing a guy who averages 34, eight and nine and is that special, that’s tough,” James said.
The Lakers have not indicated when, or if, Doncic could be available against Oklahoma City as his rehabilitation continues.
Source: Hoops Rumors
