2026 NBA landscape shifts as regular season winds down
2026-nba-landscape-shifts-regular-season-winds-down
The final week of the 2025-26 NBA regular season is tightening playoff races while fueling early draft and offseason maneuvering.
Doncic shelved with hamstring strain
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will miss the remainder of the regular season after sustaining a Grade 2 strain in his right hamstring, according to team and league sources. The injury was announced on April 3, and his status for the upcoming postseason remains undetermined.
Within 20 minutes of the news, the Lakers’ championship odds at DraftKings Sportsbook shifted from 30-1 to 100-1. Doncic, who has appeared in 64 games and sits fourth in ESPN’s latest MVP straw poll, plans to seek an “extraordinary circumstances challenge” to the 65-game rule that governs award eligibility. His agent, Bill Duffy, confirmed the request will cite the two games Doncic missed in December for the birth of his daughter. Applications may be filed between noon ET on the final day of the regular season and 11:59 p.m. ET the following day.
The 27-year-old guard, averaging an NBA-best 33.5 points along with 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists, signed a three-year extension in August 2025 and owns five All-NBA selections.
Curry expected back Sunday
The Golden State Warriors anticipate Stephen Curry will return on Sunday against the Houston Rockets after missing 27 games with a right knee injury.
Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration probe continues
The league’s investigation into a reported $28 million endorsement agreement among the LA Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and financial firm Aspiration remains active. An NBA spokesperson said the inquiry, led by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, has “more work to be done” and no timetable for completion. Allegations of salary-cap circumvention first surfaced in September 2025; team owner Steve Ballmer has denied wrongdoing.
Draft lottery spotlight
Ten franchises already eliminated from postseason contention have shifted focus to the May 10 draft lottery, which will set the order for the 2026 NBA Draft on June 25-26. League executives describe the class as one of the deepest in recent memory, prompting aggressive positioning for the top pick. Multiple front-office officials told ESPN they expect several future stars to emerge but remain uncertain which prospect will ultimately warrant the No. 1 selection.
Other notes
- LeBron James faces six potential off-season paths, ranging from re-signing with the Lakers to exploring a return to Cleveland.
- Scouts increasingly view the San Antonio Spurs as legitimate championship contenders; the club is two games behind Oklahoma City for the West’s top seed.
The regular season concludes next week, after which play-in tournaments, award ballots and offseason decisions will come sharply into focus.
Source: ESPN
