Guard Austin Reaves returned to the Los Angeles Lakers’ lineup in less than four weeks after suffering a Grade 2 left oblique strain, a rehab stint that included work with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ biomechanics staff, according to a report by Yaron Weitzman of Yahoo Sports.
Reaves and Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic were both hurt on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Team physicians projected a four-to-six-week recovery for Reaves and six-to-eight weeks for Doncic, who had a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. While Doncic missed the remainder of the season, Reaves was back in time to help the Lakers eliminate the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Two league sources told Yahoo Sports that the Lakers instructed Reaves to perform part of his rehabilitation at Dodger Stadium, where the MLB club operates an advanced biomechanics lab. Lakers vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka later confirmed the organization is “working in collaboration with some of the Dodgers folks to bring in a biomechanics lab” of its own.
The integration of Dodgers resources follows last year’s purchase of the Lakers by Mark Walter, who is also the controlling owner of the Dodgers. Since taking charge, Walter has pushed for upgraded performance technology across his franchises. Sports Business Journal recognized those efforts on Wednesday, naming Walter its Executive of the Year.
Reaves’ quicker-than-expected comeback marks the first publicly known instance of the Lakers using the Dodgers’ science and performance infrastructure for player rehab.
Source: Lakers Nation
