Luka Doncic Applauds Lakers for First-Round Upset While He Recovers
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Oklahoma City — Sidelined by a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic said Tuesday he is impressed with how his teammates carried the club past the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
“Everything. Everybody helped us out,” Doncic told reporters before Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. “We proved that we can play. Everybody stepped up, it’s truly amazing to see.”
Doncic, injured in late March after the Lakers’ best month of the season, has missed every playoff game. Behind LeBron James and strong showings from Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard, Los Angeles erased a 2-1 deficit to eliminate Houston on April 29 at Crypto.com Arena.
Smart and Kennard handled additional ball-handling duties to ease pressure on James, while Hachimura led the club in three-point accuracy during the series. Rookie Bronny James also provided limited but effective minutes off the bench.
Although Doncic remains in street clothes, he said he stays vocal on the bench. “I just try to give them some advice,” he explained. “We have a lot of players that have been in this situation, so they know what to do.”
Frustration Over Untimely Injury
The 27-year-old admitted the timing of the setback has been difficult. “We had an amazing month of March and the injury came at the worst moment for me,” Doncic said. “It was very, very frustrating.”
Doncic disclosed that doctors initially projected an eight-week recovery. He has not yet been cleared for full contact and remains without a firm return date.
Los Angeles trails Oklahoma City 1-0 in the best-of-seven series and will continue to rely on its supporting cast until Doncic can rejoin the lineup.
Source: Lakers Nation
