Doncic Says Hamstring Still Weeks Away, Lakers Star Was Nowhere Near Playoff Return
doncic-says-hamstring-still-weeks-away
Oklahoma City, Okla. — Luka Doncic acknowledged Monday night that he never came close to suiting up during the Los Angeles Lakers’ second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which ended in a sweep.
Doncic has been sidelined since April 2 with a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring, suffered in the same game that saw Austin Reaves incur a left oblique strain. Reaves made it back for the first-round win over the Houston Rockets; Doncic did not.
“It was very frustrating,” the guard said after Game 4 at Paycom Center. “I know some people wanted me back, but obviously I wasn’t close. There was some stuff in the media that wasn’t true. If I could be out there, I 100 percent would’ve been. Everybody in the room knows that.”
Doncic added that he has resumed lifting, running and shooting but has not been cleared for contact. “That stuff will come in the next week or two probably,” he said, noting that his immediate focus remains on rehab.
The Lakers face a pivotal offseason with significant cap space and nearly every key contributor headed for free agency. The franchise hopes to retool around a fully healthy Doncic while building depth that can withstand future injuries.
The 27-year-old also announced he is withdrawing from Slovenia’s upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifying window to spend additional time with his daughters during an ongoing custody dispute.
Source: LakersNation.com
