There is no indication of a more positive than normal progression in the muscle injury Luka Doncic is dealing with. Despite the Lakers’ urgent need for him—now trying to win by sheer grit against the heavily favored Thunder—the timelines remain what they are. This is the information that has been filtering through the U.S. media, with reporters like Shams Charania and Cassidy Hubbarth emphasizing on television that there has been no significant improvement in the Slovenian’s condition. Nothing has changed. Waiting is the only option, no matter how pressing the circumstances.
On Wednesday, Doncic appeared before the Lakers’ regular beat reporters at the team’s training facility in Oklahoma City. This was his first media availability since he went down against the Thunder during the 2025/26 NBA regular season—coincidentally the same opponent.
Doncic wanted to address some suspicions and reports, particularly regarding his trip to Spain for the core part of his recovery treatment. The European guard returned to the city where he spent many years to receive platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, a common procedure for treating muscle issues like his hamstring strain. Some in the U.S. suggested his choice of Madrid over German cities—where the same treatment is also common—might have had other motives. Doncic denied that.
“I went to Spain for the PRP. Everyone knows Spain is one of the best countries for that treatment. I know and trust many people there. Why was I there for so long? Because you need four days between each dose, and I had four sessions. That’s why I stayed longer,” the No. 77 responded, pushing back against baseless speculation. He suffered the injury in early April, marking one month since that knockout blow. For context, it was later revealed that Reaves was also sidelined for a period.
Doncic also revealed information that had not been made public before, further cooling any hype about a potential return before the Lakers are eliminated—if that happens. U.S. media estimates had suggested four weeks as a reasonable timeframe to evaluate his return to the court. But it’s much longer. The Ljubljana native stated that the initial diagnosis already projected eight weeks, not four, before doctors would give the green light. Bad news: he still has at least three weeks to go.
He did salvage the awards issue. Despite being left off the MVP shortlist, despite some prominent figures advocating for him, the NBA included him in the season-ending awards. Without him, the Lakers took down the Rockets 4-2, but they started the Thunder series on the wrong foot, trailing 1-0. In 2024, still with the Mavericks, he overcame a first-game deficit to reach the NBA Finals, which they eventually lost to the Celtics.
“It’s a different team. I don’t like to talk much about the past. They’re tough because they have a lot of guys who can play well,” he said when asked about that precedent. If the Lakers remain in the playoffs, based on what he said, Doncic could miss the entire conference semifinals and finals. He added: “I’m in the process. I work every day. I feel better and better. But it’s very frustrating. It’s the second time I’ve injured my hamstring this season, so…”
