Luka Dončić Injury Insight: Top Performance Coach Mike Robertson Details Calf Strain Recovery and Risks

Luka Dončić remains sidelined after suffering a left calf strain during the Dallas Mavericks’ Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Mavericks, who opened 7-2 without their superstar guard, have dropped four of their last five games. Each loss weighs heavily on playoff positioning in a competitive Western Conference race.

To gain more insight into the recovery process for this type of injury, DallasHoopsJournal.com spoke with Mike Robertson, the President of Robertson Training Systems and co-owner of Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training (IFAST) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Robertson is widely regarded as one of the top performance coaches in the world, with extensive experience in injury prevention and rehabilitation for elite athletes.

This is not Dončić’s first encounter with calf issues. The five-time All-NBA First-Team guard has recently experienced a left calf strain three times. The most notable came during the 2022 postseason when he missed the start of the Mavericks’ playoff push, which eventually led to the Western Conference Finals. More recently, Dončić sustained a similar injury during a practice in Madrid last preseason, limiting his availability in training camp before returning in time for opening night.

“The No. 1 predictor of injury is previous history – so the previous calf strains predispose him to have more of them going forward,” Robertson explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com.

Calf injuries are particularly tricky for basketball players due to the muscle’s critical role in explosive movements. While some injuries allow athletes to adjust their biomechanics and offload stress to other parts of the body, calf-related issues present fewer options for compensation.

“Calves are tough because you have to use them to be explosive,” Robertson told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “With knee stuff, you can change your movement strategy and use more hips or ankles to push. But with a calf injury, it’s almost impossible to move around it.”

Dončić was seen using a scooter at the American Airlines Center on Friday, prompting questions from fans. Robertson clarified that this approach is not cause for concern but rather a proactive measure to facilitate healing by minimizing unnecessary strain.

“The scooter is really just there to take any/all stress off the tissue and maximize healing,” Robertson told DallasHoopsJournal.com.

Robertson emphasized the importance of using Dončić’s time off the court to assess and address the bigger picture – looking beyond the immediate injury to evaluate his movement patterns and overall mechanics. This holistic approach, he suggests, can help reduce the likelihood of future setbacks.

“If this is my guy, the first thing I’m thinking about is the big picture,” Robertson explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “So I’d zoom out – especially since we’ve got a month – and ask, ‘Okay, from a global perspective, is there anything in his movement that could be driving this?’ Whether it’s his alignment, the way he plays, or just overall movement strategies, I’d look at that and try to address it. While you’re working through that, I’d also be thinking about the basics – making sure the physical therapists are handling the isolated strengthening.”

Robertson pointed out that this period offers a rare window to focus on Dončić’s overall physical condition – an opportunity not often available during the regular season’s relentless schedule. Time away from the court can correct imbalances, improve strength, and optimize body composition.

“It’s a great time to actually work on the body because you can’t do much else. You’re obviously not on the court much,” Robertson detailed to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Can we maybe work on some body composition stuff? Can we keep him moving? Treatment is probably nonstop. The whole PT and AT staff will be working on him – massage, stim, whatever they feel will speed up the healing.”

Robertson stressed that injury recovery isn’t solely about treating the affected area. A well-rounded approach that addresses surrounding muscles, flexibility, and movement efficiency can enhance performance and minimize re-injury risks. The Mavericks’ training staff will likely pursue a comprehensive plan to ensure Dončić returns healthy and physically stronger.

“For me, the big focus would be stepping back and looking at the big picture – global movements,” Robertson told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “When it’s happened this many times, we know this is a recurring issue. How can we address it? How can we help him move more effectively so this doesn’t keep happening or escalate? The last thing you want is for these repetitive calf strains to turn into something bigger, like an Achilles rupture. That’s a much longer return to play, and most guys don’t come back from that nearly as well.”

While Dončić can engage in non-weight-bearing exercises during recovery, Robertson warned that the path back to game shape will require a gradual and carefully managed process. Exposure to the dynamic, high-impact movements essential for basketball must be phased thoughtfully.

“At least they can do non-weight-bearing stuff the whole time, but calves are tricky because you use them so much in basketball,” Robertson told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Think about speeding up and slowing down – planting, cutting, jumping. You have to expose an athlete to all of that and ramp them up the right way, which takes time. Then you’ve got to move them into small-sided games, get a few practices in, and so on. If they can take their time with it, using the All-Star break would be ideal.”

The Mavericks face a scheduling dilemma. A five-game road trip at the end of January aligns closely with Dončić’s initial recovery timeline. Robertson acknowledged that travel demands and limited practice opportunities could impact the team’s decision-making process regarding his return.

“If the evaluation is four weeks, then they probably set a new, shorter timeline to get him back,” Robertson explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “If they like to practice, it’s probably either before the home stretch or after the All-Star break.”

Despite the injury, Dončić has been putting together another stellar season. He is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists while shooting 46.4% from the field, 35.4% from beyond the arc, and 76.7% from the free-throw line. The Mavericks remain hopeful that this recovery period will be a reset, ensuring Dončić is primed for a strong playoff push after the All-Star break.