DHJ Quick Take
- Status for Round 2: Luka Dončić is ruled out for the start of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Injury & Timeline: He is still recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that has sidelined him for approximately one month; the team is currently evaluating him on a week-to-week basis.
- Recovery Progress: While Dončić is increasing his on-court activity, he has yet to resume full-contact workouts or full-speed running, with sources describing his recovery as a “slow path.”
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić isn’t close to playing, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Dončić is still recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. The Lakers face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the 2026 playoffs. They beat the Houston Rockets in the first round in six games.
“I’m told right now, Luka Dončić will be out to start the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder,” Charania said. “The Lakers are evaluating Dončić on a week-to-week basis with that Grade 2 hamstring strain. So he’s missed about a month right now. One source told me in the last few days it’s still a slow path on Dončić’s recovery. He’s doing more and more on the court, but right now, still not full-fledged running or full contact workouts.”
Dončić suffered his severe injury on April 2 against the Thunder. The six-time All-Star went to Spain to receive injections in his injured hamstring to promote healing and expedite his return to the court.
Dončić led the NBA in total points and points per game in his first full season with the Lakers. He averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists a game while shooting 47.6% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc and 78.0% from the free-throw line.
The Lakers went 43-21 when Dončić played in the 2025-26 regular season. The former Dallas Mavericks star recorded 34 double-doubles, eight triple-doubles, 14 40-point games, one 50-point game and one 60-point game.
Los Angeles will lose to OKC in four or five games without Dončić. The Thunder are the best team in the NBA, and as good as LeBron James and Austin Reaves are, the Lakers just don’t have enough firepower to beat OKC four times if Dončić can’t play.
A future Hall of Famer, Dončić has career averages of 29.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game with the Mavericks and Lakers. He will likely make his sixth All-NBA First Team this year.
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