Luka Dončić Speaks To Los Angeles Lakers Media For First Time Since Hamstring Injury: ‘It’s Very Frustrating’

Luka Dončić spoke to Los Angeles Lakers reporters on Wednesday for the first time since hurting his hamstring.

Dončić suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The superstar is nowhere near close to playing again.

“It’s very frustrating,” Dončić said. “I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is. All I want to do is play basketball, especially this time. It’s the best time to play basketball. It’s very frustrating seeing what my team is doing. I’m very proud of them. It’s been very tough to just to sit and watch them play.”

Dončić went to Spain to receive injections in his injured hamstring to promote healing and expedite his return to the court.

The Lakers, who beat the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs in six games, are down 1-0 to the Thunder in the second round.

“I went to Spain to do PRP,” Dončić said. “Everybody knows that Spain, they’re just one of the best countries to do that. And obviously, I talked with the Lakers’ doctors, so everybody agreed for me to go there.”

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.

“The moment the day I did the MRI on the hamstring, the doctor told me eight weeks at the beginning,” Dončić said. “I’m doing everything I can in the process, and I think we’re on a good way. But at the beginning, he told me eight weeks.”

All signs point toward Dončić not playing again this season, as the Lakers can’t beat the Thunder without Dončić.

“We’re playing against the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA,” LeBron James said after the Lakers lost Game 1 to the Thunder. “And when you play against a great defense, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times. … When you play against the world champions and [miss] having a guy that averages 34 [points] and eight [rebounds] and nine [assists] and is that special, that’s [a major piece missing].”

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.

Latest NBA News & Rumors At Dallas Hoops Journal

• James Harden’s Reps Gauged Houston Rockets’ Trade Interest This Season
• Kevin Durant’s ‘Moodiness’ Took Houston Rockets Players Some Getting Used To, Wore On Team’s Young Guys
• Nikola Jokić Expected To Sign Extension With Denver Nuggets, Who Could Make ‘Real Roster Changes’ This Offseason
• Houston Rockets Could Pursue Trades For Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid
• Portland Trail Blazers To Be Prime Trade Suitor For Giannis Antetokounmpo; May Pursue Anthony Davis
• Nikola Jokić Wants To Stay With Denver Nuggets ‘Forever,’ Says Team Is ‘Far Away’ From Title
• Anthony Davis Could Be Traded By Washington Wizards This Offseason
• Kawhi Leonard Trade Proposal Sends Los Angeles Clippers Star To Miami Heat
• Orlando Magic Had Trade Interest In Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo
• LeBron James Opens Up Like Never Before About Michael Jordan GOAT Debate, NBA Finals Record
• Milwaukee Bucks Hire Taylor Jenkins; Giannis Antetokounmpo Hasn’t Spoken To Upper Brass Since Trade Deadline
• Steve Kerr’s Social, Political Outspokenness Has Caused Internal Frustrations Within Golden State Warriors