Mavericks' Luka Dončić Progressing in Calf Strain Recovery, No Longer Using Scooter
Luka Dončić, sidelined with a left calf strain, continues progressing in his recovery as the Dallas Mavericks navigate a critical stretch of the season. With the Mavericks sitting at 21-16, the team ranks fifth in the Western Conference, but every game matters significantly for seeding purposes. With Kyrie Irving sidelined for at least one to two weeks, Dončić’s recovery outlook becomes even more critical.
On Tuesday night, Dončić was seen on the court speaking with former Mavericks teammate Dorian Finney-Smith before Dallas’ 118-97 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. This was a sign of improvement after using a scooter to relieve pressure from his injured leg.
While Dončić wore a sleeve on his left leg, this is by far the best he’s moved since the injury, as seen in the video below from DallasHoopsJournal.com photographer Nick White. He also spent the game with his teammates on the bench, often walking around dribbling or holding a basketball. Wearing workout gear also insinuates he’s already doing recovery work with the team.
For further insight into the injury Dončić faces, DallasHoopsJournal.com recently spoke with performance coach Mike Robertson, President of Robertson Training Systems, to gain insight into the recovery process for calf strains. Robertson, who has worked extensively with elite athletes on injury prevention and rehabilitation, explained the challenges NBA players face when dealing with recurring calf issues.
“The No. 1 predictor of injury is previous history – so the previous calf strains predispose him to have more of them going forward,” Robertson said.
Dončić has dealt with multiple calf strains over the past few seasons, including one that sidelined him at the start of the 2022 playoffs. Another occurred during a preseason practice in Madrid, limiting his availability before opening night. Robertson emphasized the difficulty of managing calf injuries due to the muscle’s essential role in explosive basketball movements.
“Calves are tough because you have to use them to be explosive,” Robertson said. “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’s use of a scooter last week drew attention, but Robertson explained that the approach is shared and beneficial for recovery by removing stress from the tissue. With Dončić unable to participate in full practices, Robertson highlighted the opportunity for the Mavericks to focus on strengthening, flexibility, and addressing potential imbalances.
“It’s a great time to actually work on the body because you can’t do much else,” Robertson said. “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 also cautioned that while Dončić can engage in non-weight-bearing activities, the return to complete basketball activities should be gradual.
“Calves are tricky because you use them so much in basketball,” Robertson said. “You have to expose an athlete to planting, cutting, jumping, and all of that has to ramp up gradually.”
Dallas has been cautious with Dončić’s timeline, with an eye on ensuring he returns fully healthy, with the initial announcement on Dec. 27 from the team stating a planned re-evaluation within one month.
As previously noted, the Mavericks face a stretch of games that could influence their standing in the Western Conference, but Robertson stated that patience is key. However, the timeline and approach depend on how Dončić responds to treatment.
“If they can take their time with it, using the All-Star break would be ideal,” Robertson said.
Dončić has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists this season, leading the Mavericks to a strong start before his injury. Dallas hopes his return will provide the boost needed for a playoff push after the All-Star break.
