Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic still does not have a clear timetable for his return from a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Speaking publicly for the first time since the injury, Doncic said the recovery has been frustrating because he wants to help the team during the playoffs.
Doncic has been sidelined since suffering the injury against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2. He said the initial MRI left him with an early estimate of eight weeks for recovery, and he is continuing to work through the process day by day.
Progress remains cautious
Doncic said he has started running, but he has not yet done any contact drills. He described his routine as a constant effort to recover, including treatment work and rehabilitation.
“Just doing everything I can,” Doncic said, adding that he feels better each day. He also said he has learned from previous injuries and does not want to rush back too soon.
That caution is tied to a more serious version of the same hamstring issue he dealt with earlier in the season. At that time, the strain caused him to miss four games and limited his participation in the NBA All-Star Game.
Spain treatment and PRP therapy
In an effort to speed up his recovery, Doncic traveled to Spain soon after the injury for additional treatment. He said he underwent platelet-rich plasma therapy there after speaking with the Lakers’ medical staff.
Doncic said he received four PRP injections in Spain, with four days between each treatment. He said that spacing helped explain why he stayed overseas longer.
The Lakers guard said he used several recovery methods during the process, including a hyperbaric chamber and cold tub work. He framed the rehab as a careful step-by-step process rather than a race to return.
Lakers continue without him
Doncic has remained around the Lakers throughout their playoff run, even as the team advanced past the Houston Rockets in the first round and moved into a second-round matchup with the defending champion Thunder. He said he feels proud of the group for staying competitive while he watches from the sideline.
“Everybody had us out,” Doncic said, pointing to the doubts surrounding the Lakers before the series. He added that the team has already shown it can compete and that several players have stepped up.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said the team wants Doncic back only when he is fully ready, stressing that confidence matters as much as physical healing. Redick compared the situation to Austin Reaves, who returned from a Grade 2 left oblique strain after missing four weeks.
LeBron James also highlighted how much Doncic’s absence affects the offense after the Lakers lost Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. James said facing the NBA’s top defense becomes much harder without a player who can draw multiple defenders and produce at an elite level.
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