Luka Dončić has delivered a remarkable season as the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar, captivating fans and analysts alike with his performance.
The 27-year-old is leading the league in scoring and has looked like an MVP candidate throughout the season. However, due to the NBA’s 65-game rule, he looks like he won’t be in contention for the award (although he does have plans to appeal). To win a major award in the league now, you must play in 65 games, and Doncic suffered a hamstring injury in his 64th game.
To make matters worse, Dončić has not played since that injury, and his status for the Lakers’ first-round series against the Houston Rockets is in doubt.
NBA Insider Gives Update on Luka Doncic’s Potential Playoff Return
Not only is Dončić nursing a hamstring injury, but Lakers’ guard Austin Reaves, the team’s second-leading scorer, is also out with an oblique injury.
ESPN’s Shams Charania gave an update on Doncic’s health.
“All eyes of course will be on the health of Luke Doncic and Austin Reaves,” Charania said. “I’m told Luka Dončić is traveling back to the United States from Spain later this week and re-joining the Lakers on Friday.”
On Lakers star Luka Doncic’s impending return to the U.S. after treatments in Spain for NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/ZWWSelaZ5L
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 13, 2026
So why exactly was Dončić in Spain?
“Over the last week in Spain, the majority of that time, he’s been getting treatment on that hamstring,” Charania explained. “He’s had multiple injections as well to see – can he promote healing? Can he quicken the timeline of his return? It is a grade 2 hamstring strain.”
Last week, Lakers coach JJ Redick spoke to Dončić on the phone and told reporters that Dončić was in “relatively good spirits” and attacking his rehab.
Charania also offered some news on Reaves.
“On the other side, Austin Reaves, grade 2 oblique strain,” Charania said. “Initially, in early April, his timeline was 4-6 weeks. That would put him out, at minimum, the first week of May.”
The Lakers can tread some water behind LeBron James, one of the sport’s all-time greats, but he has taken a step back this season.
At age 41, James still managed to fight through early-season injuries to average 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. He’s shot 51.5% from the field and is matching his career free-throw percentage at 73.7%, but has struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 31.7% from the field.
Dončić averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 47.6% from the field, 36.6% from three, and 78.0% from the charity stripe.
Reaves has averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. He’s shot 49.0% from the field, 36.0% from beyond the arc, and 87.1% from the free throw.
“Both of these guys, going into the playoffs, there is an expectation that they will be sidelined for an indefinite period of time,” Charania said. “They’re both obviously trying to get back ASAP.”
If Dončić and Reaves do wind up being out for an extended period of time, the Lakers will be counting on former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and sharpshooters Luke Kennard and Jake LaRavia to make up for their absence.
Others like Maxi Kleber, Nick Smith, Jr., or Bronny James may also be called upon to make up for the loss of Doncic and Reeves, while others, such as Rui Hachimure and Jarred Vanderbilt, may be asked to help carry the load scoring-wise.
Even with one of the game’s all-time greats in James leading the way, it’s going to be tough for the Lakers to make much noise in the postseason, specifically with an incredibly tough opponent in Kevin Durant and the Rockets.
The Lakers and Rockets begin their series Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET at Staples Center on ABC.
