After an incredible March that saw him average 37.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 5.0 3s, and 2.3 steals per game, Luka Dončić was forcing his way into the NBA MVP conversation when the Los Angeles Lakers’ season changed in an instant.
On April 2, Dončić suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain against the Oklahoma City Thunder. As if that wasn’t bad enough for Los Angeles, Austin Reaves injured his oblique in the same game. Reaves is expected to be out until early May, but is there a chance that Dončić could return during the Lakers’ first-round series against the Houston Rockets?
Luka Doncic Injury Update: Latest on the Superstar’s Status for the NBA Playoffs
Dončić recently flew to Spain to receive treatment on his hamstring, and he returned to Los Angeles on Friday in time to attend Game 1. While he has been ruled out for Saturday’s contest, Lakers insider Jovan Buha provided a promising update about his status for the remainder of the series.
“They’ve not given an official timetable, they just said he was out for the regular season,” Buha said. “Then, he went overseas to Spain to get some treatment that maybe isn’t given in the United States. He just came back to LA today actually and rejoined the team and will be there for Game 1.
“Typically a Grade 2 hamstring is about three-to-six weeks. So, there’s a chance maybe he comes back in the middle of the series. But also with a hamstring, you got to be careful.”
.@jovanbuha says there’s a chance @lukadoncic returns in the middle of the 1st round for @Lakers‘ match up against @HoustonRockets.
He says @nuggets and @celtics are teams to look for in the @nba playoffs but @okcthunder are still the “clear favorites” to repeat as champions. pic.twitter.com/JOubRKH1t3
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) April 18, 2026
This is certainly a promising update for Dončić, as the previous expectation was that he wouldn’t be available during the first round. If the Lakers can extend this series to six or seven games, perhaps Dončić will have a chance to make his triumphant return.
Whether Dončić can suit up in this series will come down to how his body recovers and how he feels next week. This season, Dončić, averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game, while shooting 47.6% from the floor and 36.6% from 3.
While Dončić only appeared in 64 games during the regular season, the NBA recently announced that he and Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham will be eligible for end-of-season honors anyway. Neither player appeared in the minimum 65 games required, but they both filed “Extraordinary Circumstances” grievances and the league ruled in their favor. Dončić missed two games to travel to Slovenia for the birth of his daughter, which is why the league granted him eligibility.
“I am grateful to the NBPA for advocating on my behalf and to the NBA for their fair decision,” Dončić said in a statement. “It was so important to me to be present for the birth of my daughter in December and I appreciate Mark [Walter], Jeanie [Buss], Rob [Pelinka], JJ [Redick], and the entire Lakers organization for fully supporting me and allowing me to travel to be there.
“This season has been so special to me because of what my teammates and I have been able to accomplish, and I am honored to have the opportunity to be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards.”
Dončić seems like a lock for the All-NBA First Team, and it’s possible he will receive some MVP votes, although Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić are considered the strongest candidates.
