After being ruled out for the remainder of the regular season due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, Luka Dončić’s playoff outlook is murky at best. However, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar has a plan up his sleeve to try to speed up his recovery.
Per ESPN, the six-time All-Star is set to “seek specialized medical treatment in Europe,” garnering the attention of multiple prominent sports doctors for his Kobe Bryant-like rehab approach.
Luka Dončić’s Drastic Rehab Measure Sparks Doctors’ Input
Dončić was diagnosed with his hamstring strain a day after exiting Thursday’s season-worst 139-96 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder early after coming up hobbling in the third quarter. The frustrating injury occurred with LA down by 32 points, with many arguing that it could have been avoided entirely.
Still, Dončić was ruled out for the Lakers’ final five outings, including Sunday’s underwhelming 134-128 road defeat against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks.
A Grade 2 hamstring strain usually sidelines players for around a month, and with the postseason beginning on April 18, LA could quickly go from a dark-horse contender to a first-round exit without its top player.
With Dončić’s co-star, Austin Reaves, also facing a four-to-six-week recovery timeline due to a Grade 2 left oblique strain, the Lakers will be forced to rely heavily on 41-year-old veteran star forward LeBron James.
LA might still be able to hold out hope for Dončić’s triumphant playoff return, though, if his innovative rehab strategy pays off, similar to Bryant’s late-career trips to Germany for knee treatment.
“Wow!! Sounds like something Kobe would do. Seems like he will get some European ‘stem’ cells and probably treatments that aren’t allowed in the US at this current time,” doctor of physical therapy/NBA and NFL injury insider Evan Jeffries reacted to the news.
“First round of playoffs is TWO weeks away. If he cuts his timeline in half, that would [be] around 2-3 weeks to a return IF all goes well.”
Wow!! Sounds like something Kobe would do
Seems like he will get some European “stem” cells and probably treatments that aren’t allowed in the US at this current time
First round of playoffs is TWO weeks away
If he cuts his timeline in half that would around 2-3 weeks to a…
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) April 6, 2026
“Dončić traveling to Europe to treat his Grade 2 hamstring strain. Germany (& Switzerland) traditionally lead the world in cutting-edge medical treatments, especially Stem cells. He’s likely getting a combination of MSCs, placental tissue, exosomes, as well as other treatments not legal here in the United States. Remind me of what Kobe did many years ago,” sports and family medicine doctor Jesse Morse elaborated.
“They will be injected under ultrasound guidance directly into each area of weakness in his hamstring. That’s what I do in my clinic. Additionally, he’s probably using various modalities to speed up the healing, possibly Inuspharesis or TPE.
“Wouldn’t be surprised if they use Peptides on him over there, as there is a specific type called nano peptides from Switzerland (that I know the manufacturer of). Of course, these are banned here in the United States, but if he gets them there and is able to get them cleared from his system before he returns, no issues. Hence the TPE.
“When I alluded to throwing the ‘kitchen sink’ at him the other day, this is essentially what I meant.”
Luka Doncic
Traveling to Europe to treat his grade 2 hamstring strain
Germany (& Switzerland) traditionally lead the world in cutting edge medical treatments, especially Stem cells.
He’s likely getting a combination of MSC’s, placental tissue, exosomes, as well as other… https://t.co/2ZE8p9Z6SA
— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) April 6, 2026
On the flip side, sports medicine doctor Brian Sutterer perceived Dončić’s bold decision as a shot at the Lakers’ medical staff.
“I’d love to get the honest reaction of the Lakers medical staff essentially being told they aren’t good enough to rehab a hamstring strain,” Sutterer wrote.
“We have great literature showing good old American-made platelet-poor and rich plasma injections speed up hamstring recovery and decrease repeat injury. Not aware of anything in Europe that would make a literature-proven difference.”
I’d love to get the honest reaction of the Lakers medical staff essentially being told they aren’t good enough to rehab a hamstring strain.
We have great literature showing good old American made platelet poor and rich plasma injections speed up hamstring recovery and decrease… https://t.co/zVOMOBJG4A
— Brian Sutterer MD (@BrianSuttererMD) April 6, 2026
Regardless, Lakers fans will be thrilled if Dončić can return early by any means necessary, with no one on the roster to replace his league-best 33.5 points per game scoring average. Following Sunday’s loss, LA (50-28, third in the Western Conference) dropped to 7-7 in the 27-year-old’s absence this season.
