Luka Dončić is taking an aggressive step to return in time for the postseason, traveling to Europe for specialized care on his injured left hamstring. His agent confirmed the move is aimed at speeding up recovery, though the exact location and treatment plan haven’t been disclosed.
ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote on X: “After consultation with Lakers doctors and his own medical team, Luka Doncic will seek specialized medical treatment in Europe on his Grade 2 left hamstring in an attempt to expedite his return to play, agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball tells me and @mcten
The Los Angeles Lakers have already ruled Dončić out for the remainder of the regular season after he suffered a Grade 2 strain during a lopsided loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The injury worsened as the game progressed—after initially tweaking it early, he collapsed in visible pain in the third quarter. An MRI the following day confirmed the diagnosis. Recovery from this type of strain typically takes about a month, putting his availability for the playoffs—which begin April 18—in serious doubt. That timeline has prompted the decision to pursue treatment abroad in hopes of shortening his absence.
Dončić has been the Lakers’ driving force this season, leading the league with 33.5 points per game while also contributing 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds. He was especially dominant in March, averaging 37.5 points and earning Western Conference Player of the Month honors. However, having played just 64 games, he currently falls short of the 65-game minimum required for major end-of-season awards. His agent, Bill Duffy, has said he plans to file an “extraordinary circumstances challenge.”
The timing couldn’t be worse for Los Angeles. With only a handful of games left, the team has slipped into a tie for third in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets following a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Their playoff seeding remains uncertain, with potential matchups against strong opponents like the Houston Rockets or Minnesota Timberwolves. Compounding the issue, guard Austin Reaves—the team’s second-leading scorer—is expected to miss four to six weeks with an oblique strain, likely sidelining him for the entire first round.
Without both Dončić and Reaves, the offensive burden shifts heavily to LeBron James, who has already stepped up, including a 30-point performance in the loss to Dallas. Still, the absence of two primary shot creators leaves the Lakers vulnerable at a critical point in the season.
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