- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Luka Doncic Makes All-Star Cameo After Hamstring Injury
Lakers star briefly plays in exhibition despite recent injury concerns
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Luka Doncic, the leading vote-getter for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, made a brief appearance in the exhibition despite missing the previous four games due to a hamstring injury. Doncic played just five minutes for the World Team, scoring two points and dishing two assists, but said his hamstring "felt good" after the game.
Why it matters
Doncic's appearance, even in a limited capacity, was seen as an encouraging sign for the Lakers as they look to get their star player back on the court. The team has been cautious with Doncic's recovery, and his ability to participate in the All-Star Game suggests the hamstring issue may not be as serious as initially feared.
The details
Doncic entered the All-Star Weekend as the league's leading vote-getter, but his status for the game remained uncertain due to the hamstring injury that had sidelined him for the previous four contests. In the end, Doncic did take the floor, playing five minutes for the World Team and finishing with two points and two assists.
- Doncic had missed four straight games before the All-Star break due to the hamstring injury.
- Doncic made his brief All-Star appearance on February 16, 2026.
The players
Luka Doncic
A star player for the Los Angeles Lakers who was the leading vote-getter for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
What they’re saying
“It was good. Obviously, I wanted to go out there. The fans voted me to be in this game so I wanted to be there and be part of it a little bit. But (my hamstring) felt good.”
— Luka Doncic (basketballforever.com)
What’s next
The Lakers will now turn their attention to Friday night's matchup against the Clippers, and Doncic's status for that game remains uncertain.
The takeaway
Doncic's brief All-Star appearance, despite his recent hamstring injury, is an encouraging sign for the Lakers as they look to get their star player back on the court. The team has been cautious with his recovery, and his ability to participate in the exhibition suggests the issue may not be as serious as initially feared.
