Lakers Star Luka Doncic to Miss Rest of Regular Season with Hamstring Injury

Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and will be sidelined for at least a month.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:05am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented movements of a basketball player in Lakers colors, representing the team's playoff positioning and Luka Doncic's injury.Luka Doncic's injury setback casts a shadow over the Lakers' playoff push, but the team remains in position to secure home-court advantage in the first round.Los Angeles Today

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will be out for the remainder of the regular season due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain he suffered in Thursday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The eight-year veteran is expected to miss at least a month of action, putting his availability for the start of the NBA playoffs in question.

Why it matters

Doncic's injury is a major blow to the Lakers, who are currently third in the Western Conference standings and looking to secure home-court advantage in the playoffs. The team will have to find a way to win without their leading scorer as they try to maintain their position in the crowded West.

The details

Doncic underwent an MRI on Friday that revealed the extent of the hamstring strain, which he suffered in the third quarter of Thursday's 139-96 loss to the Thunder. A Grade 2 strain typically involves a month-long recovery, but the Lakers did not provide a specific timetable for his return beyond missing the final five regular-season games.

  • Doncic suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Lakers' loss to the Thunder on Thursday, April 4, 2026.
  • The Lakers have five regular-season games remaining on their schedule.

The players

Luka Doncic

An eight-year NBA veteran and star player for the Los Angeles Lakers who is leading the league in scoring this season.

Bill Duffy

Luka Doncic's agent, who plans to apply for an 'Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge' to the NBA's 65-game eligibility rule for end-of-season awards.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Oklahoma City Thunder player who is the runaway favorite to win the NBA MVP award this season, according to a recent media poll.

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What they’re saying

“This season, Luka Doncic has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, carrying the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself in the middle of one of the most tightly contested MVP races in memory. To ensure that Luka's incredible accomplishments this season are rightly honored and he can be considered for the league's end-of-season awards, we intend to apply for an 'Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge' to the 65-game rule.”

— Bill Duffy, Luka Doncic's agent

What’s next

The Lakers will apply for an 'Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge' to the NBA's 65-game eligibility rule for end-of-season awards on Luka Doncic's behalf. The league will then decide whether to grant the challenge and allow Doncic to be considered for awards despite missing the final five games of the regular season.

The takeaway

Luka Doncic's hamstring injury is a significant setback for the Lakers as they prepare for the playoffs, but the team remains in a strong position to secure home-court advantage in the first round. Doncic's historic individual season has put him in contention for major awards, and his agent's challenge to the eligibility rules could set an important precedent.