Lakers' Luka Doncic Remains Upbeat Despite Hamstring Injury

Head coach JJ Redick says Doncic is 'in good spirits' as he seeks treatment in Europe to speed up his recovery.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:21am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball player's movements and expressions broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the disruption and uncertainty caused by Doncic's injury.Doncic's injury forces the Lakers to adapt their playoff strategy, with the star's recovery timeline a crucial factor in their postseason aspirations.Los Angeles Today

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is currently in Europe seeking additional medical treatment for a hamstring injury that will likely keep him out for the team's opening round playoff series. Despite the setback, Lakers head coach JJ Redick says Doncic remains 'in good spirits' and is 'motivated to do everything possible' to return to the court as soon as he can.

Why it matters

Doncic's injury is a major blow to the Lakers' playoff hopes, as he was playing at an MVP level before the setback. The team is now trying to hold onto their playoff positioning without their star player, making Doncic's recovery timeline a crucial factor in their postseason aspirations.

The details

Doncic initially suffered the hamstring injury during the first half of the Lakers' loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder last Thursday. He exited the game and did not return. While he was originally ruled out for the remainder of the Lakers' regular season schedule, the severity of the injury hinted at a potentially longer absence. Before the injury, Doncic was leading the league in several statistical categories, including points per game, field goals made, and 3-pointers attempted.

  • Doncic suffered the hamstring injury on April 6, 2026 during the Lakers' loss to the Thunder.
  • The Lakers have three more regular season games remaining after their April 11 matchup against the Thunder.

The players

Luka Doncic

The Lakers' star guard who is currently in Europe seeking additional medical treatment for a hamstring injury that will likely keep him out for the team's opening round playoff series.

JJ Redick

The head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers who spoke about Doncic's mindset and recovery efforts.

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What they’re saying

“I think he's in good spirits. I think he's, in my conversations with him, he's motivated to do everything possible. I know for him, it's hard for him not to be on a basketball court. That's his happy place.”

— JJ Redick, Head Coach, Los Angeles Lakers

What’s next

The Lakers will have to determine Doncic's recovery timeline and whether he can return at any point during the playoffs. The team is currently trying to hold onto their playoff positioning without their star player.

The takeaway

Doncic's injury is a major setback for the Lakers, who were surging up the Western Conference standings with the star guard playing at an MVP level. While Doncic remains upbeat about his recovery, his absence will test the Lakers' depth and resilience as they try to make a deep playoff run.