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HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 18: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
Slovenian guard Luka Doncic looked happy and healthy while signing autographs for fans outside his hotel in Madrid on Tuesday evening. The Los Angeles Lakers star is currently in Spain to receive an injection in his injured hamstring with the hope of expediting his return to the court for the playoffs, per an ESPN report.
Upon watching the videos, some Lakers fans expressed optimism that Doncic could return for the upcoming playoffs.
“You can see how much he really wants to be back on the court man,” wrote one fan.
“He’s walking, that’s a good sign,” added another fan.
Luka Doncic Injury Update
Doncic reportedly chose the alternate route of getting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in Europe after consultation with Lakers doctors and his own medical staff.
“Though Grade 2 hamstring strains typically involve a monthlong recovery process, Doncic’s agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball said Doncic is motivated to return to the Lakers’ lineup during the playoffs — which is a shared goal for Austin Reaves, who is out because of a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury,” read an ESPN report.
“Both those guys [Doncic and Reaves] are going to try to come back, and it’s our job to extend the season so that they can come back,” head coach JJ Redick said Sunday.
Luka Doncic Gets Positive Endorsement
Since Doncic sustained his hamstring injury in his 64th game of the season against the Oklahoma City Thunder last Thursday, he isn’t eligible for end-of-season awards and All-NBA honors. However, he plans to appeal to the league, citing that he missed two games in early December to travel home for the birth of his second child.
In light of the controversy, Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony and Tracy McGrady believe the NBA should grant the Lakers star an “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge” and ensure he makes the All-NBA ballot.
“It’s the birth of his child. It’s not an injury,” McGrady said. “This is not load management. This is the birth of his child, where you’ve gotta fly to another country.
“I’m sure the league is gonna do right by that.”
Anthony agreed with his former fellow NBA scoring champion’s take.
“These are international players. This is why we want them over here,” Anthony said.
“If they need to get back to go take care of family matters and they’re missing games, they shouldn’t be penalized for that.”
Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan
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