As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare for the upcoming NBA season, Luka Doncic has been suiting up for Slovenia ahead of EuroBasket. But the All-NBA guard sparked concern on Thursday when he was forced to leave a friendly against Latvia after suffering a knock.
Latvia, led by Hawks forward Kristaps Porzingis, defeated Slovenia 100-88 in the exhibition matchup. But the bigger storyline came when Doncic went down in the third quarter after a teammate landed on his leg, forcing him to head to the locker room.
The sight of the four-time All-Star leaving the court immediately had Lakers fans worried about a potential injury setback. Moments later, Doncic reappeared on the bench and looked eager to return, but team doctors ultimately kept him sidelined as a precaution.
Lakers insider Dan Woike offered an early reassurance, reporting that “he’s avoided any serious injury on the play”. Not long after, veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein confirmed the diagnosis.
“Luka Doncic has been diagnosed with a right knee contusion, sources briefed on the situation tell @TheSteinLine, but the injury he sustained today with Slovenia’s national team is not believed to be serious,” Stein posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Before the scare, Doncic was dominant. In just 17 minutes of play, he posted 26 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, showcasing the offensive brilliance that Lakers fans hope carries over into the 2025 NBA season. The performance also underscored the benefits of his intensive offseason training regimen.
For now, the Lakers and Slovenia can breathe a sigh of relief: Doncic’s knee injury is minor, and he is expected to be ready for EuroBasket — and Los Angeles’ preseason preparations.