Dan Woike of The Athletic relayed Doncic’s email message to fans regarding his offseason health progress. “I took a real break from basketball the first few weeks after the season ended to rehab my body. My recovery went great, and I’m 100% healthy again,” Doncic wrote.

“Taking some time away from basketball is something I do at the start of every offseason. It’s a different way to do things, but it works for me. When I let myself miss the game a little bit and try some new things, it only makes me more excited and motivated to get back to playing.”

Doncic’s recovery

Doncic went through a difficult stretch where injuries sidelined him from the court last season. He notably went down with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain near the end of the NBA regular season, disappointingly hurting the team’s title odds and halting his MVP-caliber year in which he led the NBA in scoring at 33.5 points per game.

Due to the severity of the injury, Doncic was forced to travel to Europe to seek specialized medical treatment. Yet despite his efforts, he was still sidelined and could not play for the Lakers when it mattered most, leaving him with no choice but to watch the Lakers get swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.

After the season ended for both Doncic and the Lakers, getting back to full health became the Slovenian star’s main offseason focus. As such, his full recovery should now provide the franchise with added optimism heading into next season.

Expectations and goals for Doncic are now even higher following LeBron James’ departure from the Lakers. With James gone, Doncic takes over as the team’s primary leader and sole superstar, looking to guide the franchise back to glory in the NBA.

According to ESPN‘s Anthony Slater, Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka continues to contact Kuminga’s representatives, despite the two sides failing to reach an agreement.

“I can tell you that they keep calling Jonathan Kuminga,” Slater said on ESPN‘s NBA Today. “Obviously, they have not made a lucrative enough offer for Kuminga to jump. But part of their pitch has been, ‘Hey, you can come start here potentially.'”

What is holding back negotiations

The main obstacle preventing negotiations from advancing is the Lakers‘ proposal to Kuminga. Kuminga has a history with the Warriors of being ambitious and seeking higher financial compensation for his play, and Los Angeles has yet to offer a deal that catches his attention.

The Lakers have previously been described as Kuminga‘s most aggressive suitor and a strong potential fit or role player alongside Doncic, but their offer has not been substantial enough to convince the 23-year-old forward to commit. Los Angeles reportedly discussed a two-year contract worth approximately $20 million.

The Lakers still looking for more

Slater believes the continued pursuit shows that Los Angeles does not consider its offseason work complete. “And that says two things to me,” Slater explained. “Number one, it says the Lakers still don’t want to be done making moves, right? And they believe they’re a little weak at the wing position.”

The Lakers have already added Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams to strengthen their perimeter rotation, but Slater suggested that the organization still wants a more dynamic option at the position. “I think Thybulle will help. I think Ziaire Williams will help,” Slater said. “But they could use some more juice on the wing.”

Kuminga would provide athleticism, size, and downhill scoring alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The former No. 7 overall pick averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 36 appearances for the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks last season.

Trevor Lane of Lakers Nation and Front Office Show said, “LeBron’s BEST landing spot would actually be to reconsider & return to the Lakers. I mean…

• Luka/Sexton/Hardy/Bronny
• Reaves/Carr/Thybulle/Knecht
• Grimes/LaRavia/Williams
• LEBRON/Thiero/Vando
• Kessler/Mamu/Looney.
  That’s a VERY interesting team.”

The Lakers are building a great roster for the 2026 NBA season

The Los Angeles Lakers are entering a brand-new era for the 2026 NBA season centered on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, following major roster changes like the departure of LeBron James. Now, the pitch of coming back is actually there, despite rumors saying LeBron James will choose between Heat, Cavs, and other three teams.

The team brought in names like Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney to strengthen the frontcourt. The Lakers also had Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes join the roster to keep the pace off the bench. Hence, now LeBron James could see the Lakers’ new roster as one where he can easily fit into.

LeBron would fit perfectly at the four for the Lakers

LeBron is 6’9″ and way more agile than plenty of power forwards in the NBA. Through 60 games in last season, he put up 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. Still very productive despite his age.

Amid the uncertainty over his future with the Lakers, Austin Reaves was spotted at the airport, where a fan asked him questions about him and LeBron James. TMZ Sports acquired the footage and released it on social media, where Austin Reaves’ body language and words suggest he is fully inclined toward extending with the Lakers and wants them to sign the 41-year-old LeBron James as well.

“Yes,” Reaves said when the fan asked him if the Lakers want LeBron James back next year. “That’s the GOAT.” The fan then reminded him how sad it was to see the Lakers’ playoff run without Luka Doncic and asked him if he wants to have another shot with the Lakers’ Big Three next season. “Run it back,” Reaves responded. He was subsequently asked if he feels the Lakers should make roster changes in the offseason, replying, “I don’t get into all that. I’ve got to sign first.”

Austin Reaves and a decision to make

While LeBron James is already an unrestricted free agent, Austin Reaves has yet to pick up his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season. The absolute deadline for him to decide on that player option is June 29. If the Lakers and Reaves do not come to terms on a potential extension before that time, and he does not exercise his player option, then even Reaves would become an unrestricted free agent.

All signs are that Reaves will exercise the player option if the negotiations do not yield fruit in time, as he has repeatedly suggested that he wants to retire in the purple and gold uniform.

Moreover, he would potentially be leaving $62 million on the table if he joins any other team than the Lakers. The Lakers could offer him a five-year, $240 million extension, while any other team can offer a four-year, $178 million contract at the most.

But whether LeBron James will “run it back” with him and the Lakers remains uncertain. The 41-year-old is mulling retirement, but sources suggest LeBron James will play at least one more year in the NBA.

The Lakers continue to manage his status cautiously after he has been sidelined since early April, which medical reports suggest typically requires several weeks of recovery and gradual reconditioning before full contact clearance.

Recent updates confirm he has started light running but has not yet been cleared for game action, keeping his return timeline uncertain heading deeper into the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

When will Luka Doncic return to play?

Luka Doncic does not have a fixed return date and is expected to remain out for at least several more weeks, with the Los Angeles Lakers targeting a cautious, week-to-week recovery from his Grade 2 left hamstring strain.

The star guard has been sidelined since early April and is not expected to return during the current phase of the playoffs, with reports indicating he will likely miss the remainder of the ongoing series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Medical updates suggest his recovery timeline initially ranged between 4–8 weeks, but hamstring injuries of this severity often require extended rehabilitation before full-contact clearance.

Although Doncic has started light movement and on-court shooting, he has not yet progressed to full-speed running or contact drills, which are key milestones before returning to game action.

How long has Luka Doncic been out?

Luka Doncic has been sidelined for more than a month since suffering the injury on April 2, 2026 during a game against the OKC. It occurred in the third quarter of that matchup when he exited after experiencing discomfort in his left hamstring.

Since then, he has missed regular-season games, the start of the playoffs and the opening stages of the Lakers’ series against OKC, with his absence stretching beyond the initial four-week recovery estimate provided by medical staff.

How important is Luka Doncic to the Lakers?

Luka Doncic is the central offensive engine of the Los Angeles Lakers, serving as their primary scorer, playmaker and late-game decision-maker since joining the franchise.

Before the injury, he was averaging around 33 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists per game, ranking among the league’s most productive offensive players and serving as the focal point of the team’s system.

His absence forces Los Angeles to rely heavily on secondary creators and reduces their half-court efficiency, especially in playoff environments where isolation scoring becomes critical. Without him, the Lakers lose their most reliable shot creator and decision-maker in clutch situations.

How does Luka Doncic complement LeBron James?

Luka Doncic complements LeBron James by acting as a primary half-court creator and elite scoring engine, allowing both players to share playmaking duties and reduce defensive pressure on each other when fully healthy.

Together, they form one of the most versatile offensive duos in the NBA. Doncic brings elite isolation scoring, pick-and-roll control and step-back shooting, while LeBron provides transition dominance, off-ball IQ and secondary facilitation.

Recent lineup data shows that the Lakers’ offensive efficiency improves significantly when both are on the floor, particularly in half-court creation situations where spacing and decision-making become critical.

From a tactical standpoint, the pairing allows Los Angeles to stagger usage: Doncic can control slower, methodical possessions while LeBron exploits transition opportunities and mismatches.

Analysts have also highlighted that the Lakers are effectively “building around Luka while maximizing LeBron’s efficiency window”, signaling a transition toward a dual-engine offense model.

Doncic supported his teammate with some important context about Reaves’ own injury problems so far in these playoffs. “It’s tough. He came back from an injury stuff. But my message to him is just be yourself. We all know he’s an amazing player, and we all know he’s gonna bounce back,” said Doncic, per Dan Woike of The Athletic on X, formerly Twitter.

The Lakers mustered just 37 points in the second half of this one after staying relatively competitive through two quarters. This was a brutal game from Austin Reaves, who scored just eight points on 3-16 shooting from the field.

What Reaves had missed

Reaves missed the first four games of the Lakers’ first-round NBA series against the Houston Rockets due to an oblique injury, but returned to help Los Angeles close out the series in six games, looking fairly similar to his usual self in those matchups.

However, Reaves struggled against the relentless Oklahoma City defense all night on Tuesday, forcing tough shots and not finding much success drawing fouls, which is usually a major part of his scoring arsenal.

For the Lakers to have any chance of keeping this competitive without Doncic, Reaves will need to be much better than he was in Game 1. And without a doubt, LeBron trying to keep the Lakers alive was not enough and will not be enough against OKC.

Reaves will have his opportunity to bounce back in Game 2 on Thursday at the Paycom Center, which will be the final game in Oklahoma City before the series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 and Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena.

“When you’re playing against the world champions and you’re missing a guy who averages 34, 6, and 8, and… whatever the f***, that’s special,” James said, visibly frustrated by the team’s offensive rhythm. “It’s a different game when [Doncic] is out there.”

James attempted to shoulder the load, but the Lakers’ offense lacked the gravity and playmaking that Doncic provides. Against OKC’s top-tier defense, the supporting cast faltered, leaving the NBA world focused on one primary storyline: the status of No. 77.

When will Doncic return?

The million-dollar question remains unanswered as the series shifts toward a pivotal Game 2. While Doncic was seen testing his leg with light shooting during Monday’s practice, the tea leaves are far from encouraging.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the Lakers are officially evaluating Doncic on a day-to-day basis, though a return before Game 3 is considered unlikely. Medical analyst Dr. Jesse Morse noted that recovery for this specific Grade 2 strain often extends to the six-to-eight-week mark, making a Game 4 appearance a much more realistic target for the Lakers’ training staff.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has remained tight-lipped, offering a curt “no update” prior to tip-off, a stance that has done little to quiet a restless fanbase on social media.

What’s left for Luka?

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the transition from stationary shooting to playoff-level intensity is a multi-step process. For Doncic to suit up, he still needs to clear several high-stakes hurdles:

• The running program: Moving beyond set shots to explosive, linear sprints.
• 5-on-5 contact: Redick indicated that Doncic has not yet been cleared for full-contact practice, a prerequisite for any return.
• Conditioning: Reclaiming “game lungs” after nearly a month on the shelf.

The Lakers were 16-2 down the stretch and looked like a juggernaut in the first round, but Game 1 proved that without Doncic’s “explosion on the court,” this series against the Thunder could be a short one.

According to Dave McMenamin, Doncic was getting up shots Monday, hours before the team heads to Oklahoma, but when asked about his availability for Game 1, JJ Redick said, “no update,” which means there is no significant progress on his injury and his return will still have to wait.

Doncic dealt with a nagging hamstring throughout the 2025-26 season, so he and the Lakers have every reason to be overly cautious as he ramps back up for basketball activities. It is a tough reality to swallow given how well Doncic was playing to close out the regular season, but jeopardizing his health to try to advance past the Thunder would be a terrible decision.

What the Lakers should expect

If it were a different type of injury, there would probably be a greater willingness to allow Doncic to play; however, at this point, the priority should be focused on next season and the long-term future. Oklahoma City swept the Phoenix Suns and has enjoyed extended rest, so rushing the 27-year-old back might not make as much of a difference as the team would hope.

In theory, Doncic could return at some point in the series if Los Angeles manages to steal a couple of games, but that is much easier said than done. Even if the most likely outcome is a second-round exit, the Lakers should feel proud of what they have accomplished so far and protect Doncic to avoid worsening his injury.

The true estimated return of Doncic

According to sports doctor Jesse Morse, this type of injury typically requires 6 to 8 weeks for a full recovery. However, with advanced treatment methods and aggressive rehabilitation, the timeline can sometimes be shortened to around 4 to 6 weeks.

Now, just over a month removed from the injury, with the injury happening on April 2, Luka has rejoined the NBA team but has yet to make significant progress in his on-court activity, particularly in running and five-on-five play.

“Therefore, he’s not close to returning,” Morse explained. “I think realistically, the fastest Doncic could return is Monday, May 11, for Game 4,” the sports medicine specialist added.

“Doncic will be out to start this series against the Oklahoma City Thunder,” Shams Charania reported on ESPN. “The Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis. It’s still a slow path on Doncic’s recovery. Still not full fledged running or full contact workouts.”

Though deflating, Charania’s report confirms what the Lakers had been expecting for a while. Redick and company know they are in for a steep climb if they want to take down the reigning NBA champions in the 2026 Playoffs. Fortunately for Los Angeles, LeBron James is playing some of the best basketball of his career—at 41—and Austin Reaves—though still finding his footing—is back in action.

Doncic set to miss 12th straight game

Since sustaining a Grade 2 hamstring strain during the 139–96 blowout loss to the Thunder on April 2, Doncic hasn’t stepped on the court in an NBA game. Curiously enough, he might make his long-awaited return against OKC, too.

Considering Doncic is trending to be sidelined for Games 1 and 2 of the series—both at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City—his missed games total could rise to 13 in a row. So far in the 2025–26 campaign, Doncic has been out for 24 games, six of which have come in the ongoing postseason.

Regardless, two absences were due to the birth of his daughter and were not injury-related. The Lakers have grown used to playing without Doncic at multiple points throughout the season. But this time’s different.

Lakers up for huge challenge

Overcoming Doncic’s absence when taking on the best team in the league might be an impossible task for the Purple and Gold. At least, the latest injury update didn’t come out of the blue for Redick and the Lakers. As it gears up for a tone-setting visit to the Big Friendly, Los Angeles hopes to come away with at least one win.

Any other outcome may put the Lakers in a world of trouble that not even Doncic may be able to pull them out of. That is, of course, if Doncic even comes back during the series. All signs indicate he will, but nothing can be taken for granted. If the Lakers aren’t careful, there may no longer be a series for Doncic to return to by the time he’s fully healed from the Grade 2 hamstring strain.

According to Daniel Starkand of LakersNation, JJ Redick revealed that Doncic has increased his movement but is still not ready. “JJ Redick says Luka Doncic has increased his movement in on-court drills but has not yet started 1-on-1 action.” This suggests that his return could come within the first three games of the series against OKC.

Doncic’s return will still have to wait, likely coming in the next series if they advance, but while the Doncic update is not an encouraging one, having Reaves back should be enough to help the Lakers avoid becoming the first team in NBA history to blow a 3-0 lead.

The numbers of Doncic

Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds in his first full season in Los Angeles, making his absence one of the most significant injury situations in the entire playoffs. The fact that the Lakers have managed to take a 3-1 series lead without him shows how deep and talented this roster is.

Without Doncic and Reaves for much of this NBA series, LeBron James carried the load. At the same time, there has been a lot of credit given to the importance of Marcus Smart’s arrival, who has shown a very high defensive level, and the growth of Luke Kennard.

The return of Reaves

The positive news for Los Angeles is that Austin Reaves has a chance to play in Game 5 against the Rockets, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Reaves has been out since April 2, dealing with a Grade 2 left oblique strain that initially carried a four to six week timetable.

He was unable to play in Games 3 or 4, but his potential return for a closeout game on Wednesday would give the Lakers’ offense a significant boost. Reaves put together a strong season despite his health issues, averaging a career high 23.3 points along with 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 49% from the field.

According to ESPN‘s Shams Charania, Doncic will not return for the remainder of the series, even if it extends to a Game 7. On the other hand, Reaves is expected to make his playoff debut this season in Game 5.

Additionally, Charania reported that the Rockets are preparing to face the Lakers without Durant in their lineup. After his latest update, coupled with comments from Amen Thompson, Charania suggested Durant will not be available for Game 5.

Furthermore, JJ Redick, the head coach, indicated that Doncic is nearing a potential return, as recent injury reports suggest he may be back sooner than anticipated.

Projected lineups for Game 5 between Lakers and Rockets

Given these developments, Reaves is anticipated to be in the lineup, having been absent since April 2 in a regular-season game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Here are the projected lineups for both teams:

• Los Angeles Lakers projected lineup:
  • PG: Austin Reaves
  • SG: Marcus Smart
  • SF: Rui Hachimura
  • PF: LeBron James
  • C: Deandre Ayton

• Houston Rockets projected lineup:
  • PG: Reed Sheppard
  • SG: Amen Thompson
  • SF: Tari Eason
  • PF: Jabari Smith Jr.
  • C: Alperen Sengun

If the Lakers win, they will secure their spot in the Western Conference semifinals. Conversely, a Rockets win will force a Game 6, offering them a chance to rebound in the series, which currently stands at 3-1 in favor of Los Angeles. Both teams will miss one of their key players for this game, but the drive to advance in the NBA playoffs remains strong.