Luka Doncic is not spending his offseason chasing pickup runs or rushing toward a comeback. A month after a Grade 2 hamstring strain shut down his season, the Los Angeles Lakers star made it clear that basketball is no longer the immediate priority. The Lakers' playoff run ended Monday night with a 115-110 loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, and Doncic admitted afterward that a return during the postseason was never realistic, despite outside hope that he could rejoin the lineup.
The timing only deepened the frustration around Los Angeles' season. Before the injury on April 2, Doncic had powered the Lakers through one of their strongest stretches of the year alongside LeBron James and Austin Reaves. The chemistry was building, the offense was rolling, and championship conversations suddenly felt real again. Then the injury hit, and the momentum disappeared almost overnight. Even after the Lakers survived the first round, Doncic said he never got close to a return.
Luka Doncic Addresses Injury Following Lakers' Elimination
Luka Doncic made a candid admission following the Lakers' heartbreaking elimination. "I know some people wanted me to come back, but obviously I wasn't close to clearing," Doncic said. "If I could be out there, I would be, 100%. Everybody in that room knows this is really tough. This is the best time to play basketball."
The Slovenian star revealed he has resumed running and shooting, but contact work still has not started. He expects that stage of recovery to come within the next couple of weeks, putting his rehab timeline close to the standard two-month window for that type of hamstring injury.
The explanation answered one of the biggest questions surrounding the Lakers during the second round. There had been growing optimism that Doncic could return against Oklahoma City, especially after Los Angeles pushed past the Houston Rockets in the opening round. Internally, though, the reality was far different.
Still, Doncic found positives in his first full year with the Lakers. He captured the NBA scoring title with 33.5 points per game while also averaging 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds across 64 games.
"Obviously this season didn't end how we wanted, but I feel like the last push we made in the end of the regular season, we thought we could compete for a championship," Doncic said. "I think we had a great team. We had great chemistry. Playing with AR and LeBron, it's an incredible experience. Two great players, and it was really fun to share a court with them."
Luka Doncic Has No Plan to Return to National Basketball Amid Custody Battle
Hours after the season ended, Doncic shared another personal decision. He announced he will not play for Slovenia's national team this summer as he continues working toward joint custody of his two daughters following his separation from ex-fiancée Anamaria Goltes.
"I love my daughters more than anything, and they will always come first in my life. As I continue working toward joint custody of my daughters, I have been forced to make a difficult decision between traveling and playing for the Slovenian national team and being with my daughters this summer. Unfortunately, it has been made extremely difficult for me to see them over the past eight months."
Doncic later added, "First of all, I want to spend time with my daughters, and that's probably the only thing that's on my mind right now. Second of all, obviously get the work in and come back ready for the season."
Even with the difficult offseason, Doncic left little doubt about his long-term commitment to Los Angeles. "I feel very comfortable. I like living here. I like playing for the Lakers. It's one of the best organizations in the world, so just being a Laker means a lot to me, and I feel very good here."
Now, the Lakers are out and need to make a remarkable move this summer to return with astonishing basketball dominance in the next season.
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About the Author: Lachit Roy is a sports writer at The Times of India, where he covers the NBA, WWE, and other major international sporting events. With over five years of experience across different media houses, he has developed expertise in reporting, analysis, and storytelling. His sharp insights are complemented by a clear and engaging writing style. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Tezpur University. Beyond sports, Lachit is passionate about movies and enjoys gardening in his free time.
