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Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic went down with a hamstring injury during the team's April 2 matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Doncic was on offense with possession of the ball. He dribbled toward the lane and looked like he tried a spin near the paint, instantly lost control of the ball, and started hopping toward the baseline. Doncic put his head in his hands and then laid down on the court in pain.
It was determined that he had suffered a hamstring injury, and he did not return to the court in the Lakers' 139-96 loss.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 3, 2026The injury to the Lakers' star impacts two things. Luckily, Los Angeles has already clinched a playoff spot, but depending on how long Doncic is out, the injury could sideline him for the start of the postseason.
Secondly, he was playing at such a high level that he was in the running for MVP. The NBA has instituted a strict game-eligibility policy for awards, and this injury could keep Doncic just shy of the mark.
Here are the latest updates on Doncic's hamstring injury, and a look at when he could return.
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Luka Doncic injury update
The most recent update as of Friday morning is that Doncic will get an MRI on his hamstring to determine the severity of the injury, per Dave McMenamin.
After the game, head coach JJ Redick discussed his star's injury.
"We checked him out, he got worked on, he was cleared...we're not going to put a player at risk."
The interesting thing about this quote is that Redick said that Doncic "was cleared," which could suggest that the injury isn't as bad as first thought, but the fact that he has to go in for an MRI leaves that inconclusive for now.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 3, 2026How long is Luka Doncic out for?
Hamstring injuries vary by severity. A simple pulled hamstring could sideline him for a game or two, but a strained hamstring will depend on the severity of the strain. The Lakers have already clinched a playoff spot and have five games left.
There is a chance, out of caution, that the star is shut down for the remainder of the regular season, with a goal of his returning for the playoffs. One factor in this injury is that it is the same hamstring he hurt ahead of the regular season, so that could make him more cautious.
The Lakers' remaining regular-season schedule includes games against the Dallas Mavericks, Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz.
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Hamstring recovery timeline
Hamstring injuries can take many forms. A cramp or a pulled hamstring can heal in a few days, but if the injury progresses to a strain, that is when time off may be needed.
A Grade I hamstring strain could keep him out 1-2 weeks. A Grade II hamstring strain would see Doncic sidelined 3-6 weeks. If he is diagnosed with a Grade I strain, he would likely be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. A Grade II strain could keep the Lakers without Doncic through the Conference semifinals if he takes the full recovery time for a Grade II strain.
Luka Doncic seems to pull up because of his left hamstring
This is the SAME hamstring he hurt prior in the season. If it’s a strain timeline is dependent on severity
Grade I: 1-2 weeks
Grade II: 3-6 weeks pic.twitter.com/VdFWqz2snl
Luka Doncic hamstring history
Doncic has had an injury-riddled career, but the majority of them have been wear-and-tear injuries that haven't sidelined him for long. He famously suffered a calf injury when he was traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers, which kept him out for about two months. Since 2024, Doncic has had five hamstring injuries. The first was just a minor pull, but then he re-injured it four days later and missed a week.
The Lakers star didn't have another hamstring injury until the 2025-2026 pre-season, but it didn't cause him to miss any time in the regular season. He suffered another hamstring injury and missed four games. Doncic's latest hamstring injury occurred against the Thunder, and it remains to be seen how much time he will miss.
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Can Luka Doncic win MVP?
The NBA has new rules about award eligibility. Players must play in 65 regular-season games to be in contention. The game against the Thunder on Thursday night was Doncic's 64th game of the season. If he is unable to return to the court for one more game, he will not be eligible to win MVP.
Could the Lakers trot Doncic out there, have him sit on the sideline until the next dead ball, and sub him out? Yes. But Doncic is considered to be the third-favorite for the MVP Award, with a gap between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama and the Lakers star. It is likely not worth the added risk to do it, so barring good news on the injury front, it looks like Doncic will just miss the cut-off for award eligibility.
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