As the Los Angeles Lakers begin their NBA playoff quest, major question marks hang over the franchise, starting with the status of Luka Doncic amid a hamstring injury. Doncic has not played since April 2, calling into question his status for the NBA playoffs.
The Lakers have not announced a return timeline for Doncic, but the team is preparing for the star along with Austin Reaves to miss the entire first-round series versus the Houston Rockets, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“And as they prepare for it, sources told ESPN they have no expectation of having either Doncic or Reaves back at any point in the first round,” McMenamin wrote in an April 16, 2026, story titled, “Luka, Reaves and the 48 hours that changed the Lakers’ season.”
“But they also have not completely ruled out the possibility of one or both of them becoming available the longer the series lasts.”
Here’s what you need to know about Doncic’s injury and his potential return timeline.
Lakers Star Luka Doncic Has Been Receiving Treatment for His Injury in Spain
Doncic has been in Madrid, Spain, receiving injury treatment. The Lakers star was spotted at a Real Madrid basketball game but is expected to rejoin the team to attend the playoff series against the Rockets.
“The Lakers’ Luka Dončić, I’m told, is scheduled to rejoin the team in Los Angeles on Friday in advance of the Lakers’ first-round series against Houston after his recent trip to Madrid for treatment of his Grade 2 hamstring strain,” The Stein Line’s Marc Stein detailed in an April 13, message on X.
When Will Luka Doncic Return to Play in NBA Playoffs?
Ahead of the NBA playoffs, ESPN’s Shams Charania provided an update on Doncic’s status. Doncic is expected to have his injury re-evaluated when he returns to the United States.
Charania and Stein have conflicting reports on when Doncic is expected to return to Los Angeles. Given Doncic was spotted in Madrid on April 16, it appears Stein’s report on an April 17, return is accurate.
“But Luka Doncic, he spent the last week in Spain, from my understanding, the majority of time in Spain,” Charania detailed in an April 13, interview on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “He underwent multiple injection treatments in that hamstring to see if he can promote quick healing, can he promote an expedited return in a lot of ways for him to be back.
“My understanding is he’ll be back in the States on Tuesday and then they’re going to re-evaluate him.”
The Lakers have not revealed a specific injury timeline, but it appears that it would be a surprise if Doncic played in the first round.
Lakers HC JJ Redick on Luka Doncic’s Injury: ‘Out Indefinitely’
With Reaves and Doncic both sidelined, the Lakers are projected to use the following starting lineup, per ESPN: point guard Luke Kennard, shooting guard Marcus Smart, small forward Jake LaRavia, power forward LeBron James and center Deandre Ayton. Lakers head coach JJ Redick described both Reaves and Doncic as “out indefinitely” without a specific return timeline.
“They’re out indefinitely,” Redick told reporters on April 14, per NBA.com. “I’m not going to have an update for you this week.”
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