Luka Dončić Heads to Europe!

Pulse Sports Team 05:10 - 06 April 2026

Following consultations with Los Angeles Lakers doctors and his own medical team, Luka Dončić will seek specialized medical treatment in Europe for a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in an effort to accelerate his return to the court, his agent, Bill Duffy of WME Basketball, told Shams Charania and Dave McMenamin of ESPN on Sunday.

Dončić sustained the injury in the third quarter of the Lakers' 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. An MRI performed Friday afternoon in Dallas revealed a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The team announced he would be sidelined for at least the remainder of the regular season.

A Grade 2 strain typically requires a recovery period of about a month. The Lakers have not provided a specific timeline for Dončić's return, beyond confirming he will miss the remaining five regular-season games. The first round of the NBA playoffs is scheduled to begin on April 18.

The Lakers also announced on Saturday that Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left abdominal strain and will be out for the rest of the regular season. While the team did not provide a timeline for his return, sources told Shams Charania that Reaves is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Dončić's first full regular season with the Lakers concludes with the eight-year Slovenian veteran leading the league in scoring (33.5 points per game), alongside 8.3 assists (third in the NBA), 7.7 rebounds (second among guards), and 1.6 steals (sixth in the league) across 64 appearances.

The Lakers (50-28), currently third in the Western Conference, have secured a playoff berth. They suffered a 134-128 road loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Their remaining schedule includes a home game against the Thunder, an away game versus the Golden State Warriors, and home matchups against the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz.