‘It’s Very Frustrating’ — Doncic Misses Lakers’ Playoff Run With Hamstring Injury

Luka Doncic calls out instructions to his Lakers teammates during Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder

The 27-year-old Lakers star is recovering in Spain with platelet-rich plasma treatments after an MRI indicated an eight-week recovery. He’s resumed running but hasn’t returned to contact drills yet.

Doncic led the league in scoring this season with 33.5 points per game, and LeBron James said his absence was felt in the Lakers’ 90-point loss to Oklahoma City in Game 1 of their second-round series...

Los Angeles Lakers forward Luka Doncic said there’s no clear timeline for his return from the hamstring strain that’s kept him out of the Lakers’ NBA playoff run.

“I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is,” the 27-year-old Slovenian told reporters in Oklahoma City after the Lakers fell to the reigning champion Thunder in Game 1 of their second-round series on Tuesday. “All I want to do is play basketball, especially this time. It’s the best time to play basketball.”

Doncic suffered the injury on April 2 and has been out since, missing the Lakers’ final regular-season games and their first-round series win against the Houston Rockets.

“It’s very frustrating seeing what my team is doing. I’m very proud of them. It’s been very tough just to sit and watch them play,” he said.

He added that an initial MRI scan projected an eight-week recovery period.

Dončić, who moved to Spain as a teenager and began his professional career with Real Madrid, said he also traveled back to Spain for platelet-rich plasma treatments in an effort to speed up his recovery.

“I think that is one of the best countries to do that,” he said, adding that he had consulted with Lakers doctors and “everybody agreed for me to go there.”

While Doncic said he is “doing everything I can” to return, he’s cautious about rushing back before he’s fully fit.

“It's a tough one for me because I came back from injuries (before) too soon, and it wasn't the best result,” he said.

“It's not the same as other injuries,” he said of the hamstring injury.

“You have to be very careful, and I’m doing everything to come back,” added Doncic, who said he has started running again in training but has not yet participated in any contact drills.

Bron on the run 💨

12 in the first frame for the King pic.twitter.com/osJo9D2nYT

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 6, 2026

Doncic led the league in scoring during the regular season, averaging 33.5 points per game along with 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds.

LeBron James noted after the Lakers managed only 90 points in Tuesday’s game that Doncic’s offensive impact was clearly missed.

“We're playing against the number one defensive team in the NBA,” James said. “When you play against great defences, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times... when you play against the world champions, having a guy that averages 34 (points per game), that's special.”

Final pic.twitter.com/Wk3XDa7aVm

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 6, 2026