Luka Doncic returns to Los Angeles Lakers after hamstring treatment
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will return to the United States on Friday following hamstring treatment in Spain, though his status for the NBA play-offs remains unconfirmed.
The Slovenian guard received multiple injections for a Grade 2 left hamstring strain sustained earlier this month.
His availability is highly uncertain ahead of the Western Conference fourth seed’s first-round series opener against the Houston Rockets on Saturday.
The Californian franchise has not provided a definitive timeline for his return to competitive action.
Coping without key personnel
A Grade 2 hamstring tear typically requires a rehabilitation period of approximately four weeks.
Los Angeles finished the regular season with three wins from five matches in the absence of both their talisman and Austin Reaves.
Reaves is currently sidelined indefinitely after suffering an oblique strain in the same fixture against the Oklahoma City Thunder on 2 April.
Veteran forward LeBron James assumed leadership duties during the final stretch of the campaign.
The four-time NBA champion earned Western Conference player of the week honours after averaging 24 points, 9.7 assists and six rebounds to secure a winning record without his co-stars.
Awards eligibility in question
Prior to his injury, the former Real Madrid playmaker was enjoying a stellar individual campaign.
He recorded a league-leading average of 33.5 points per game, alongside 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds.
However, having appeared in only 64 fixtures, the 25-year-old currently falls short of the NBA’s 65-game threshold required for regular-season award consideration.
His representatives have formally petitioned the league for a special circumstances exemption.
His agent argues that the player missed two matches in December solely to travel to Slovenia for the birth of his daughter.
