It’s fair to suggest that the Los Angeles Lakers need Luka Dončić to have any chance of making some real playoff noise in 2026. If he misses time, the Lakers are in real trouble, and that was a given before he missed their last two games.

The Lakers didn’t fare terribly without Dončić, splitting them at one win and one loss, but every win counts in the Western Conference playoff race. Luckily, the five-time All-Star’s return is coming pretty quickly.

When Will Luka Dončić Return to the Lakers?

The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported that Dončić has returned to the team and intends to play in the Lakers’ upcoming game tomorrow.

“Luka Dončić has rejoined the Lakers in Philadelphia and is expected to play Sunday against the 76ers, sources tell (The Athletic),” Woike wrote.

Luka Dončić has rejoined the Lakers in Philadelphia and is expected to play Sunday against the 76ers, sources tell @TheAthletic.

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) December 6, 2025

For context, Dončić had missed the last two games to tend to his fiancée, who was giving birth to their second child. Dončić announced the birth of their daughter via his personal Instagram account.

Congratulations to Dončić and his growing family! It is very exciting to see him be there for the birth of his child. No one should shame him for wanting to be with family, no matter what.

And now that it’s over, Dončić can return to the Lakers, where they can get themselves back on track even after their blowout loss against their mortal basketball enemy, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics blew out the Lakers last night, and not having Dončić (nor LeBron James, for that matter) stood out pretty badly.

Luckily, Dončić’s return should improve the Lakers’ chances against the 76ers. Dončić has been nothing short of first-team All-NBA good this season. In 16 games with the Lakers this season, he is averaging 35.3 points, 8.9 assists, and 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting 47.8% from the field and 34.1% from three.

MORE: Lakers Predicted To Send Out Austin Reaves in Major Trade for $175 Million Superstar

Many were stunned when the Lakers managed to pull off that trade. Even if the Lakers’ season didn’t go as planned after they acquired him mid-season, Dončić is proving why the Dallas Mavericks made a historically egregious miscalculation when they traded him to the Lakers.

Even more impressive is that the Lakers have surrounded a pretty darn good team, as his backcourt mate, Austin Reaves, is also playing at an All-Star level, combined with multiple excellent role players like DeAndre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, and Rui Hachimura. That may not have been enough to save off a red-hot Celtics team without Dončić, but with him, the Lakers are capable of beating anybody.