Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic suffered a left hamstring strain during the team’s 139-96 loss to the OKC Thunder. Doncic is expected to miss anywhere between three and six weeks of action, ensuring he likely won’t play another regular-season game this year.
The Thunder game was Doncic’s 64th appearance of the season, one shy of the 65-game limit required for a player to be eligible for postseason awards such as MVP and All-NBA. Doncic is expected to file an extraordinary circumstances grievance over missing two games in December over the birth of his child to try to regain eligibility.
Doncic’s former head coach, Dallas Mavericks‘ Jason Kidd, has weighed in on his former star’s predicament, calling the situation unfortunate while urging the NBA to look at his and other similar cases to ensure they’re still rewarded for the year they had.
“It’s unfortunate. Not just for Luka, but there are others in that same situation. Again, Luka is having an MVP season. He was playing at a very, very high level, and for him to get hurt and not to be rewarded for that season is unfortunate. So hopefully, the NBA will look at these cases and hopefully find a way to make sure that guys don’t get left off the list.”
Coach Kidd has witnessed firsthand what Doncic can do coming off an injury before the Playoffs.
Doncic missed the first two games of the 2022 playoffs with a lower leg injury before returning and improbably leading the Mavericks to the Conference Finals. He also had hurt this same hamstring during the 2024 playoffs and still led his team to the NBA Finals.
It won’t be easy for Doncic to make such a comeback again, as hamstring injuries take their toll over the years. He’s not as spry as he was in those previous runs, but he is in the best shape of his career right now. Hopefully, that accelerates his return without endangering his health.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates with head coach Jason Kidd after winning the Western Conference Championship against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game five of the Western Conference Finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center.Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
(Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports)
Doncic has averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists this season. He’s expected to win his second scoring title this season and will be hoping he can have an impact on the NBA playoffs, provided he returns on time.
The 65-game rule has made multiple potential All-NBA stars ineligible. This includes Anthony Edwards, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Cade Cunningham, and now Doncic.
Doncic’s extraordinary circumstances grievance over his eligibility will only be settled after the regular season is over, but a final decision should be announced before voting on All-NBA teams begins at the end of the regular season.
Related: Luka Doncic’s Only Path To MVP Revealed After Unfortunate News
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.