Luka Doncic injury update concerns deepened after Lakers radio announcer John Ireland said the guard is “not close” to returning from a Grade 2 left hamstring injury.
Ireland posted on X on May 2, 2026, that Doncic was “not running yet.” This information casts further doubt over his postseason availability. Doncic suffered a left hamstring injury on April 2.
Hopes of a return had risen after the Slovenian guard spent time in Europe receiving advanced medical treatment. However, no return timeline has been confirmed.
Windy on Luka possibly returning:
“He’s not close. Most likely you’re not gonna see Luka Doncic at the front end of this series maybe at least for another week to 10 days on the minimum. So the Lakers are gonna have a reality they’re gonna have to do it without (him)” pic.twitter.com/bACw4czZvI
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) May 2, 2026Doncic’s status has become a major issue for the Los Angeles Lakers as they continue their NBA playoffs run.
Read: Luka Doncic Injury Update Clouds Lakers’ Playoff Start
The Lakers won the first three games of their series but lost the next two. This included a 99-93 defeat in Game 5.
“I believe the Lakers think they can win this series without Luka Doncic… if it goes to Game 7, they reconsider everything.” 👀@boogiecousins says LA is buying Luka more time by sitting him against the Rockets 🕰️@MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/bwS1OYuzKI
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 30, 2026If Los Angeles advances, it is scheduled to face the defending champion OKC Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals. The series begins May 5, 2026.
The Thunder beat the Lakers four times during the season by an average margin of 22 points per game.
