Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Lakers Announce Luka Doncic News on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Dec 3, 2025 6:47 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a strong start in their first full season with superstar Luka Doncic operating as the facilitator of the offense. The 26-year-old Slovenian guard has played at an elite level in the 2025–26 campaign, helping the Lakers to a 15–5 record.

Through his first 16 games, Doncic has averaged 35.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 47.8% from the field, 34.1% from 3-point range and 81.2% from the free-throw line.

He has firmly placed himself in the middle of the MVP race, consistently proving to be an unstoppable force on offense by creating opportunities for teammates with his elite court vision and knocking down difficult shots from all three levels.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77)© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

As the Lakers prepare for Thursday’s road game against the Toronto Raptors, they are looking to bounce back from a disappointing home loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

Unfortunately, they will have to do so without Doncic. The team announced that he has been ruled out of Thursday’s matchup due to personal reasons (h/t Marc Stein of The Stein Line). It remains unclear whether he will be able to return to the lineup on Friday against the Boston Celtics.

The Lakers say Luka Dončić will miss Thursday's game in Toronto due to personal reasons. pic.twitter.com/ApyTjw18uh
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 3, 2025

With Doncic out, the Lakers will likely lean on Austin Reaves and LeBron James to shoulder most of the scoring load, but fully replacing his production internally is impossible. Now in his eighth NBA season, Doncic has continued to set the standard on the offensive end, currently on pace to capture the scoring title.

Doncic arrived in Los Angeles in February through a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks, a move that reshaped the franchise’s trajectory. He then solidified his commitment to the Lakers by signing a three-year, $165 million extension this past offseason, ensuring his loyalty to the organization through 2028.

Individually, Doncic’s accolades speak for themselves. He was the 2018–19 Rookie of the Year, the 2023–24 NBA scoring champion, a five-time All-NBA selection and a five-time All-Star. These achievements underscore his standing as one of the league’s premier talents, and his absence leaves a void that no single player can fill. Any updates or changes to his status will continue to be monitored.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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