Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Lakers Star Luka Doncic Suffers Injury During EuroBasket Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paul White | Last updated Aug 16, 2025 2:07 PM ET

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has been at the epicenter of the NBA discussion this offseason. After a blockbuster mid-season trade that brought Doncic to LA and sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, the Slovenian phenom has been thrust into a much brighter spotlight.

The Lakers have a notoriously intense fanbase that demands greatness from their players, so Doncic has had to adjust his habits quickly. He has reportedly lost a significant amount of weight this offseason, a sight many fans were excited to see as Doncic prepared to play for his country in the FIBA EuroBasket tournament.

Unfortunately, Doncic got injured by his teammate in a freak accident Saturday morning, and was forced to exit Slovenia’s game against Latvia.

Luka Doncic’s teammate just fell on him in the paint… he’s signaling that he’s hurt and is heading to the locker room with an injury.

Brutal.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 16, 2025

With LeBron James entering his 23rd season in the twilight of his career, Los Angeles knows it is up to Doncic to carry them where they want to go. If he were to miss extended time due to injury, it would throw a major wrench in those plans.

Aside from a few weeks after the trade deadline, the fit between James and Doncic was awkward, and that lack of chemistry was exposed in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers were quickly eliminated after just five games in what was expected to be a potential championship run.

After the series, head coach JJ Redick indirectly called out Doncic by saying the team needed to be in better shape, which prompted Doncic’s body transformation this summer. There has been a ton of buzz around his name and how he can expand him game now that he is in much better shape.

This latest injury is a setback for Doncic, but there is some optimism that it won’t sideline him for very long.

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

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