Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Latest Luka Doncic injury update may have big implications for Lakers star

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Apr 3, 2026 7:01 PM ET

The hamstring injury suffered by Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic on Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder is severe enough that it could keep him out for an extended period of time. The initial timetable is not exactly encouraging for the Lakers, or for his chances of winning major NBA awards and honors.

Lakers' Luka Doncic could miss remainder of season

According to a report from Shams Charania on Friday, Doncic is out indefinitely and is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season.

What is even more concerning for the Lakers is that his status beyond that is not yet certain, with Charania reporting that Doncic could still be out beyond the regular season.

There are a lot of layers to this that are significant.

For one, Doncic is a key part of the Lakers' success this season and a major reason why they are contenders in the Western Conference. If he is not back for the playoffs or not quite at 100% health, that would put a significant dent in their chances to make a run at the Western Conference title and a potential spot in the NBA Finals.

The other layer is that Doncic has only played in 64 games this season, and if he does not play in another game, that would make him ineligible for NBA honors due to the league's 65-game rule.

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is out indefinitely due to a left hamstring injury, sources tell me and @mcten. He will miss the remainder of the regular season and his status is uncertain beyond that. pic.twitter.com/qQTVAfPpWB
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 3, 2026

Doncic's agent said on Friday that they intend to apply for an "extraordinary circumstances challenge" that could make him eligible for awards.

Doncic is the league's leading scorer and, at the very least, would be an All-NBA selection if he is eligible. No leading scorer has missed All-NBA honors since the 1976 season.

The 65-game rule was put in as a means to end extreme load management that kept star players out of lineups for games they were otherwise healthy enough to play in. It was a frustrating development for the league, which wants to see its best players on the floor as much as possible, as well as fans who make plans and spend big money to see specific players.

Along with his injury, Doncic also missed two games earlier this season due to the birth of his second daughter in Slovenia. His agent makes note that while his daughter was born on Dec. 4 on an entirely different continent, Doncic was still back in the Lakers lineup on Dec. 6.

If the NBA is reasonable and logical about this, the exception should be granted.

But those are smaller potatoes compared to the impact on the Lakers' lineup for potential playoff games. Hamstring injuries can linger and be frustrating to deal with. That is the last thing both Doncic and the Lakers want at this time of year.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

More must-reads: