There are two notable names who are both officially listed as out ahead of Game 1 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) and Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) will both miss the matchup. That may not be where the similarities end.
Brian Windhorst recently discussed that, as far as his intel goes, Doncic is still not all that close to returning for the Lakers. Shams Charania said it is a week-to-week basis for Luka with that grade 2 hamstring strain right now. JJ Redick's official statement on the matter was there being 'no updates' regarding his superstar's injury.
Mark Daigneault took a similar approach when it came to discussing Williams. The Thunder head coach was asked about his star in the lead-up to Game 1. The championship-winning head coach was playing his cards close to the chest.
"He's progressing, according to plan, I would say," Daigneault told reporters. "In terms of a timeline, we’re not gonna release that. We will continue to let you guys know on a week-to-week basis.”
Luka Doncic and Jalen Williams will be staring at each other from the sidelines
It sure does sound like there may still be a week before either of these players steps on the court for the Lakers or Thunder. That will keep both units from being at full strength for the first few games of this series.
Hypothetically, if Doncic and Williams were both to miss exactly a week from this point, that would put both back no earlier than Game 5 of this series. If the Lakers do not bring their A-game until then, Luka would not even have a playoff matchup to return to.
Granted, the talks of Doncic still being week-to-week started just a touch earlier. Windhorst gave his original analysis of the situation on Friday night after the Lakers closed out the Houston Rockets. Charania spoke up on the matter on Saturday.
Reporting on ABC Inside the NBA Tip-Off Show -- new updates on Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic, Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards and the Denver Nuggets' future: pic.twitter.com/MPjLnQoPUq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 3, 2026
That extra little bit of wiggle room could potentially offer some optimism that Doncic is the first one back for Game 4. It has been over four weeks since Luka suffered the injury at this point. That would put the matter in the ballpark of when the Lakers would expect their MVP-level talent back.
Williams' injury is the less severe of the two. With Daigneault offering his comments at Monday's practice, that could mean his star making a series debut around Game 4 or 5 as well.
Naturally, these are all estimations based on incomplete information. No one truly knows how soon it will be until either of these players are back, apart from their individual team's medical staffs.
Of the two, the Lakers certainly need Doncic back a whole lot more than the Thunder require Williams. The race to return could have significant impact on how the back half of this series goes, assuming Los Angeles can draw it out long enough for their franchise guy to make his playoff debut.
Add us as a preferred source on Google