When Luka Doncic revealed the original timeline he was given by the Los Angeles Lakers was eight weeks, most people accepted that was the last they would see of the Slovenian superstar in 2025-26. That wound up being the case. No one was more upset by that than Doncic himself.
Luka made his first media appearance since the injury during the Oklahoma City Thunder series, and the Lakers superstar immediately discussed just how tough it had been to sit on the sidelines and not be able to help his team. That had to make watching a tight 115-110 loss in Game 4 so much harder to stomach for the MVP-level talent.
"Yeah, it's very frustrating. I know some people wanted me back, but obviously I wasn't close to clearing. ... If I could be out there, I would be, 100 percent. Everybody in that room knows that. It's been really tough. Like I said, this is the best time to play basketball."
Doncic reiterated how sad it was to not be on the floor with his team when they needed him. The superstar point guard added that the first focus for the offseason is to continue his recovery and get back up to speed following the grade 2 hamstring strain.
Luka Doncic missing Thunder series may have been for the best
There will be a large what-if hanging over this season for plenty of Lakers fans after how the team bowed out without their franchise superstar. There is an immediate argument to quiet those talking points after Game 4.
On one hand, there were plenty of moments and instances where the gap between the Thunder and Lakers did not appear to be monstrous by any means. Having Doncic there may have swung a decision or two.
However, the 4-0 masterclass by the Thunder likely means that, at best, Doncic extends this series for the Lakers without actually winning it for them. 4-0 may have just turned into 4-2, or otherwise.
Instead of Doncic rushing back from a rough injury, playing at less than 100 percent, and being a part of his team going down, the top-five player in the world will get an extended opportunity for rest and rehab in the offseason. Luka already announced he will not be playing for Slovenia this summer, so that eliminates any concerns some may have had about his participation there.
Doncic's main role — apart from recovering and strengthening his hamstring — during the summer should be to help point Rob Pelinka to what the next version of the Lakers should look like.
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