The Los Angeles Lakers faced a significant setback during their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder when Luka Doncic exited in the third quarter due to discomfort in his left leg. A medical evaluation confirmed he has a Grade 2 hamstring strain, and the situation worsened from there.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Doncic is now out for the remainder of the regular season, with no timeline for his return confirmed.
The Lakers are currently the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with five games remaining, but losing Doncic raises concerns about their chances in the playoffs.
Luka Doncic’s agent looks for an exception after injury
Doncic played 64 regular-season games this year, just short of the NBA’s 65-game requirement for award eligibility, which quickly became a point of discussion after the injury news emerged.
His agent, Bill Duffy, released a statement about the situation, indicating that they plan to challenge the league’s eligibility rules.
“This season, Luka Doncic has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring and helping the Lakers secure third place in the Western Conference, placing him in one of the most competitive MVP races in recent memory,” the statement said.
“To ensure that Luka’s remarkable achievements this season are recognized and that he can be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards, we plan to apply for an ‘Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge’ regarding the 65-game rule. Luka missed two games this season for the birth of his second child in Slovenia.”