SHOULD LAKERS BE AGGRESSIVE OR CAREFUL RE LUKA & AUSTIN?

April 6, 2026 at 7:54 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Luka’s Injury And What Comes Next

Should Dončić push for a comeback and answer other reader questions.

First, before I even start, I have to say this once again: injuries suck.

The Lakers just had one of their most fun months in recent memory, finally gelling after a tumultuous season full of ups and downs, with Luka Dončić maybe playing the best basketball of his career, capping it with another Player of the Month award in March.

Then, in one half of a disastrous game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was all taken away.

First, the news of Dončić’s Grade 2 hamstring strain hit, followed by news that Austin Reaves is expected to miss four to six weeks with a Grade 2 oblique injury.

Not only did it suck because it cut short a super fun run that made us believe in these Lakers, it also hurt because we got robbed of seeing what Dončić and Reaves could do as a playoff pairing — critical information heading into a very important summer. Not to mention, this could have been the last meaningful playoff run for LeBron James as a Laker.

But the two injuries turned everything upside down, and as I can see from your questions in our chat, there are a lot of doubts about how the Lakers should handle Dončić’s injury in particular, and what it means in the long term.

Then, later in the evening, more news came out: Dončić will try to push for a potential playoff comeback by seeking specialized medical treatment in Europe.

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
After consultation with Lakers doctors and his own medical team, Luka Doncic will seek specialized medical treatment in Europe on his Grade 2 left hamstring in an attempt to expedite his return to play, agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball tells me and @mcten.

7:33 PM · Apr 5, 2026 · 6.06M Views
1.67K Replies · 2.52K Reposts · 30K Likes

Because of the recent developments and their potential implications, I decided to focus this article on answering questions about both injuries, the impact of load, whether they could have been prevented, and whether Dončić (and Reaves) should push for a return in the playoffs.

I’ll save the questions about future team building, best player types, and ideal archetypes next to Dončić for future deep dives.

digginbasketball is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Breakdown highlights

How did we get here? (the minutes and load question)

Dončić pushing for a comeback, but recent hamstring setbacks are a warning sign

Is it worth the risk?

1-How did we get here? (the minutes and load question)

There were a lot of questions about why Dončić and Reaves, who were already showing signs of being hurt, played in the second half against OKC, even with the game essentially decided and the Lakers down by more than 30.

That decision doesn’t look great now, but I trust JJ Redick made it based on the information available and the input from both players. Especially with Dončić, who has his own team around him, it was ultimately a decision heavily influenced by him and his team. The key takeaway here, based on Dončić’s career, is that the Lakers and Redick need to find ways to occasionally save him from himself and his undeniable will to compete. The same trait that makes him great can, at times, work against him. We’ve seen the same pattern with Dončić, playing hurt or logging heavy minutes in a high-usage, heliocentric role across different setups, whether with the Mavericks, the Slovenian national team, or now the Lakers.

That being said, Redick and the group seem to have repeated last year’s mistake, where a one- to two-month stretch of great basketball fuels their competitive drive and pushes them beyond their limits. It’s the same group that, in last year’s playoffs, opted to play their starters for the entire second half of a decisive game, and one that played Luke Kennard 41 minutes in a game last night.

I’m not saying the Lakers’ March run wasn’t real, it just wasn’t sustainable for another two months. In March, Dončić and Reaves averaged over 37 minutes, with James at 34 and Marcus Smart at 31, during a packed, demanding schedule filled with playoff-like games. Smart was the first to break down, which was predictable given his playstyle, injury history, and the Lakers’ overreliance on him all year without any real alternative for his role in the starting lineup. And his absence had a cascading effect, putting even more pressure, especially on Reaves defensively in the games leading up to his injury.

To be fair, before his injury Dončić looked as good physically as he has since the bubble in his second season. But short, veteran-heavy rotations won’t keep up with the new wave of young, athletic, deep teams like OKC, San Antonio, or Detroit. Going forward, the front office, Redick, and Dončić will need to collectively figure out how to build a team and manage their competitive drive so they don’t empty the clip before the postseason even starts.

2-Dončić pushing for a comeback, but recent hamstring setbacks are a warning sign

The first test of a realistic assessment and acceptance of reality will come even before the offseason.

Per Dan Woike, Lakers beat writer for The Athletic, Redick confirmed that Dončić (and Reaves) will go through everything necessary to return at some point, and that it’s his job to extend the season long enough for them to do so.

Dan Woike
@DanWoikeSports

Can confirm Luka Dončić will seek medical treatment in Europe in a hope to try and quicken his return from a Grade 2 hamstring strain, per his agency.

7:44 PM · Apr 5, 2026 · 40.8K Views
7 Replies · 45 Reposts · 588 Likes

Before we get into the upside of a potential return (see my next point), we first need to understand the downside and the risks that come with it. And especially for Dončić and his hamstring issues, there are three clear warning signs from this season that the situation should be handled with extreme caution.

Aaron Gordon: The biggest warning sign. Gordon’s hamstring issues have been bilateral (affecting both legs) across the two seasons. They go back to last year’s playoffs, when he played through a Grade 2 strain on his left leg in a Game 7 situation. This season, he suffered an initial strain on his right leg in late November (missed 19 games), return in January, then a re-aggravation on January 23 that cost him another 4–6 weeks. Even after returning in early March, he’s been in constant management mode, in and out of the lineup. An example of how pushing through a hamstring injury can turn a short-term problem into a long-term one.

Jalen Williams: After already missing the first 19 games of the season due to wrist surgery, Williams suffered a right hamstring strain on January 17, missing about three weeks. He returned briefly, only to re-aggravate it two games later, leading to another 16-game absence and more than five weeks out. In total, over 25 games missed due to hamstring issues alone.

Peyton Watson: Watson missed over six weeks and 19 games after a right hamstring strain in early February. He returned on March 22 and played five games, only to leave early on April 2 with renewed tightness in the same hamstring. Now Watson is back to week-to-week status with the regular season almost over.

Then there are two other examples.

James Harden (2021): Harden suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain late in the 2021 regular season, missed around three to four weeks, and even had a setback during rehab. He returned for the playoffs, only to re-aggravate the injury after just 43 seconds in Game 1 against Milwaukee. After missing multiple games, he rushed back again in Game 5 and ended up playing Games 5–7 through a confirmed Grade 2 strain. He was clearly limited, shot poorly, and later admitted he felt “terrible” physically. The Nets lost the series, and the injury lingered into the following season. Another example of how pushing for a playoff return can have longer term consequences.

There is also a case of Dončić himself. On February 5, he tweaked his left hamstring during a game against Philadelphia. It was managed as a milder strain, and he missed four games right before the All-Star break. He returned shortly after and was able to play through the rest of the season without a major setback, but there were some signs, including ongoing leg soreness in the weeks leading up to the OKC game. Dončić also has a history of pushing for a playoff return. In 2022, he suffered a calf strain in the final regular-season game, missed about 12–13 days and the first three playoff games, and only returned once he was close to 100%, even saying he felt no pain before Game 4, where he immediately played heavy minutes at a high level.

The last aspect of the injury is Dončić’s game itself. It’s notable that the injury happened on his patented deceleration move. For a player built on start-and-stop, change of pace, and hitting the brakes hard, the hamstring is a crucial part of the engine. And it’s not just physical. As Jalen Williams put it after dealing with repeated hamstring issues: “When you have the same injury twice, it’s a mental obstacle, getting back to doing moves as explosive as you want.”

3-Is it worth the risk?

I didn’t lay out those examples to suggest what Dončić and the Lakers should or will do. I’m not a doctor, and I don’t have access to the level of detail and medical information they do. The point was to show that a quick return comes with real risk. The real question is what the reward is for the Lakers, and whether it’s worth the risk.

After last night’s loss to the Mavericks, it seems unlikely the Lakers can hold off the Nuggets for the third spot, with fourth or fifth now the more likely outcome. Which, even if the Lakers could survive long enough without Dončić and Reaves and beat let’s say the Rockets in the first round, would likely set up a second-round matchup against the Thunder. And previous disappointing losses to OKC showed that the Lakers, even when healthy, don’t have the bodies, the athleticism, or the infrastructure for a grueling series against the reigning champions. Going into a rock fight against a team like the Thunder, or even the Rockets, who hit you on every possession, with Dončić and Reaves not at 100% physically, just adds to an already high level of risk.

Over the past year, the Lakers’ front office has chosen not to risk the long-term future for a potential short-term playoff reward. They showed that both last summer and at the trade deadline by holding onto their long-term assets.

Lakers Trade Deadline Series: All About Nothing, or Everything
Iztok Franko
·
Feb 6
Lakers Trade Deadline Series: All About Nothing, or Everything

This is the last stop in a packed Trade Deadline Series, the fifth article in less than a week. To mark a moment this important, I stepped away from the usual game-by-game rhythm, but that pause ends now. Regular coverage resumes with Warriors game observations on Sunday. Before getting into what happened at the de…

Read full story

Even if not said out loud, the actions made it clear: this organization is playing the long game.

So why change that now, with your franchise player and his potential long-term sidekick in a contract year, in what is essentially a gap year?

Knowing Dončić, I’m sure he doesn’t think that way at all. He would do anything to get back on the court for the playoffs and believes he has a chance every time he steps out there, no matter who is next to him or across from him. If he does return fully healthy, I’d be the last one to complain about watching Dončić, Reaves, and James in the playoffs. That’s what we grind through the 82 games for.

But if there is any real risk, this would be the moment for the Lakers to show alignment between their superstars, the coach, and the front office. It will show whether they can resist the urge to let their at times obsessive competitive instincts take over at all costs, no matter the minutes, the load, or the bigger picture.

Comments

LakerTom says

April 6, 2026 at 7:54 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Luka’s Injury And What Comes Next

Should Dončić push for a comeback and answer other reader questions.

First, before I even start, I have to say this once again: injuries suck.

The Lakers just had one of their most fun months in recent memory, finally gelling after a tumultuous season full of ups and downs, with Luka Dončić maybe playing the best basketball of his career, capping it with another Player of the Month award in March.

Then, in one half of a disastrous game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was all taken away.

First, the news of Dončić’s Grade 2 hamstring strain hit, followed by news that Austin Reaves is expected to miss four to six weeks with a Grade 2 oblique injury.

Not only did it suck because it cut short a super fun run that made us believe in these Lakers, it also hurt because we got robbed of seeing what Dončić and Reaves could do as a playoff pairing — critical information heading into a very important summer. Not to mention, this could have been the last meaningful playoff run for LeBron James as a Laker.

But the two injuries turned everything upside down, and as I can see from your questions in our chat, there are a lot of doubts about how the Lakers should handle Dončić’s injury in particular, and what it means in the long term.

Then, later in the evening, more news came out: Dončić will try to push for a potential playoff comeback by seeking specialized medical treatment in Europe.

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
After consultation with Lakers doctors and his own medical team, Luka Doncic will seek specialized medical treatment in Europe on his Grade 2 left hamstring in an attempt to expedite his return to play, agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball tells me and @mcten.

7:33 PM · Apr 5, 2026 · 6.06M Views
1.67K Replies · 2.52K Reposts · 30K Likes

Because of the recent developments and their potential implications, I decided to focus this article on answering questions about both injuries, the impact of load, whether they could have been prevented, and whether Dončić (and Reaves) should push for a return in the playoffs.

I’ll save the questions about future team building, best player types, and ideal archetypes next to Dončić for future deep dives.

digginbasketball is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Breakdown highlights

How did we get here? (the minutes and load question)

Dončić pushing for a comeback, but recent hamstring setbacks are a warning sign

Is it worth the risk?

1-How did we get here? (the minutes and load question)

There were a lot of questions about why Dončić and Reaves, who were already showing signs of being hurt, played in the second half against OKC, even with the game essentially decided and the Lakers down by more than 30.

That decision doesn’t look great now, but I trust JJ Redick made it based on the information available and the input from both players. Especially with Dončić, who has his own team around him, it was ultimately a decision heavily influenced by him and his team. The key takeaway here, based on Dončić’s career, is that the Lakers and Redick need to find ways to occasionally save him from himself and his undeniable will to compete. The same trait that makes him great can, at times, work against him. We’ve seen the same pattern with Dončić, playing hurt or logging heavy minutes in a high-usage, heliocentric role across different setups, whether with the Mavericks, the Slovenian national team, or now the Lakers.

That being said, Redick and the group seem to have repeated last year’s mistake, where a one- to two-month stretch of great basketball fuels their competitive drive and pushes them beyond their limits. It’s the same group that, in last year’s playoffs, opted to play their starters for the entire second half of a decisive game, and one that played Luke Kennard 41 minutes in a game last night.

I’m not saying the Lakers’ March run wasn’t real, it just wasn’t sustainable for another two months. In March, Dončić and Reaves averaged over 37 minutes, with James at 34 and Marcus Smart at 31, during a packed, demanding schedule filled with playoff-like games. Smart was the first to break down, which was predictable given his playstyle, injury history, and the Lakers’ overreliance on him all year without any real alternative for his role in the starting lineup. And his absence had a cascading effect, putting even more pressure, especially on Reaves defensively in the games leading up to his injury.

To be fair, before his injury Dončić looked as good physically as he has since the bubble in his second season. But short, veteran-heavy rotations won’t keep up with the new wave of young, athletic, deep teams like OKC, San Antonio, or Detroit. Going forward, the front office, Redick, and Dončić will need to collectively figure out how to build a team and manage their competitive drive so they don’t empty the clip before the postseason even starts.

2-Dončić pushing for a comeback, but recent hamstring setbacks are a warning sign

The first test of a realistic assessment and acceptance of reality will come even before the offseason.

Per Dan Woike, Lakers beat writer for The Athletic, Redick confirmed that Dončić (and Reaves) will go through everything necessary to return at some point, and that it’s his job to extend the season long enough for them to do so.

Dan Woike
@DanWoikeSports

Can confirm Luka Dončić will seek medical treatment in Europe in a hope to try and quicken his return from a Grade 2 hamstring strain, per his agency.

7:44 PM · Apr 5, 2026 · 40.8K Views
7 Replies · 45 Reposts · 588 Likes

Before we get into the upside of a potential return (see my next point), we first need to understand the downside and the risks that come with it. And especially for Dončić and his hamstring issues, there are three clear warning signs from this season that the situation should be handled with extreme caution.

Aaron Gordon: The biggest warning sign. Gordon’s hamstring issues have been bilateral (affecting both legs) across the two seasons. They go back to last year’s playoffs, when he played through a Grade 2 strain on his left leg in a Game 7 situation. This season, he suffered an initial strain on his right leg in late November (missed 19 games), return in January, then a re-aggravation on January 23 that cost him another 4–6 weeks. Even after returning in early March, he’s been in constant management mode, in and out of the lineup. An example of how pushing through a hamstring injury can turn a short-term problem into a long-term one.

Jalen Williams: After already missing the first 19 games of the season due to wrist surgery, Williams suffered a right hamstring strain on January 17, missing about three weeks. He returned briefly, only to re-aggravate it two games later, leading to another 16-game absence and more than five weeks out. In total, over 25 games missed due to hamstring issues alone.

Peyton Watson: Watson missed over six weeks and 19 games after a right hamstring strain in early February. He returned on March 22 and played five games, only to leave early on April 2 with renewed tightness in the same hamstring. Now Watson is back to week-to-week status with the regular season almost over.

Then there are two other examples.

James Harden (2021): Harden suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain late in the 2021 regular season, missed around three to four weeks, and even had a setback during rehab. He returned for the playoffs, only to re-aggravate the injury after just 43 seconds in Game 1 against Milwaukee. After missing multiple games, he rushed back again in Game 5 and ended up playing Games 5–7 through a confirmed Grade 2 strain. He was clearly limited, shot poorly, and later admitted he felt “terrible” physically. The Nets lost the series, and the injury lingered into the following season. Another example of how pushing for a playoff return can have longer term consequences.

There is also a case of Dončić himself. On February 5, he tweaked his left hamstring during a game against Philadelphia. It was managed as a milder strain, and he missed four games right before the All-Star break. He returned shortly after and was able to play through the rest of the season without a major setback, but there were some signs, including ongoing leg soreness in the weeks leading up to the OKC game. Dončić also has a history of pushing for a playoff return. In 2022, he suffered a calf strain in the final regular-season game, missed about 12–13 days and the first three playoff games, and only returned once he was close to 100%, even saying he felt no pain before Game 4, where he immediately played heavy minutes at a high level.

The last aspect of the injury is Dončić’s game itself. It’s notable that the injury happened on his patented deceleration move. For a player built on start-and-stop, change of pace, and hitting the brakes hard, the hamstring is a crucial part of the engine. And it’s not just physical. As Jalen Williams put it after dealing with repeated hamstring issues: “When you have the same injury twice, it’s a mental obstacle, getting back to doing moves as explosive as you want.”

3-Is it worth the risk?

I didn’t lay out those examples to suggest what Dončić and the Lakers should or will do. I’m not a doctor, and I don’t have access to the level of detail and medical information they do. The point was to show that a quick return comes with real risk. The real question is what the reward is for the Lakers, and whether it’s worth the risk.

After last night’s loss to the Mavericks, it seems unlikely the Lakers can hold off the Nuggets for the third spot, with fourth or fifth now the more likely outcome. Which, even if the Lakers could survive long enough without Dončić and Reaves and beat let’s say the Rockets in the first round, would likely set up a second-round matchup against the Thunder. And previous disappointing losses to OKC showed that the Lakers, even when healthy, don’t have the bodies, the athleticism, or the infrastructure for a grueling series against the reigning champions. Going into a rock fight against a team like the Thunder, or even the Rockets, who hit you on every possession, with Dončić and Reaves not at 100% physically, just adds to an already high level of risk.

Over the past year, the Lakers’ front office has chosen not to risk the long-term future for a potential short-term playoff reward. They showed that both last summer and at the trade deadline by holding onto their long-term assets.

Lakers Trade Deadline Series: All About Nothing, or Everything
Iztok Franko
·
Feb 6
Lakers Trade Deadline Series: All About Nothing, or Everything

This is the last stop in a packed Trade Deadline Series, the fifth article in less than a week. To mark a moment this important, I stepped away from the usual game-by-game rhythm, but that pause ends now. Regular coverage resumes with Warriors game observations on Sunday. Before getting into what happened at the de…

Read full story

Even if not said out loud, the actions made it clear: this organization is playing the long game.

So why change that now, with your franchise player and his potential long-term sidekick in a contract year, in what is essentially a gap year?

Knowing Dončić, I’m sure he doesn’t think that way at all. He would do anything to get back on the court for the playoffs and believes he has a chance every time he steps out there, no matter who is next to him or across from him. If he does return fully healthy, I’d be the last one to complain about watching Dončić, Reaves, and James in the playoffs. That’s what we grind through the 82 games for.

But if there is any real risk, this would be the moment for the Lakers to show alignment between their superstars, the coach, and the front office. It will show whether they can resist the urge to let their at times obsessive competitive instincts take over at all costs, no matter the minutes, the load, or the bigger picture.

Log in to Reply

Reader Interactions

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply