The Los Angeles Lakers were dealt a major blow this weekend when it was revealed that star guard Luka Doncic would be out for at least one week due to multiple injury issues, as per ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel. Doncic was originally listed as questionable coming into the Lakers’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, but was ultimately ruled out. He is dealing with both a leg injury and a finger injury and will be re-evaluated in one week.
During the Lakers’ opening night loss to the Golden State Warriors, Luka Doncic was seemingly bothered by a groin injury, but ultimately brushed it off as no concern during his postgame press conference. He was able to play during the team’s win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and set a Lakers’ franchise record in the process in becoming the first player in team history to open up a season with back-to-back 40-point games.
Doncic’s absence is even more of a blow for a Lakers team that is already without LeBron James to begin the 2025-26 season. James has yet to make his season debut as he is currently dealing with a nerve injury.
Doncic had begun to get MVP chatter after his scorching hot start to the season. Through the Lakers’ first two games, he was averaging 46.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.0 steals with splits of 62 percent shooting from the field, 31.8 percent shooting from the three-point line and 79.3 percent shooting form the free-throw line.
With both Doncic and James out, the upcoming week is a major opportunity for Austin Reaves to step up. Last season, Reaves dropped a career-high 45 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists back on Feb. 8 in a win against the Indiana Pacers. Neither James nor Doncic played in that game.
