Luka Doncic Travels to Europe to Speed Up His Recovery

Luka Doncic is not giving up. Injuring his left hamstring during the Lakers‘ loss to the Thunder on April 2, the Slovenian point guard has made a bold decision to speed up his return to competition. According to ESPN, Doncic will undergo specialized medical treatment in Europe.

« After consultation with the Los Angeles Lakers doctors and his own medical team, Luka Doncic will seek specialized medical treatment in Europe for his Grade 2 left hamstring tear, with the goal of expediting his return to play, » said Bill Duffy of WME Basketball.

A Race Against the Clock for the Playoffs

Doncic’s injury, which occurred in the third quarter against Oklahoma City, forced him to miss the last five games of the regular season. A Grade 2 hamstring tear typically requires between 3 and 6 weeks of recovery, according to available medical data. InStreetClothes, a database specializing in NBA injuries, estimates the average absence for this type of injury at 35 days.

This timeline could jeopardize Doncic’s participation in the first round of the playoffs, or even part of the second round. The Lakers, also without Austin Reaves (oblique injury), suffered a 134-128 loss to the Mavericks in their first game without both star guards.

Coach JJ Redick remains optimistic about his player’s chances of returning: « I just know he’s going to do everything he can to try to come back. I talked to him Friday, I talked to him again this morning. He’s going to go through all the necessary steps to come back at some point. »

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. pic.twitter.com/qutILIxzMK

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 6, 2026

Europe, a World Leader in Innovative Treatments

The choice of Europe is no coincidence. According to Dr. Jesse Morse, Germany and Switzerland are recognized as world leaders in innovative medical treatments, particularly in the field of regenerative therapies. These specialized centers use techniques that are still heavily regulated or even prohibited in the United States.

This type of care is reminiscent of the methods used by Kobe Bryant late in his career, when he turned to Germany to treat his knee problems. For Doncic, the goal is clear: reduce recovery time while ensuring a return in the best possible condition, even though hamstring injuries remain particularly tricky to manage.

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