Injured Los Angeles Lakers star guard Luka Doncic will be exploring treatment in Europe in the hopes of hastening his return to NBA play, according to ESPN.
Doncic suffered a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring and has been projected to miss the rest of the NBA season as well as most – if not all – of the first and second rounds of the playoffs.
But Doncic, in consultation with Lakers doctors as well as his own medical team, decided he’d be jumping across the Atlantic to get treatment that may see him back in the lineup during those playoffs which start in a matter of weeks.
If he accomplishes that goal, it would be something of a surprise considering this degree of a strain usually involves a months-long recovery process.
However, if Doncic is able to play, it would boost the hopes for the Lakers – who will be without two-guard Austin Reaves due to a Grade 2 left oblique injury.
‘Both those guys are going to try to come back, and it’s our job to extend the season so that they can come back,’ Lakers coach JJ Redick said Sunday.
Lakers star Luka Doncic will be exploring treatment options in Europe for his hamstring
Doncic suffered a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring that will see him miss the playoffs
But now, he’ll be off to Europe in a hope to get healthy enough to return for the playoffs
The Lakers have already clinched the Pacific Division and a spot in the playoffs, but they also recently fell to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the lowly Dallas Mavericks.
Missing both Doncic and Reaves means the Lakers offense would have to be carried by LeBron James – who will have a supporting cast of Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura.
The issue with his hamstring comes about at a time where Doncic is dealing with a messy divorce from his childhood sweetheart, Anamaria Goltes.
Doncic recently accused his ex-fiancée of filing for child support for their two children in California in order to receive better payments. He asserts they are not residents of the state.
According to court documents, the 27-year-old Doncic filed a motion to dismiss Goltes’ petition for child support – which was submitted in Los Angeles.
Doncic is moving for the petition to be declared invalid on the grounds that Goltes and their daughters – Gabriela, 2, and Olivia, 3 months – are not California residents.
Moreover, the Lakers star says he filed a family law action in their home nation of Slovenia last month.
Doncic accuses Goltes of knowing of this case in Slovenia, but choosing to file in California to ‘avail herself of the generous amounts of child support for which California is well-known.’
Doncic argues that his ex, Anamaria Goltes, and his two children are not residents of California
Doncic is challenging his ex-fiancee’s petition to receive child support in California
‘Luka has always provided for anything his daughters could need or want and will continue to do so,’ a spokesperson for Doncic said in a statement to People Magazine on Tuesday.
‘He will always fight to be with his daughters and give them the best life possible. Luka is seeking dismissal of this case simply because Slovenia, not California, is the appropriate forum for adjudication of this dispute.’
Last month, Doncic revealed he ‘recently made the tough decision to end my engagement’ with Goltes just months after the birth of his second child.
‘I love my daughters more than anything and I’ve been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the US during the season,’ Doncic told ESPN.
‘But that hasn’t been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement.
‘Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness and I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can.’
Doncic proposed to Goltes in July of 2023 near Bled Castle in Slovenia. The two met when they were children.
