Los Angeles Lakers have been left fearing the worst after Luka Doncic suffered a worrying injury scare during a EuroBasket warm-up game on Saturday afternoon.
The 26-year-old Lakers star limped off during Slovenia’s game against Latvia after falling in the paint while backpedaling on defense and appearing to injure his knee.
He headed straight into the locker room and, though he did later emerge, was ruled out for the remainder of the game, leaving Lakers fans concerned.
Before the incident, Doncic scored 26 points in just 17 minutes, along with five assists, four rebounds and two steals – however it wasn’t enough to prevent a 100-88 defeat.
The Athletic’s Dan Wolke later reported on social media that a source revealed to him that Doncic had avoided serious injury.
Meanwhile, some fans noted that Doncic looked leaner and sharper than he had in the final months of the season, showing no signs of rust after a busy summer.
Luka Doncic suffered an injury while playing a EuroBasket warm-up game on Saturday
Before the incident, Doncic scored 26 points in just 17 minutes, along with five assists
The injury scare comes after a whirlwind few months for Doncic. In one of the most surprising moves of the NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers at the deadline, ending a six-year spell in Texas.
The decision stunned fans and analysts alike – but reports emerged that Mavericks officials had grown concerned over Doncic’s conditioning and long-term fitness.
According to several outlets at the time, the Mavs were frustrated with Doncic’s inability to stay in peak shape and questioned his commitment to preparation.
Those reports were never publicly confirmed but the message appeared to land and since the trade, Doncic has looked transformed.
The Slovenian star has spent the summer getting back into top condition. Photos from training camp showed a noticeably slimmer physique and Doncic himself said he was focused on health, recovery and ‘getting back to basics.’
That new approach was on full display in Saturday’s first half prior to his injury.
The Lakers recently gave Doncic a three-year, $165 million extension, which will keep him in LA through at least the 2027-28 season.
Doncic’s megadeal secures his future with the team while also casting doubt on the path forward beyond this season for teammate and living legend LeBron James.
Lakers star Doncic recently signed a three-year, $165million maximum contract extension
James is set to make $52.6million this season, with him becoming a free agent in 2026, likely not demanding maximum-contract money.
Los Angeles has signaled with the move that Doncic will be the focal point of the franchise moving forward.
Doncic, 26, has more than a decade left in the NBA, while James will turn 41 in December and is entering his record-breaking 23rd league season.
The two can both get maximum contract money on the same team, with that limiting options around them. Moving into the future, it is hard to see the Lakers committing that much behind James.
