Lakers’ Luka Doncic says he’s pushing to return, but still no timeline

Luka Doncic wants to be back. He just doesn’t know when.

The Lakers star said Wednesday he’s working toward a return from his Grade 2 left hamstring strain, but isn’t ready to put a date on it, per Khobi Price of The California Post.

“Obviously this is a different injury than I ever had,” Doncic said. “It’s been second time I [injured the hamstring this season]. So recovery has been a little longer. But I’m feeling good. Working every day, so I’m trying to come back.”

Doncic has started running but hasn’t been cleared for contact, a key step before he can return.

The injury occurred April 2, and while early projections suggested a four- to six-week recovery, Doncic said doctors told him to expect closer to eight.

He traveled to Spain for treatment, receiving four platelet-rich plasma injections spaced out over several days. The goal was to speed things up. The process kept him away from the team longer than expected.

“It’s very frustrating,” Doncic said. “All I wanna do is play basketball… especially this time.”

The timing is the issue. Doncic was in the middle of an MVP-level season before the injury, leading the league in scoring at 33.5 points per game while also averaging 8.3 assists.

He carried the Lakers through March, when they went 16-2 and climbed the Western Conference standings.

Without him, things have shifted.

Los Angeles dropped Game 1 of its second-round series against Oklahoma City, and the margin is thinner without its top option. LeBron James acknowledged as much.

“When you play against the world champions and [miss] having a guy like that, that’s tough,” he said.

Doncic is pushing to return. The Lakers are waiting.