To say the Los Angeles Lakers have been dealing with injuries through the first two-thirds of the 2025-26 NBA regular-season would be an understatement, as the team has gone through multiple major stretches without each other, their star players: LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves.
However, while Doncic was most recently out, and Reaves was slowly returning from a long-term calf strain, the latest injury updates on both, as well as the entire roster, are good news for the Lakers in their upcoming game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
According to team insider Mike Trudell, the Lakers have all of their players healthy, and Reaves will be taken off his minutes restriction.
Austin Reaves will also be off his minutes restriction.
“JJ Redick, after LA’s first practice back on the court today, said it looks like the Lakers will have everybody back on the court for tomorrow night’s game, including Luka Dončić,” he wrote in a post on X. “Austin Reaves will also be off his minutes restriction.”
Additionally, while center Deandre Ayton was dealing with a knee injury of his own before the All-Star break, he is expected to return to action on Friday night against the Clippers.
Luka Doncic Injury Update, Austin Reaves Off Minutes Restriction
The news of Doncic getting back on the court for the Lakers, while a good sign, isn’t the most surprising of news. While he last played in an official game on February 5th, Doncic did suit up for the All-Star Game, and despite playing limited minutes, there was the assumption that he had fully healed from his hamstring injury.
Both head coach JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka had described the injury as minor, and while Doncic missed only a few games for the Lakers, he is now expected to be fully healthy as they enter the final stretch of the regular season.
As for Reaves, a five-week-long calf strain kept him out from Christmas until early February. He did return with the hot hand, scoring 35 points off the bench against the Philadelphia 76ers in what was the same contest that Doncic went down with his injury.
However, in the five games Reaves has played since returning, he’s averaged only 25.4 minutes, down from his 33.5 minutes per game average across the rest of the regular season. Per Trudell’s reporting, the fact that Redick expects to take Reaves off his minutes restriction is another good sign for the Lakers, signaling that he is fully healthy from the calf strain.
As mentioned, Ayton had also sat before the All-Star Break with a knee injury, but as Trudell mentioned that Los Angeles expects the entire roster to be healthy on Friday against the Clippers, it is safe to say he will be taken off the injury report sometime before tipoff.
LeBron James’ Lakers Future, Rumored Offseason Exit
While James has dealt with his fair share of injuries this season, he is not listed on the team’s injury report after the All-Star Break. However, what has now hovered over the team for months is his uncertain future in Los Angeles after this season.
James is set to become a free agent this summer, and can either return to the Lakers, join a new team in free agency, or retire. The superstar himself has yet to address his plans for the future, leading to speculation that he will leave the Purple and Gold this season, and rumors are ramping up about a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Most recently, Brian Winhorst of ESPN said that if James is willing to take a minimum contract from his old team, there is a 99% chance he heads back home.
Windy notes that LeBron would have to probably accept a minimum contract in Cleveland.
“He would only come at a discount. The only way the Cavs could add him would be to get him to play at either the minimum, or do some things to shave some salary to open the mid-level exception,” Windhorst said. “If he’s able and willing, and is willing to accept that money, I think it’s 99%.”
While the Cavaliers return rumors only continue to grow, James has yet to hint about his next move. Additionally, the league’s all-time leading scorer has discussed retirement more than anything else, but continues to say that he is unsure as to what his future holds.
“When I know, you guys will know. I don’t know. I have no idea,” James said about next season during an interview over the All-Star Break. “I just want to live, that’s all.”
Along with the trade rumors and future surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, James’ future in the NBA remains the biggest unanswered question.
But for now, the Lakers are healthy and set to have a full, active roster with James, Doncic, Reaves, Ayton, and company as they enter the final third of the regular season in hopes of making a deep playoff run.
Lakers Announce Notable Luka Doncic Injury Update, Austin Reaves News