The Los Angeles Lakers are one day away from the start of their second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a matchup they will start without star player Luka Doncic, as he remains out with a hamstring injury and does not have an official return timeline.
Doncic has been out for over a month, and while there was previously hope he could return at some point in the Lakers’ first-round series against the Houston Rockets, the Slovenian is still out indefinitely due to the injury.
At Lakers practice on Monday, Doncic was seen taking shots and working with coaches, but when asked by reporters about his status heading into their series against the Thunder, head coach JJ Redick dropped a concerning statement on the franchise player.
JJ Redick Issues Concerning Luka Doncic Injury Update
While he was on court for the Lakers a day before Game 1, Redick revealed that the team still has ‘no update’ on Doncic, signaling that he remains out indefinitely to start the series against Oklahoma City.
“I don’t have any updates on Luka,” Redick said, per Khobi Price of the California Post.
Lakers reporters Dave McMenamin of ESPN and Dan Woike of The Athletic also posted videos of Doncic on the court, but reiterated that Redick maintained the star’s injury status hasn’t changed.
The news of Redick’s Doncic update comes after Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Lakers do not expect their star to return earlier in their upcoming series against the Thunder.
“I’m told right now Luka Doncic will be out to start the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder,” he said. “The Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis with that grade 2 hamstring strain.”
Redick stating that there isn’t a new update on Doncic could be seen as concerning as the Lakers prepare for their series against Oklahoma City, but regardless of how much they might want him back against the defending champions, the star isn’t yet ready to be cleared by the team’s medical staff.
“It’s still a slow path on his recovery,” Charania added on SportsCenter Monday night.
Doncic is officially ruled out for Lakers vs Thunder Game 1 on Tuesday night.
Lakers Vs Thunder Series Schedule, Potential Dates For A Luka Doncic Return
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 14: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on prior to a game against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Per The Athletic, the dates and times of the first four games of the Lakers vs Thunder series have been revealed:
- Game 1 at Oklahoma City: Tuesday, May 5, 8:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
- Game 2 at Oklahoma City: Thursday, May 7, 9:30 p.m. (Prime Video)
- Game 3 at Los Angeles: Saturday, May 9, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)
- Game 4 at Los Angeles: Monday, May 11, 10:30 p.m. (Prime Video)
- Game 5 at Oklahoma City*: Wednesday, May 13, TBD
- Game 6 at Los Angeles*: Saturday, May 16, TBD
- Game 7 at Oklahoma City*: Monday, May 18, TBD
According to insiders Brett Siegel and Jovan Buha, the idea of Doncic coming back around either Game 3 or 4 would be a realistic scenario, but on the early side of things.
“Although it is early, sources close to the situation said the earliest Doncic would possibly return in a series against the Thunder would be when play shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4,” Siegel wrote for ClutchPoints. “But there is no guarantee Doncic would be available for either game, as his status over the next two weeks will be dependent on how his body heals and responds to treatment.
That would be either on May 9 or May 11, which would be roughly five weeks after he suffered the original hamstring injury in early April.
However, regardless of what some insiders might say, Doncic is still out indefinitely. The Lakers did get Austin Reaves back from an injury he suffered in the same game that saw his backcourt teammate go down, but for now, it’s been only him who has made a full recovery.
Until the Lakers offer a new Doncic injury update or return timeline, any news about him getting back on the court remains to be seen.
Still, Redick confirming that there is no update a bit more than 24 hours before their series against the Thunder begins, it doesn’t bode well for Doncic returning in any of the first few games of the second round.
JJ Redick Drops Concerning Luka Doncic Injury Statement Before Lakers vs Thunder Series