All-Star guard Luka Doncic took a big step in his injury recovery on Monday as he returned to the practice court to get up some shots. Although the Los Angeles Lakers star didn’t participate in a full scrimmage, his presence in the gym was seen as a positive step in his rehab from a grade 2 hamstring strain.
The Lakers got another positive update on Doncic on Monday.
According to Rui Hachimura, Doncic has been extremely vocal behind the scenes
“It’s amazing to have him back. I think people don’t know how much impact Luka has, not only on the court, but off the court,” Hachimura said of Doncic.
Lakers Await Luka Doncic Return
“He’s a guy that always wants to be around us,” Hachimura continued.
“We love him just being around, just hanging out, talking. We’re happy that he’s back finally and he’s doing funny things always.
“We missed him for sure.”
Interestingly, Jaxon Hayes revealed that Doncic and Austin Reaves, also sidelined by injury, have been helping the Lakers with Xs and Os and have played a key role in the team’s 107-98 Game 1 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday.
“Luka and Austin helped the players on the bench,” Hayes said of the role Doncic and Reaves played during the Game 1 win over the Rockets.
“When you watch the game from that perspective, you see things that you might not see if you were on the court. So they were able to give the players their perspective on everything and help as much as they could.”
Rui Hachimura is happy to have Luka Doncic back around the Lakers after his trip to Europe.
Lakers vs Rockets Game 2
Lakers head coach JJ Redick is also thrilled to have Doncic back in the gym.
“Oh, it’s been nice. It’s been really nice,” Redick said on Monday.
“He [Doncic] definitely rebounded and passed in some shooting drills. think having the group together two out of the last three days has been really nice.”
The Lakers are reportedly hopeful that both Doncic and Reaves will return to the lineup at some point during the first-round playoff series. However, Redick has refused to set a timeline for their return, reiterating that they’re out “indefinitely” until further notice.
Redick has urged his teammates to play with the same discipline and poise that helped them shock the Rockets and seize a 1-0 lead.
“We know they’re going to be the more desperate team in Game 2, and we have to play with the same sense of desperation we had in Game 1,” Redick said.
“…Tomorrow is going to require an elevated sense of desperation on our part because they’re going to come in with that,” added the second-year Lakers head coach.
While Doncic and Reaves have been ruled out for Game 2, Rockets star Kevin Durant is a game-time decision as he recovers from a knee injury. No other Lakers player is on the injury report — a positive sign for the team as they seek to take a 2-0 lead.
Lakers vs. Rockets Game 2 tips off at 7:30 p.m. PT on Tuesday night. The Rockets open as 4.5-point favorites, per DraftKings.
Lakers Get Massive Luka Doncic Update After Return to Practice on Monday