The Los Angeles Lakers are prepping for a longterm future built around superstar Luka Doncic who made headlines this summer by working his way into what is ostensibly the best physical shape of his NBA career.
Doncic — a loyal professional actor in nature by literally every available account — inked a three-year contract with the league’s marquee franchise earlier this month, which removed an enormous potential weight around the Lakers‘ proverbial neck.
Had Doncic decided not to extend this summer, he would have retained an opt-out clause in his contract that would have allowed him to enter unrestricted free agency next offseason. His choice to sign the deal gives L.A. runway to build a legitimate contender around him, potentially in the post-LeBron James era, which could begin as early as 2026-27.
However, Doncic’s loyalty proved on Saturday, August 16, to be something of a double-edged sword. The five-time First-Team All-NBA performer plays for his home country of Slovenia every time an opportunity to do so presents itself. One such chance comes available later this month via EuroBasket, also known as the European Basketball Championship, which begins in late August and runs through mid-September.
As expected, Doncic chose to participate. But in an exhibition game against Latvia on Saturday in preparation for the tournament, Doncic suffered one of the worst possible outcomes of a decision to play in a non-NBA context.
“Luka Doncic’s teammate just fell on him in the paint,” Legion Hoops posted to X. “He’s signaling that he’s hurt and is heading to the locker room with an injury. Brutal.”
The severity of the issue was not immediately clear, nor was Doncic’s status for the remainder of Slovenia’s exhibition contest against the Latvian National Team or the tournament in the coming weeks.
Luka Doncic Battled Injury in Difficult 2024-25 Campaign
Getty Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers plays for Slovenia during an exhibition game against Germany on August 8, 2025.
Doncic changed his diet and workout routine this summer, following a season in 2024-25 that injury marred for the former Rookie of the Year.
After winning the ROY in 2018-19, Doncic earned First-Team All-NBA honors in five consecutive seasons. He failed to earn that award last year, as injuries cost him 32 games.
The 50 contests Doncic played in 2024-25 were the fewest of his career. The league changed its rules for All-NBA honors and other awards recently, which are connected to financial escalators for those who sign maximum contracts. Now, any player must participate in at least 65 games to qualify for eligibility for such awards.
For context, Doncic played has played in at least 65 regular-season contests in five of his seven professional seasons. He failed to hit that mark last year and thus wasn’t eligible for All-NBA honors of any kind. Doncic also played in just 61 games in 2019-20, but earned a first-team All-NBA spot nonetheless because the league’s new rules were not in effect yet.
Doncic’s injury concerns and how they connected to his weight/conditioning regimen were the primary reasons the Dallas Mavericks offered for a mind-boggling trade in February, just days ahead of the deadline, that sent the superstar to Los Angeles for a package including Anthony Davis and a first-round draft pick.
Luka Doncic Was Priming for Monster Bounce Back Year With Lakers
Getty Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic.
This entire offseason, which included an uncharacteristic “revenge” media tour that highlighted Doncic’s body transformation, has been about the new-look Luka and his resurgent commitment to off-court fitness.
The idea was that Doncic could translate that work in the gym and the kitchen to his play on the floor, as the Lakers try to compete with a juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder team as well as revamped rosters for the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets. Then, of course, there is the ever-present threat of an imminent rise of the San Antonio Spurs behind the sleeping giant Victor Wembanyama.
How seriously the Lakers might compete in a tough, deep Western Conference in 2025-26 is difficult to say, as the team needs to reshuffle the deck around Doncic, which is difficult with a soon-to-be 41-year-old James on the roster and earning $52.6 million next season.
That said, an in-shape and healthy Doncic gives Los Angeles one of the best three-to-five players in the NBA, at worst, which should create the opportunity for the Lakers to compete right away. However, that goes out the window if he isn’t healthy to begin the year, which is now a concern after Saturday’s developments.
Lakers Get ‘Brutal’ News After New-Look Luka Doncic Suffers Injury