The Los Angeles Lakers are one loss away from being sent home, and the injured Luka Doncic isn’t coming back to save them. However, the All-Star guard is widely expected to represent Slovenia in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers this summer, a decision that has caused a lot of uproar among Lakers fans.
Several Lakers fans and analysts have urged Doncic to skip the assignment for his country, arguing that his top priority should be staying healthy for the start of the 2026-27 season. Doncic (grade 2 hamstring strain) missed his 14th consecutive game on Saturday, as the Lakers fell to a 3-0 hole against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Watching 82 games of your teams season, seeing your MVP candidate go down with an injury,” wrote one fan. “Winning a series we were underdogs in without that said player. That said player still can’t return in the 2nd round but don’t worry you can watch him play for Slovenia this summer! 😎😎😎”
Should Luka Doncic Play for Slovenia?
“Maybe it’s just me, but Luka Doncic should sit out playing for Team Slovenia this summer so he can be fully healthy for next season,” wrote another Lakers fan.
“I’m looking at Luka in a different light right now. If he plays for Slovenia in the summer imma be real pissed.”
X account Luka Updates tried to justify Doncic’s decision to play for Slovenia.
“…Every year for the last 8 years he is saying that he will always play for Slovenia if healthy… and he will be 100% healthy in 2 weeks.
“…Also most Americans will never understand or could ever even comprehend what it means for Slovenians to represent their home country. It’s how we were raised.”
“Love him or hate him… He will play for Slovenia everytime he is healthy like he promised.”
Luka Doncic Injury Update
Doncic, who sustained a grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2, is now nearing the six-week mark in his rehab. Last week, the 27-year-old told the media that he was given an eight-week timeline at the time of his injury, and that he was frustrated to watch his teammates from the sidelines.
“It’s very frustrating,” he said of his time away from the court.
“I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is,” he added. All I wanna do is play basketball, especially at this time. It’s the best time to play basketball. It’s very frustrating. But to see what my team is doing, I’m very proud of them. But it’s been very tough just to see it and watch them play.”
In an effort to join the Lakers’ playoff run, Doncic received PRP treatments in Europe, hoping to expedite his recovery. However, the treatments didn’t yield the desired results, per multiple insiders.
Slovenia will play Estonia on July 3 and Sweden on July 6 in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
Lakers Fans Furious With Luka Doncic Over Reported Decision