Luka Doncic
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Lakers' Luka Doncic during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks in January 2026
The Los Angeles Lakers may have more to process than another frustrating loss after Luka Doncic delivered a concerning injury update following Monday night’s defeat to the Sacramento Kings.
Doncic once again carried a massive offensive burden, finishing with 42 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and four steals in 36 minutes.
However, the most notable development came after the final buzzer, when he admitted that he felt discomfort even before tip-off, raising immediate questions about his short-term availability as the Lakers enter a demanding stretch of the schedule.
Lakers Await Clarity After Doncic’s Postgame Admission
Speaking to reporters after the game, Doncic revealed that the issue surfaced during warmups and lingered throughout the night.
“Yeah, I was really uncertain,” Doncic said. “Before the game warming up, I felt something. I was just trying to get warm and get going. But tomorrow, we will see how I wake up.”
When ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin followed up by asking whether the discomfort was related to his inner thigh or groin, Doncic acknowledged it was “somewhere in there,” offering little clarity but enough to suggest a potential muscular issue.
That uncertainty looms large with the Lakers in the middle of a back-to-back homestand, set to face the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. Doncic’s status for that matchup appears far from certain.
The 26-year-old has already dealt with multiple injury setbacks this season. He missed time earlier in the year with a left finger sprain and a lower left leg contusion, then saw another calf issue flare up on December 20 against the Los Angeles Clippers, forcing additional time on the sidelines.
Despite those interruptions, Doncic currently leads the NBA in scoring at 33.3 points per game while logging the league’s third-highest minutes load at 36.5 per night. That usage level, paired with his recent injury history, is likely to be a growing concern internally as the season progresses.
Injury Concerns Resurface Amid Heavy Usage
Doncic’s comments also arrive against the backdrop of recent reporting that questioned the sustainability of his workload. Earlier this month, a report suggested he was playing through significant discomfort.
“Doncic is playing through ‘a lot of pain’ right now,” wrote Ashish Mathur of Lakers Daily. “The former Dallas Mavericks star is dealing with a left elbow injury and ‘nagging’ pain in both legs, sources said.”
The report claimed that Doncic was experiencing “sharp” discomfort that had limited his explosiveness, despite undergoing extensive treatment. However, that claim was later disputed by The Athletic’s Dan Woike, who said his sources indicated the report was inaccurate.
Regardless, Doncic’s own postgame remarks highlight that his physical status needs monitoring. The timing is particularly delicate for a Lakers team already navigating injuries across the roster.
Any absence from their primary offensive engine would significantly alter Los Angeles’ outlook. Following Monday’s loss, the Lakers dropped to 23-14, sitting fifth in the Western Conference amid a three-game losing streak, with the Houston Rockets just half a game back in seventh.
The organization now faces a familiar balancing act between short-term urgency and long-term health. With playoff positioning still fluid, there is pressure to keep Doncic on the floor.
At the same time, pushing through a potential muscle issue risks a more significant setback.
For now, the Lakers will wait to see how their star guard responds physically. But the fact that Doncic himself publicly expressed uncertainty is enough to cast a shadow over the immediate outlook, making this an injury situation that warrants close attention in the days ahead.