Los Angeles Lakers fans can finally exhale. Luka Doncic has officially avoided a serious knee injury after a scare during Slovenia’s exhibition game against Latvia, and he is already scheduled to return to practice on Monday. The confirmation came via Marc Stein.
Stein reported on X*that "*Luka Doncic is scheduled to be back at practice Monday, Slovenia’s basketball federation (@kzs_si) has announced, with his official status still TBD for Tuesday’s @EuroBasket warmup game at home against Great Britain.”
Easy to fear the worst when Luka Doncic went down
The moment it happened, it was hard not to panic. Doncic had been dominating the game. By the time halftime rolled around, he had already stuffed the stat sheet with 26 points, four rebounds, and five assists. It was early in the third quarter was when everyone held their breath.
It was a freak accident where one of Doncic’s teammates lost their balance and fell directly into his leg knee, causing him to go down hard. He limped to the locker room, and the silence from the Slovenian bench and Doncic's dad gave reason to worry.
What made this even more tense for Lakers fans is the timing. Doncic has been all-in this offseason, getting in the best shape of his life after a high-profile trade from the Dallas Mavericks to Los Angeles last season. The EuroBasket prep games have been his chance to show the world that he is locked in, not just for Slovenia, but for what is next in the NBA.
Before this news, Dan Woike of The Athletic reported he should be fine dodging a massive bullet; thankfully, that report was accurate. As of now, he is expected to rejoin practice on Monday. Knowing Doncic, he will be dressed and ready to go in that matchup against Great Britain. He has a love for Slovenia, and he has made it clear he wants to bring home a title. That kind of competitive fire is what makes him special.
With championship expectations on the line in Los Angeles, keeping Doncic healthy is non-negotiable. His new teammates, coaching staff, and the front office have already seen how much effort he has put into transforming his body and mindset this summer. For now, disaster has been avoided. Let’s hope it stays that way.