Luka Doncic Injury Update
Luka Doncic suffered a right knee contusion on August 16, 2025, during Slovenia’s friendly against Latvia—but, deep breath, it’s not serious. Even as he went down clutching his knee and every Slovenian fan’s heart skipped a beat, the news came fast: no torn ligaments, no fracture, just a bruise, and relief rippled out through the basketball world. Right now, medical teams are playing it safe, but neither Slovenia nor the Lakers expect him to miss anything meaningful.
Honestly, seeing Luka limp off in that third quarter—after putting up 26 points and a handful of assists—felt like that moment your phone dies just as the Uber arrives. Pause, panic, and, eventually… it’s fine.
According to GameInjuryDoc on Twitter, Dr. Evan Jeffries explained that Luka Doncic hurt his right knee from an impact while moving inside to outside, which could indicate an LCL sprain. He also noted that an ACL injury is unlikely since Luka’s foot wasn’t planted, reducing the twisting force.
What Happened to Luka Doncic?
He banged knees with his own teammate playing defense under the rim during a pretty competitive friendly. No heroic Hollywood villain here—just bad luck and some crowded footwork. Instantly, Luka winced, hunched over, ice-wrapped the knee, and spent the rest of the game cheering from the bench, definitely not hiding his “let me back in!” energy. The medical crew, to their credit, didn’t cave to star power. Luka’s got his $165million contract and wild expectations, so team docs took zero chances.
I mean, if you’ve ever played pickup and had to argue you’re “fine” after a rolled ankle—imagine doing it with a million cameras on you. Luka’s insistence to rejoin his teammates (and not the trainers) felt like that stubborn friend who refuses help carrying groceries, making you both nervous and a little proud.
When will Luka Doncic Return?
Doncic is expected to rejoin training as early as Monday, August 18, and Slovenia plans for him to appear in their next friendly on Tuesday against Great Britain. All signs point to him being ready for Slovenia’s EuroBasket opener against Poland on August 28. As for the Lakers, everyone expects him to be active for the NBA season start on October 21—unless something crazy unfolds, which, let’s face it, happens about as often as Luka missing a highlight pass.
Little humor here: if Luka misses any more time, it’ll be for overcautious doctors, not for anything his knee’s done. The only pressure he’s facing now? Living up to “post-LeBron” hype and that MVP chatter, not rehabbing a serious injury.
So, rest easy. The EuroBasket and NBA opener calendars look safe—the only thing in jeopardy is the sleep schedule of fans, glued to social feed refresh buttons waiting for more Doncic highlights.
