Thanks to Luka Dončić’s best effort to recover from his hamstring strain, it appears likely that he will be representing the Lakers in the All-Star Game on Sunday.
Luka dealt with a hamstring strain for more than a week that caused him to miss the last four Lakers games before the All-Star break.
While he was out for LA’s game against Dallas, he was seen pregame getting shots up.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, that workout went well and Luka playing this weekend is still the plan.
Throughout the duration of Luka’s injury, he has reportedly remained hopeful that he could play in the All-Star Game, and it appears his efforts have not been in vain.
Initially, the Lakers believed this injury was minor and his status was day-to-day.
Before the Lakers took on the Mavs, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Luka was expected to return after the All-Star break. It seems that timeline is accurate and Luka will even play in this weekend’s signature contest.
Also important to note that Stein reports Luka will play a short stint. Even in an All-Star Game that few take seriously, there is risk for injury. So, it’d be wise for Luka to take it easy and just play for a moment so fans can celebrate their local star.
This will be Luka’s first time participating in the All-Star Game as a Laker.
Dončić was the top vote-getter in the NBA, and with the festivities taking place in Los Angeles, he will be one of the biggest stars this weekend.
Luka is having one of the best years of his career, averaging a league-high 32.8points per game. He will represent and play for Team World in this new All-Star format.
Lakers fans will also have other players to root for this weekend with LeBron James and Jaxson Hayes representing the purple and gold. LeBron made the All-Star team as a reserve, and Hayes will participate in the Slam Dunk Contest.
Luka’s return is great news. It means he should be good to go once the Lakers begin regular-season play, and it’s another example of how much he loves the game and wants to give back to his fans.
He worked hard to return as quickly as possible, and barring a setback, it seems he’ll be on the court Sunday as the NBA celebrates its biggest stars.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.