Los Angeles Lakers fans can breathe a sigh of relief, because Luka Dončić is alright. Dončić was reportedly cleared to play for Slovenia on Tuesday, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
It’s a promising update for Dončić, who left Saturday’s EuroBasket exhibition game against Latvia after a teammate fell on his knee. Dončić limped off the court and did not return to that contest.
While the situation looked scary, those fears dissipated quickly. Reports emerged suggesting Dončić’s injury wasn’t serious, and that he wanted to return vs. Latvia. Slovenia’s staff did not allow Dončić to return. He was spotted sitting on the bench with ice wrapped around his knee the rest of the contest.
Despite the injury scare, Dončić was able to return to practice Monday. He apparently came out of that practice looking like himself, leading to Dončić reportedly being cleared to play Tuesday. Slovenia will take on Great Britain.
In preparation for the NBA season, Dončić is taking part in the EuroBasket tournament for Slovenia. The tournament is in its exhibition stage now. Slovenia won’t play its first official game of the event until Aug. 28, when it opens against Poland. The fact that Dončić is expected to take part in an exhibition game Tuesday is a good indicator he’s feeling back to normal following Saturday’s injury.
Dončić signed a three-year, $165 million max contract with the Lakers in early August. After joining the team in a shocking trade from the Dallas Mavericks last season, Dončić put up his usual numbers in 28 games in Los Angeles. Dončić, 26, averaged 28.2 points and 8.1 rebounds following the trade.
Following the team’s early playoff exit, Dončić has committed himself to working even harder this offseason. The star guard reportedly dropped roughly 31 pounds thanks to a new training regime.
For all his success in the NBA, Dončić has faced questions about his offseason conditioning throughout his career. If he can put those concerns to bed, it’s possible Dončić can unlock an even greater level during the 2025-26 NBA season, a terrifying thought for opposing defenders.
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