Luka Dončić may have missed the last four games heading into the All-Star break, but the Lakers aren’t hitting the panic button. The right hamstring injury that’s kept their superstar sidelined is being treated with caution - not concern - and the team remains optimistic that Dončić avoided anything serious.
Officially, he’s still listed as day-to-day. And while the days have started to add up, the Lakers’ internal confidence hasn’t wavered. Head coach JJ Redick gave a measured but encouraging update before the team’s final game before the break, signaling that Dončić is trending in the right direction and could be ready to return when the Lakers take the floor again on February 20 against the Clippers.
“He’s progressed really good,” Redick said. “I think part of him wanted to push to get back prior to the break. But we got to be cautious with the soft tissue injuries.”
That right there is the key. Soft tissue injuries - especially hamstrings - are notoriously tricky.
One wrong move, one rushed return, and you’re back on the injury report for another few weeks. The Lakers have seen it firsthand this season, and Redick referenced that when he mentioned how they handled Austin Reaves earlier in the year and pointed to Jalen Williams’ recent setback after returning too soon.
So, in Dončić’s case, the Lakers are playing it smart. Redick emphasized that the entire organization is aligned in the decision to hold him out through the break. “We all feel comfortable with the decision to hold him out and should be good to go post All-Star,” Redick said.
That last part - “should be good to go” - is what Lakers fans will be clinging to. It suggests Dončić is close, maybe even close enough to play now, but the team is choosing to give him the extra cushion of the All-Star break to fully recover.
That’s not just caution - that’s strategy. With the most crucial stretch of the season looming, getting Dončić back at 100% is far more important than squeezing him into a game or two before the break.
As for the All-Star Game itself, Redick didn’t offer much. “It’s above my pay grade,” he said, brushing off any definitive answer.
And honestly, that’s fair. The All-Star Game is more spectacle than competition, and while it would be great to see Dončić suit up among the league’s best, the priority has to be the Lakers’ playoff push.
Because make no mistake - the Lakers need Luka. With the Western Conference standings as tight as they are, every game down the stretch will matter. A fully healthy Dončić isn’t just a luxury; he’s the engine that drives this team’s postseason hopes.
So if this is the Lakers being extra cautious now to ensure their star is ready to go when the lights get brighter, it’s the right call. The last thing LA wants is to rush him back and risk a setback that could derail the season.
For now, all signs point to Dončić being ready to return after the break. And if that’s the case, the Lakers could be getting their leader back just in time for the games that matter most.