Dončić Regrets Playing Through Hamstring Injury, Cites Missed Championship Opportunity
The Lakers star admitted he should have prioritized his health during a crucial game last season.
Luka Dončić has expressed regret over continuing to play with a hamstring injury last season, an injury that ultimately sidelined him for the entirety of the Los Angeles Lakers' postseason run.
Dončić revealed in an interview with Sports Illustrated that he felt a tweak in his hamstring during the second quarter of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the Lakers facing a significant deficit and the injury becoming apparent, he chose to push through the pain rather than leave the game. This decision resulted in a Grade 2 hamstring strain that ended his season prematurely and prevented him from participating in the playoffs.
"When it comes to my spirit of trying to win, I am just stubborn," Dončić stated. "I felt a little bit in the first half that I should have just stopped. I should have come out. I think we had a team that could compete for the championship. I definitely regret it."
The Lakers were in the midst of a strong stretch of play before the injury, holding a 16-2 record entering the game against the Thunder. The team ultimately lost that matchup decisively, 139-96. The absence of Dončić proved to be a significant blow in the subsequent playoff rounds, as the Lakers were eliminated in the second round by the Thunder.
Dončić, who was considered an MVP candidate last season, acknowledged that in hindsight, he wishes he had made a different decision. He noted that his commitment to winning led him to override his body's signals, a choice that had considerable consequences for the team's championship aspirations. The injury meant that the Lakers had to compete in the postseason without their star player, leading to speculation about what might have been if both he and LeBron James had been healthy.
LeBron James, who was also a key player for the Lakers last season, had to take on an even larger role in the playoffs following Dončić's injury. While he managed to lead the team past the Houston Rockets, the Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately proved too strong in the second round.