The Lakers have reportedly sent Luka Doncic to Spain to get an injection treatment for his Grade 2 hamstring strain. But according to renowned Stem Cells specialist, Dr. Jesse Morse, the Lakers’ star didn’t have to fly all the way across the world to Europe to get a treatment that he could’ve received in the United States itself.
“Hey guys, [this is] Dr. Jesse Morse from The Injury Expertz, so I’m going to show you what Luka Doncic should be getting in his hamstring right now as opposed to flying across the world to likely Germany or Switzerland,” said Dr. Morse on X in a video released hours before it was confirmed that Doncic is headed to Spain.
“This is a placento-based tissue, this is a connective tissue matrix, an amniotic tissue we’ve been using at our clinic since 2015. The first time we used it was actually from the team doctor of the San Antonio Spurs.”
“He was injecting his players with this, giving them a day off and allowing them to return the next day. This is not new, and this is what it looks like. Do you see the floating issue? I just drew it up.”
“This is amniotic tissue, probably half of what I would put in Luka’s hamstring, to give you a gauge. Cost-wise, that’s about a $20,000 worth of product, to give you an idea. So if you want to use the best, this is what it looks like,” Dr. Morse said in conclusion.
Therefore, some doctors will agree with Dr. Morse to say that Doncic had better alternatives in the United States itself and did not have to go to Europe to get his treatment. And considering that cost is likely not an issue for a player like him, it may have been wiser to stay in the US and get this treatment instead.
But it is all in the hopes that Doncic will return in time for the playoffs. Several doctors have given varied timelines ranging from two to six weeks, depending on what treatment the Slovenian superstar is getting and how well the potential medicines work on him.
However, according to ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania, in his report about Doncic heading to Spain, he also gave estimated timelines based on what the Lakers’ front office is optimistic about.
“The expectation around the Lakers right now is that both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will be sidelined indefinitely going into the playoffs. But we got a new wrinkle going into this week, and that’s what I reported last night, and I can further report here today,” said Charania in his latest appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today.
“I’m told Luka Doncic is currently in Spain. He traveled there because he’s undergoing an injection procedure in that grade 2 hamstring area to see if he can promote healing and, at the end of the day, expedite his return process.”
“He’s doing everything he can to make it back out on the court. We know a grade 2 hamstring strain typically falls between four and six weeks. He’s doing everything he can to see if he can push that timeline up just a little bit. And we’re still not sure exactly how this treatment goes. Does it work? How much does it speed everything up? But that’s what he’s doing. He’s in Spain.”
“Austin Reaves is a little bit of a different card. Four to six weeks he’s out. He’s got a grade two oblique strain. And so that timeline essentially would sideline him for the majority, if not the entire first round series.”
“The goal is for both of these players to be back. JJ Redick has said it. We just have to extend our run in the playoffs to try to get both of them back,” said Charania in conclusion.
Therefore, the Lakers, who have just four games left in the regular season, could potentially see Doncic back in action at the beginning, if not the middle, of the Lakers’ first-round series in the playoffs. But I am still curious as to why Doncic would go all the way to Spain when an alternative and seemingly better medicine was available in the US.
At this point, the Lakers will likely finish in the fourth or fifth seed, as they will likely drop one of their next three games, which are against the Thunder (April 7), the Warriors (April 9), and the Suns (April 10), due to being severely shorthanded against teams that are either better than them or desperate for a win going into the playoffs.
My prediction based on team schedules is that the Lakers will face the Rockets in the first round. If that happens, they will hope to have Doncic back in time; otherwise, they will likely have a first-round exit since all the burden will be on an aging LeBron James.
If they survive until the second round, they will have Austin Reaves back as well from his grade 2 oblique injury, and that would be the only ideal scenario for the Lakers to have a chance at winning it all.
