The NBA All-Star game will already need several replacements, and Luka Doncic’s availability still hangs in the balance. After missing the fourth consecutive game this week, the Lakers star is still in recovery that could compromise his status for Sunday. Fortunately, according to the latest update by Marc Stein, we can expect to see him on the court in some capacity for the big event.
The update comes after Doncic experienced a “strong” pregame workout, seemingly confirming his return to full health. While he will be suiting up, however, Doncic’s playtime will be limited as an act of extra precaution. It’s similar to the stunt Kobe Bryant pulled in 2008, when he played a few minutes on a finger injury to pay respect to the fans. We don’t know how long Luka will play this weekend, but he’s clearly prioritizing his long-term health amid a season that’s been ravaged by setbacks.
While Luka has never “lit up” the All-Star game, he’s a familiar face who always puts on a show. The only exception was last season, when he failed to make the cut for the first time since his rookie year. His most recent appearance was in 2024, when he dropped seven points, seven rebounds, and seven assists on 30.0% shooting and 16.7% shooting from three.
As the face of the Lakers, Doncic was supposed to be the main attraction in Los Angeles this year, and he had plans to put on a show like he has all season long. This season, in 42 games, he’s averaging a league-high 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 47.3% shooting and 34.5% shooting from three. While his role will be greatly reduced this weekend, it’ll be a powerful moment when he takes the floor as the leading vote-getter for the first time in his career. As for what comes next, only time will tell.
Doncic, 26, has been one frontrunner for MVP this season, and he’s building fast chemistry with his Lakers teammates. But with Luka’s nagging hamstring pain, the focus right now is on getting him healthy. At 33-21 so far (fifth in the West), they are right in the thick of the NBA playoff race, and too many losses risk sending them back behind the play-in line.
If Doncic misses any more time now, it will only put more pressure on guys like LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton to step up and overdeliver. That’s why it’s so imperative that Doncic remains committed to a cautious and patient approach to his injury recovery. At this stage, availability is everything for Luka, and it could very well make the difference between success and failure for the Lakers’ season.
