Los Angeles Lakers fans were left anxious on Saturday afternoon when star guard Luka Doncic, fresh off a three-year contract extension with the team, exited Slovenia’s EuroBasket 2025 exhibition matchup against Latvia after tweaking his leg.
Doncic managed to walk to the locker room without assistance, though he noticeably favored his right leg after a teammate collided with him hard in the third quarter, sending him to the ground in clear discomfort.
Fortunately, reassurance came quickly. According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, Doncic avoided any major damage—an enormous relief with the NBA season now just over two months away.
Seen as the new centerpiece of the Lakers franchise, Doncic has spent the offseason focusing on conditioning and overall fitness, a topic of scrutiny that has followed him since he entered the league in 2018.
Even with the criticism, his standing as one of the world’s elite players has never wavered. This summer, he suited up for Slovenia, reporting in early August just days after finalizing his Lakers extension.
The lucrative contract binds him to Los Angeles for three seasons, with a player option in 2028, potentially giving him the chance to secure another max deal before hitting age 30.
Doncic arrived in Los Angeles through a blockbuster trade considered among the most stunning in NBA history, following a campaign in which he guided the Dallas Mavericks to the Finals. The Lakers acquired him in a deal that sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and multiple draft assets the other way.
Since joining the purple and gold, Doncic has averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per contest.
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