Ric Flair is expressing his frustration with Luka Doncic from the Lakers.
Doncic missed Game 1 of the conference semifinals against the Thunder on Tuesday due to a hamstring strain. In his absence, Flair humorously took on the role of point guard.
After the Lakers’ loss to Oklahoma City, Flair took to social media, saying, “Go to the game! Take some cortisone and deal with the pain! They pay you 50 million a year and you’re not there! Oh my god!” His comments reflect his disappointment, and he mentioned that he hopes Los Angeles will consider trading the 27-year-old in the offseason.
“Nobody wants a lame duck on their team!” he added emphatically.
After receiving some backlash, Flair later seemed to soften his tone but continued to criticize Doncic’s absence. He acknowledged that, while it’s unlikely the Lakers would trade Doncic—who is considered the future of the franchise—there are concerns about his availability. “He averages 33 points per game. If he scores 20 points, LeBron scores 27, and the rest of the team can win!” he pointed out.
Doncic had suffered a Grade 2 hamstring injury during a game against the Thunder on April 2. Since then, he’s been working on his recovery, even seeking treatment abroad.
LA’s head coach, JJ Redick, stated earlier this week that he doesn’t have updates on Doncic but noted the six-time All-Star will likely miss more games during the postseason series against the Thunder.
