Doncic Discusses Recovery After Hamstring Injury

In Oklahoma City, Lakers star Luka Doncic addressed the media Wednesday, marking his first comments since he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring injury on April 2.

During the interview, Doncic explained his decision to receive treatment in Spain to help accelerate his recovery. “Yeah, I went to Spain to do PRP,” he disclosed. “I needed four days between each shot. That’s why I did it four times,” he added, offering insights into his treatment plan.

PRP, which stands for platelet-rich plasma, might sound technical, but it’s actually derived from one’s own blood. Essentially, doctors extract the blood and spin it in a centrifuge to isolate the golden layer that’s rich in platelets—those little warriors that help the body heal. These platelets contain growth factors, which are vital signals for damaged tissues to rebuild and recover.

Notably, Doncic wasn’t a finalist for the MVP award, even though he had a remarkable scoring average of 33.5 points, along with impressive stats in assists and steals.

He mentioned that doctors in Dallas initially estimated an eight-week recovery duration due to what appeared to be a significant muscle tear. However, his PRP treatments in Madrid were aimed at expediting this timeline by enhancing inflammation and initiating tissue repair more efficiently.

A Grade 2 strain typically indicates that muscle fibers have partially torn, which usually comes with a recovery period of four to eight weeks—something Doncic is keenly aware of. By Thursday, when Game 2 kicks off, he will have been sidelined for exactly five weeks.

Currently, Doncic has received medical clearance to begin running, but hasn’t started any one-on-one practices or contact drills yet, making it quite unlikely that he will return for the Western Conference semifinals against the defending champions, the Thunder.