Luka Doncic injury update: Is Los Angeles Lakers star cleared to play his remaining EuroBasket games?
For a tense moment on Saturday, Slovenia's EuroBasket campaign and the Los Angeles Lakers' season outlook appeared at risk. Luka Doncic went down clutching his right knee after a collision in a friendly against Latvia.
The fall left fans on both sides of the Atlantic bracing for the worst. Less than a day later, a new update came as a relief. Slovenia's basketball federation confirmed the All-Star guard avoided a serious injury and would rejoin team training at the start of the week.
Luka Doncic receives latest injury update
The scare came during the third quarter of Slovenia's 100-88 loss in Riga. Doncic, who had already tallied 26 points and five assists, banged knees with a teammate on defense and left the game in visible pain.
He was later diagnosed with a knee contusion, a bruise rather than structural damage, easing fears of a major setback.
— CourtsideBuzzX (@CourtsideBuzzX)
Slovenia's federation quickly moved to calm concerns. The team announced on its official X account, 'After the match [against Latvia] in Riga, the team will continue preparations for EuroBasket on Monday – already on Tuesday, a clash with Great Britain awaits us at Arena Stozice. The team will also be joined in training by captain Luka Doncic, who fortunately finished the game against Latvia without injury.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels
Techno Mag
Learn More
Undo
NBA insider Marc Stein added that while Doncic is expected at practice, Slovenia's staff remains cautious about his role in upcoming friendlies. The team faces Great Britain on Tuesday and Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic, on Thursday. Slovenia then opens its EuroBasket campaign against Poland on August 28.
Luka Doncic's injury scare briefly sparked EuroBasket challenge concern and the Lakers' upcoming season
Doncic's injury scare overshadowed what had been a standout showing in the early stages of Slovenia's preparations.
He looked sharper and leaner than he did at the end of last season, arriving at camp in noticeably better condition. His improved mobility was on full display, not just in his scoring but in defensive sequences where he cut off passing lanes and forced turnovers, long a point of criticism in his game.
The incident reignited a familiar debate: the risk of NBA stars competing in summer tournaments. Doncic, who recently signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers, carries enormous expectations for both his national team and his franchise.
For Slovenia, he represents their best hope for a deep EuroBasket run. For Los Angeles, his health is paramount as they push for a return to championship contention.
Also Read:
Magic Johnson showers praise for Mookie Betts as he leads Dodgers to sweep of Padres
For now, both sides can breathe easier. Doncic's injury was not serious, and his quick return to practice offers reassurance that he remains on track for EuroBasket. Still, the coming weeks will test how Slovenia manages his workload and how he balances national pride with NBA responsibility.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Luka Doncic suffers injury scare in EuroBasket exhibition game
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic gave fans a scare during Slovenia 's EuroBasket exhibition against Latvia on Saturday, but he appears to have avoided a serious injury, according to The Athletic. The five-time All-NBA guard grabbed at his right leg after a teammate was shoved into him, remaining on the floor for several moments before limping to the locker room on his own. Fortunately for the Lakers and Slovenia, Doncic later returned to the bench. — LukaUpdates (@LukaUpdates) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Undo Doncic, who signed a three-year, $165 million extension earlier this month, averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 28 games for Los Angeles last season. According to reports, Doncic has been diagnosed with a right knee contusion, though the injury is not considered serious. The Lakers star is expected to be ready for EuroBasket when the tournament begins in two weeks. Live Events Doncic has dealt with multiple injuries in the past, particularly involving his left leg, including calf strains, contusions, and ankle and knee problems. He also missed a month last season with a left calf strain before returning to help lead the Lakers on their postseason push.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Kim Taehyung of BTS announces baseball debut with the LA Dodgers; breaks MLB site as ARMY clamours for tickets
The BTS boys have always had a thing for sports. Whether it was Suga — or Agust D as fans know him — taking on his role as a global ambassador for the NBA, or the members popping up courtside just to soak in the fun of a match, ARMY has often seen them mixing music with athletics. But this time, things have taken a whole new turn. The Los Angeles Dodgers just announced that Kim Taehyung, better known as V, will be the guest of honour at their August 25 game against the Cincinnati Reds. Kim Taehyung is all ready to make his baseball debut with the LA Dodgers The team set the internet ablaze when they tweeted: 'ARMY, you ready? V will be at Dodger Stadium on 8/25 to throw out the ceremonial first pitch!' If that sounds familiar, it's because sports leagues are clearly catching on to the 'celebrity effect.' Just look back to when the Super Bowl turned into a cultural event for Swifties. According to a Variety report, 20% of 2024 Super Bowl viewers admitted they were rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs purely because of Travis Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift. The poll by consumer research firm Numerator came right after the Chiefs sealed their 25-22 overtime win against the San Francisco 49ers. It looks like the Dodgers seem to be aiming for that same magic, and judging by what happened next, they may have hit a home run before the game even started. Right after Major League Baseball shared the announcement, fans began reporting problems online. As one fan tweeted, 'Kim Taehyung will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium on August 25th! The ticket website is currently down after the official announcement.' Naturally, ARMY was quick to react. One fan summed it up simply with: 'That's the power of the Kim Taehyung.' Another joked about the timing of their ticket hunt, writing: 'The website crashed the second it was announced, dodgers fans please don't be mad but yall had time to get tickets before us.' And of course, someone else couldn't resist spelling it out: 'LMAO ARMY CRASHED THE WEBSITE TO GET TICKETS TO BE THERE.' None of this is out of character for Taehyung, who seems to carry chaos and charm wherever he goes. This won't even be his first public appearance since enlisting; he's already made headlines at Paris Fashion Week as Celine's ambassador and stirred buzz with high-profile deals, including a controversial campaign with Coca-Cola and a new partnership as the face of Compose Coffee.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Matthew Liberatore tries to turn season around against Marlins
Left-hander Matthew Liberatore loser of four straight decisions and winless since June 29 will try to get back on track Monday night as his St. Louis Cardinals visit the Miami Marlins to open a three-game series. Matthew Liberatore tries to turn season around against Marlins Liberatore, 25, was a first-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2018, straight out of the Arizona prep ranks. The Cardinals acquired him in January 2020 in a trade that sent outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Rays. With the Cardinals, Liberatore is 3-3 with a 3.89 ERA in 67 career relief appearances; and, as a starter, he is 11-19 with a 4.91 ERA. This season, however, is the first when Liberatore has been exclusively a starter. He is 6-10 with a 4.08 ERA in 22 appearances. But the transition may be taking its toll. After compiling a 3.70 ERA over his first 17 starts, Liberatore has seen that number grow to 5.95 ERA over his last five starts a span over which he has failed to go more than 4 1/3 innings in any start. Part of the problem is that Liberatore's fastball tends to hit 95 mph for his first three innings. From there, the trend is for his velocity to drop to 93 and as low as 91 mph. All of this suggests that Liberatore may be better in the bullpen. However, that's not what he desires. "I don't know if there's anything I've wanted more than to be a big-league starter," Liberatore told "I don't know if I could want to be a ." Two other trends are negative for Liberatore for Monday's game. He has a 12.00 ERA in six innings over four career appearances against Miami . And his career ERA is nearly a run higher on the road 5.10 than at home 4.13. Miami is expected to counter Liberatore with right-hander Eury Perez . Perez's trends are mostly positive. He turned in a quality start in his only appearance against the Cardinals, giving up one run on three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks over six innings in a 2023 home loss. His career ERA is also much better at home than it is on the road . However, after going 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA last month, Perez has a 4.96 ERA in three starts in August . Overall, neither team has played terrific baseball lately. The Cardinals have lost five straight games all at home including Sunday's 8-4 defeat to the Yankees. The Marlins just finished a 3-8 road trip. In addition, the Marlins have lost All-Star left fielder Kyle Stowers, who was placed on injured reserve on Sunday with an oblique strain. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Stowers will be out at least several weeks, which puts the rest of his season in jeopardy. Stowers felt tightness on his left side during his first at-bat on Friday, and that feeling never disappeared. "I just felt a little weird," Stowers said. Stowers, a 27-year-old who was having a breakout season, was the National League's Player of the Month for July. For the season, Stowers has 25 home runs and 73 RBIs with 21 doubles, three triples and a .912 OPS. At the time of his exit from the lineup he sat out Saturday's game Stowers ranked fifth in the National League in OPS, tied for ninth in homers and 11th in RBIs. "Kyle's having a great year," McCullough said. "But we have a tough and resilient group." Field Level Media This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
