One of the NBA’s biggest stars is going to be missing some time early in the 2025-26 season.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić will be sidelined for at least one week after suffering a left finger sprain and a lower left leg contusion, the organization confirmed on Sunday, Oct. 26.
The five-time NBA All-Star is off to a blistering start in his seventh season in the league, with 43 points in the Lakers’ season-opening loss to the Golden State Warriors and 49 points in a victory last Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. His 92 points in the first two games broke a 56-year franchise record previously held by Jerry West.
In those two contests, Dončić added 11.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game. He hasn’t just been productive, but efficient, shooting 62% from the field in those games.
He’s not the only notable absence for the Lakers in the opening weeks of the season. LeBron James hasn’t played in either of Los Angeles’ first two games and will reportedly be out until mid-November as the 40-year-old deals with sciatica.
Dončić is in his second season with the Lakers after being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks last February in a blockbuster trade.