Luka Doncic reportedly isn't close to returning for Lakers

Now that the Los Angeles Lakers are heading to the second round of the NBA playoffs to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, fans are hoping that the time is nearing for Luka Doncic to make his return from a Grade 2 hamstring injury.

He suffered that injury on April 2 in a regular-season contest versus the Thunder, and the general timeframe for a recovery from that type of ailment is four to six weeks. But hamstring injuries can take a long time to heal, and they must heal sufficiently for an athlete to be able to compete safely again.

During Game 6 between the Lakers and the Houston Rockets on Friday, Prime Video sideline reporter Cassidy Hubbarth said what Lakers fans didn't want to hear: Doncic is slowly progressing, but he's not even close to being able to return.

“There’s been no timeline. There has been some progress on the court. He’s now doing some movement work in drills, getting up shots. But it is controlled. He hasn’t advanced to 1-on-1 or full-contact work yet. He’s not into any scrimmages so it’s a little than just spot shooting but still a step away from anything live…This remains a slow build towards a return, not an imminent one.”

With Doncic still sidelined, the Lakers are huge underdogs against the defending NBA champion Thunder. The Thunder won their season series against L.A. 4-0, and they boast one of the best defenses anyone has seen in years. In three of the four games between the two teams during the regular season, Oklahoma City won by at least 29 points.