NBA

Luka Dončić believes his injury robbed Lakers of a championship opportunity

October 8, 2026

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić has opened up about a pivotal moment last season that he believes cost his team a shot at an NBA championship. During a high-stakes matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2, Dončić was in MVP form, averaging 37.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game in March.

The Lakers were riding a 16-2 winning streak and appeared poised to leapfrog the Thunder in the MVP race while positioning themselves as genuine title contenders. However, Dončić suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in the second quarter and, despite the pain, pushed through the game.

Five minutes into the third quarter, the injury worsened, forcing him out of the contest. The setback sidelined him for the final five regular-season games and the entire postseason, effectively ending the Lakers’ championship hopes and derailing his MVP campaign.

In a rare public reflection, Dončić admitted to Sports Illustrated that he now regrets not coming out of the game sooner, calling the decision a mistake that haunted his team’s title aspirations.