Lakers' Luka Doncic still unsure when he'll return from injury - ESPN

OKLAHOMA CITY — Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic does not know when he will be able to return from the Grade 2 hamstring strain that has sidelined him since early April, he said Wednesday.

«It's very frustrating,» Doncic, speaking for the first time since the injury occurred, told reporters in a meeting room at the team hotel. «I don't think people understand how frustrating it is. All I want to do is play basketball, especially this time. It's the best time to play basketball.

»It's very frustrating seeing what my team is doing. I'm very proud of them. It's been very tough to just to sit and watch them play."

Doncic suffered the injury in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2 and has not played since, ending what was an MVP-caliber campaign in his first full regular season with the Lakers.

«The day I did the MRI on the hamstring, the doctor told me eight weeks [recovery] at the beginning,» Doncic said. «I'm doing everything I can in the process, and I think we're on a good way. But at the beginning, he told me eight weeks.»

Game 2 on Thursday will mark five weeks to the day since the injury.

When asked whether he intends to try to play when the series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3-4, Doncic was noncommittal.

«I'm just doing everything I can,» said Doncic, adding that he has started running but has not done any contact drills. «Every day, I'm doing stuff I'm supposed to do. Obviously recovery, now I'm working.… Just going day by day, and I feel better every day.»

Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked about how the team is balancing Doncic's urge to return, while also protecting their star from worsening his injury if he came back too soon.

«It's very simple,» Redick said Wednesday after Doncic spoke.