JJ Redick’s decision-making surrounding Luka Doncic’s recent injury has drawn scrutiny, but a sports medicine perspective suggests the situation may not have been preventable based on playing time.
Redick previously said Dončić was cleared by the team’s medical staff to return after halftime during the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, when the star guard later exited with a strained left hamstring.
“We checked him out. He got work done. He was cleared,” Redick said. “Again, we’re not going to put a player at risk.”
Doctor Weighs In on Luka Dončić Injury Debate
In response to questions about whether Dončić’s minutes contributed to the injury, Dr. Evan Jeffries, an NBA and NFL injury expert and owner of the San Diego-based Evolving Motion Physical Therapy, said there is no clear link between playing time and the strain.
“The previous hamstring injury ‘likely’ contributed to this ‘new’ injury,” Jeffries wrote. “But it does not mean that if he played fewer minutes, he wouldn’t have injured it.”
Jeffries pointed to Dončić’s injury history earlier in the season as a more relevant factor than workload decisions in a single game.
Prior Hamstring Injury Identified as Key Factor
GettyLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts from the floor after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Dončić had sustained a minor hamstring injury before the All-Star break, causing him to miss four games, which Jeffries pointed out heavily factored into the Lakers star’s latest debacle.
“The main thing is that Luka had a minor hamstring injury right before the All-Star break, which he took two weeks off,” Jeffries said. “He came back at the beginning of February and has been playing at a high level for two months.”
That timeline suggests the injury may have developed over time rather than as a result of a specific in-game decision.
JJ Redick Addressed Decision After Game
Redick said the situation was evaluated during halftime, with a plan in place to monitor Dončić’s minutes based on game flow.
“It was discussed at halftime,” Redick said. “We thought we’d give those guys about six minutes and then we were going to — if we didn’t cut into the lead — we were going to pull them.”
Dončić returned to start the third quarter but exited with 7:39 remaining after appearing to aggravate the injury.
The Lakers were trailing by a significant margin at the time, adding to questions about the decision to keep him in the game.
Criticism Emerged Following Injury
The sequence drew criticism from fans and across the NBA, including the California Post’s Melissa Rohlin, who questioned whether Dončić should have remained on the court given the score and earlier signs of discomfort.
The discussion centered on whether a more cautious approach could have reduced the risk of aggravating the injury.
Jeffries’ comments addressed that point directly, indicating that a reduction in minutes does not necessarily eliminate the risk of a hamstring strain.
Luka Dončić Maintained High-Level Production Before Injury
Before the injury, Dončić had been performing at a historic level.
Jeffries noted that the guard had been playing at a high level for an extended stretch and had not shown clear signs of limitation.
“He’s been playing at a high level and hasn’t been hindered,” Jeffries said, referencing Dončić’s recent run of scoring production.
The consistency suggests the injury may not have been predictable based on performance alone.
Lakers Adjusting Outlook Without Dončić
The Lakers are expected to be without Dončić for the remainder of the regular season following the diagnosis of a grade 2 left hamstring strain.
Los Angeles has already secured a playoff spot and holds a 7–6 record in games Dončić has missed this season.
The team will need to adjust its rotation and offensive approach as it prepares for the postseason.
Recovery Timeline Becomes Central Focus
Hamstring injuries can vary in recovery time depending on severity and prior history.
With the playoffs approaching, the Lakers are expected to take a cautious approach to Dončić’s return.
Jeffries’ assessment adds context to the discussion surrounding the injury, suggesting that multiple factors — including prior strain — likely played a role.
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