How Much Risk Should the Lakers Accept With Luka Dončić's Push to Return?

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4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 8 April 2026

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Lakers are in dire straits right now, no question. And to his credit, Luka Dončić crossed an ocean to try and get back to help give them a chance in the postseason. But even with the cutting edge treatments available to him in Europe, there is still a recovery period required for his injured hamstring, and a risk of recurrence should he come back to fast. But how big a risk, exactly? And how big a risk is too big? Especially if the Lakers slide to the fourth or fifth seed in the West, setting themselves up for a second round matchup against the Thunder? On the one hand, a setback that puts him back at square one -- where Luka was after the game in which he suffered the injury -- likely doesn't impact his offseason all that much. Anything bigger, however? That could really mess with his ability to train this summer and maintain all the work he did last offseason. Anything that threatens his offseason program should make Lakers fans nervous. Meanwhile, Deandre Ayton caught some flak in Tuesday's aggressive press conference from JJ Redick... ironically for not catching stuff when thrown to him. But LA has a real problem right now -- they need Ayton to perform, but lost the two guys who execute pick and roll sets with him best, and otherwise find ways to get him the ball. So what now? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! TurboTaxThis year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use codeLOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast WayfairGet last-minute hosting essentials, gifts for all your loved ones, and decor to celebrate the holidays for WAY less.Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Transcript

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0:00.0	While Luca tries to get well in Europe, the Lakers have to figure out how to elevate things at home.
0:05.7	We'll explain next.
0:12.5	You are Locked-on Lakers.
0:14.9	Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day thanks everybody for joining
0:24.6	locked on lakers brian komenetsky with andy kamenetsky plenty to get into this afternoon
0:30.5	in the wake of tuesdays not entirely unsurprising blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Lakers,
0:40.4	but they are looking forward trying to figure out exactly how to handle everything going on
0:47.1	and make themselves as playoff ready as possible, no small feat given the major injuries. so we'll talk about a little bit about
0:56.2	d'andre aiton who wasn't the focus andy i would say of most of the post-game attention
1:05.0	that was between jj and and jared vanderbilt but he did there some, you know, caught a couple strays in terms of his catching ability
1:16.0	that we'll talk about.
1:18.7	But you were, you were out while all this stuff broke with Luca and the plan to head to Spain to see the LeBron James of
1:29.3	hamstrings and presumably for injection therapies and things like that that
1:34.3	that are not as readily available in the States. I talked to Harrison about
1:39.8	this and a little bit with DeAndre too while you were gone. Just like, is this a good idea?
1:45.7	Like, what do you, what do you, what was your reaction when you saw Luca head off to Europe to
1:52.7	try to come back fast? I want to know what the risk of this is in terms of it becoming a worse injury. I'm not even talking necessarily about a
2:04.0	recurrence of the same injury. Like he undergoes what everybody widely assumes it'll never be
2:10.5	confirmed, but the widely assumed procedures are PRP, plate spinning, all of that stuff.
2:20.4	It's very common for athletes to plate let spinning.
2:21.9	Well, it feels like plates.
2:24.7	It does feel like plate spinning right now, to be honest.
	...

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