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Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Dončić Expected to Rejoin Lakers This Week, Return to Action TBD. Plus, Nick Smith Jr. Signed!!!

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Locked On Podcast Network

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4.41.6K Ratings

🗓️ 13 April 2026

⏱️ 20 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Shams Charania of ESPN reports that Luka Dončić is on his way back from his treatment in Spain on his injured hamstring, and is expected to rejoin the team later this week. Presumably someone will poke around and see how that hammy is doing, but it would certainly be a surprise to see Luka play in the first round, and DEFINITELY would be a shock were it to come by the weekend and Game 1. More info will be forthcoming over the course of the week, surely, but for now it's at least a decent sign that the treatment is done and now it's a matter of hoping it accelerates that healing process. Austin Reaves? Still expected to be sidelined through most or all of the first round. Meanwhile, the Lakers added Nick Smith Jr. to the roster, taking the place of Kobe Bufkin. It was clearly a choice between him and Drew Timme. Did the Lakers make the right call? What does their choice say about the team's current skill set, and the matchup against the Rockets? 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. RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men. Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON. 5-Hour ENERGYGet candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon 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 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

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Luca Donchage is heading back to Los Angeles,

0:02.8

giving an update on when he might rejoin the team.

0:05.9

Plus, the Lakers have made a choice,

0:08.4

and it's Nick Smith Jr.

0:09.7

Did they make the right one?

0:10.8

That's next.

0:17.2

You are Locked-on Lakers.

0:19.5

Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day.

0:27.7

Thanks to everybody for joining Locked-on Lakers and Brian Kaminetsky with Andy Kaminetsky, lots of stuff to unpack on today's episode, including the Lakers, solidifying the roster for their first-round

0:41.0

matchup against the Houston Rockets, which of course starts on Saturday. 5.30 p.m. Pacific time is

0:47.8

game one from crypto.com. Lakers add Nick Smith Jr. to the roster, not totally unexpected.

0:55.9

It was either going to be him or Drew Timmy.

0:57.2

We'll break down whether or not they may be right choice.

0:59.2

But Andy, the big news on Monday, Sham Shirani reporting that Luca Donch just headed back to Los Angeles.

1:07.3

I guess he's expected to arrive Tuesday.

1:10.1

And then both Shams and Mark Stein reporting that Luca is expected to rejoin the team perhaps as early as Friday ahead of the series in between.

1:23.8

I guess maybe poking around that little hamstring, seeing how it's healing,

1:29.4

how the LeBron James of hamstrings in Spain has put things back together.

1:34.2

Yeah, the hamstrings de la Lebron.

1:36.7

That's where they're going to be looking at for the or the Hamon strings.

1:40.1

De La LeBron.

1:43.3

As far as this expert goes.

...

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