What is next for Luka Doncic? That is amongst the several questions of the hour, as the Slovenian concludes yet another NBA season without securing the championship title. However, as compared to last year, when Doncic got eliminated in the finals with his Dallas Mavericks squad, the player got out in the playoffs’ first round, that too alongside the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers squad. The hope that the combination of LeBron and Luka would elevate the Lakers to new heights was lost after the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 4-1 record against them. The fact that Luka was traded to the Lakers against his will did not matter in the end. Therefore, it is now up to the Slovenian to make a final decision on whether to continue this journey or not.

In the aftermath of the Lakers’ 103-96 loss against Anthony Edwards and co, Luka Doncic participated in a presser. During the same time, he was reminded by a reporter that he would be eligible for an extension with the Lakers in August. When asked if he would sign it, the player replied, “I didn’t think it yet. You know, it’s been admirable focus on basketball. Obviously, this is the time, you know, now to think about everything”.

There is a good reason why Luka Doncic chose to delay thinking about the extension. After all, the period following the player’s shocking trade, back in February, was a mentally exhausting one. Luka himself highlighted this by stating, during the same presser, that “Honestly, I don’t know. It’s mentally, kind of exhausted, for everything that happened, you know. I know a lot of people won’t believe me. But I am. So, it’s just, I think, now it’s time to process everything. Everything to it.”

Being traded by your team, unexpectedly, is a personally crushing move in itself. However, when you are the star player of that team, who was expected to be the last player on it to be sent to another squad, the hurt is deeper. Luka Doncic was so sure that his future was with the Dallas Mavericks that he reportedly was in the process of purchasing a $15 million home in Dallas, a week before the trade announcement. Former Mavericks player Chandler Parsons spread this rumor, and the same was later confirmed by Luka’s business manager, Lara Beth Seager. She highlighted that her client was on the hunt since “he expected to spend his career in Dallas”. Oops!

Instead of finalizing that home for his fiancée and his 1-year-old daughter, the player had to spend the last few days accepting the trade reality, getting on a flight to Los Angeles, participate in the introduction presser, form a familiarity with his new teammates, and then go through an intense regular season only to get eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. For so much to happen over some time would affect anyone mentally.

Luka Doncic now has until the off-season, or till August at least, to decide next steps. The same will probably take precedence on his list of priorities, more than worrying about his injury issues.

Luka Doncic highlights concern for his back’s condition after major fall

As if the Minnesota Timberwolves holding on to the lead wasn’t exhausting enough for fans at the Crypto.com Arena, Luka Doncic raised some additional concern during the recent game. The Slovenian fell, right on his back, late in the second quarter after driving to the basket and getting fouled by Donte DiVincenzo. Doncic immediately grabbed at his back and walked away from the court. Fortunately, as worry was starting to rise, the player rushed to the court seconds before the final buzzer for the start of the second half. However, that wasn’t a good enough sign that the player’s injury wasn’t too big of a bother. An answer had to be known from Doncic himself.

During the post-game presser, the player addressed his injury by stating, “I mean, it’s not good, at all. But, you know, I tried to go. So, that’s it”. The one good thing about getting eliminated from the tournament is that Luka Doncic does not have any more games to play till the start of the 2025-26 season. Therefore, one can hope that he gets ample rest during that period.

After the incident, Luka Doncic was reportedly walking with a limp. He favored his back while moving and even when he came back into the game in the second half, he wasn’t moving right. This led many to speculate about the player’s injury. Dr Brian Sutterer, MD, said that “Not trying to be dramatic, but Luka may have a fracture in his spine”. Dr. Evan Jeffries said he believes the injury could be a hyperextension.

No matter how serious the injury is, Luka Doncic automatically has two things to take care of: his future and his present physical condition. With any hope, the next time we hear from the player, he will have taken care of both matters.