The Los Angeles Lakers cannot forget their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder even if they wanted to. It is the worst defeat they have suffered this season, losing by 43 points. However, the bigger concern comes with Luka Doncic. The Lakers’ MVP candidate exited the game in pain in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury. Suddenly, not only the Purple and Gold’s championship hopes, but even Doncic’s MVP candidacy could be shut down.

It all circles back to the controversial 65-game rule. NBA stars such as Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards have already been ruled out for postseason awards since they couldn’t reach that mark. Regardless, Doncic has played 64 games through the Lakers’ 77 contests this season. If he can’t suit up again, he won’t meet the 65-game threshold. However, the league does have an exception for late-season injuries. Does that mean there’s still hope for Doncic?

Can Luka Doncic still qualify for MVP postseason honors?

Under the exception, the NBA allows a player who has played 62 games and suffers a season-ending injury after March 31 to be eligible for regular-season awards. But it’s not as simple as playing 62 games and getting injured. It’s important to read the fine print. Notably, they qualify only if the player has played 85% of the total games at the time of the injury.

For Luka Doncic, that number would have had to be over 65 games played by now. That’s strike one. But the bigger issue is the diagnosis part. A player missing the end of the regular season but returning for the postseason wouldn’t qualify. It has to be a season-ending ailment. An independent professional would have to conclude that the player’s injury would keep them out until May 31.

That’s a situation the Lakers, and even Doncic, would want to avoid. If the Slovenian is ruled out for the season, that would squash the Lakers’ hopes of contending for a championship. Nonetheless, this is to clarify whether the exception would apply to Doncic. And the answer seems to be no.

Since the six-time All-Star hasn’t appeared in 85% of the games (83.1%) and has yet to qualify for a season-ending injury, his case would be judged by the 65-game threshold. That means he’s now racing against time. Doncic could still meet the exact requirement. He has to play one more game out of the five remaining regular-season games for the Lakers. It’s probable to assume the team won’t field him for their clash against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. That leaves a rematch against OKC and games from there on out.

If the MRI results on Friday show Doncic’s hamstring doesn’t have any significant damage, he has a good chance of still being eligible for regular-season awards. However, it seems he must play 65 games. Currently, the Slovenian has dropped to fourth spot in the KIA MVP rankings, trailing Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama for the individual title.

Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT, posted an early analysis of the injury on X and insisted that his return timeline depends on its severity. “Grade I: 1-2 weeks
Grade II: 3-6 weeks,” Jeffries wrote.

After the game, the fans’ focus immediately shifted to Redick when he revealed his medical team’s plan at halftime. Considering the treatment Doncic received at the break, it was pretty clear that his hamstring was acting up. However, in an attempt to spark a comeback, Redick let the Slovenian play for 6 more minutes. That decision didn’t age well at all, and many are now blaming the coach for his negligence. LeBron James also acknowledged Doncic’s absence but clarified that “nothing has changed” vision-wise.