Luka Dončić Out at Least a Week as Lakers Battle Injury Crisis Without James

The Los Angeles Lakers are reeling from a mounting injury crisis, losing their two biggest stars just as the 2025-26 season was gaining momentum. Luka Dončić, the 26-year-old Slovenian phenom who arrived in July 2024 and quickly became the franchise’s new face, won’t play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, due to a left finger sprain and lower left leg contusion. The news, first reported by Shams Charania on ESPN on October 26, came with a grim timeline: at least one week out. That means Dončić, who was averaging 32.5 points, 9.8 assists, and 8.2 rebounds through three games, won’t return until at least Sunday, November 2, against the Oklahoma City Thunder — if then. And he’s not alone.

Dončić’s Breakout Season Cut Short

Before the injury, Dončić was playing like a man possessed. In the Lakers’ opener against the Phoenix Suns on October 25, he dropped 43 points — a performance that had fans buzzing and analysts calling him the new king of Los Angeles basketball. His game was a blend of European finesse and American power: step-back threes, no-look dimes, and a knack for drawing fouls that left defenders helpless. Then, in the third quarter, he landed awkwardly after a drive to the rim. No one saw it. No one heard it. But the next day, the Lakers quietly announced he was sidelined.

Head Coach JJ Redick, hired just four months ago after his ESPN analyst days, didn’t sugarcoat it during his October 28 press conference at the UCLA Health Training Center. "He got off to an incredible start," Redick said. "We were watching film and thinking, ‘This guy’s not just good — he’s rewriting the playbook.’" But he added a cautionary note: "Reintegration will be gradual. We’re not rushing him back just because the schedule says so. Pain tolerance in full-contact drills is the real test."

The Injury Domino Effect

Dončić’s absence isn’t the only problem. The Lakers’ injury report reads like a disaster movie script. LeBron James, the 40-year-old four-time NBA champion, won’t make his season debut until mid-November due to persistent sciatica — a condition that’s plagued him since training camp. His absence means the team loses not just 26.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, but also the leadership that kept them competitive last season.

Then there’s Marcus Smart, the defensive anchor and starting point guard, sidelined with a right quadriceps strain. Gabe Vincent, the backup guard who provided crucial floor spacing, is out two to four weeks with a high ankle sprain. And Maxi Kleber, the versatile forward who was supposed to be the glue in the frontcourt, won’t be re-evaluated until mid-November due to an oblique strain.

As of October 29, the Lakers had only seven healthy players available for the game against Minnesota. Rookie Adou Thiero, a 20-year-old from Guinea, played 32 minutes — more than any rookie in his first NBA game since 2019. He scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. He looked nervous. He looked overwhelmed. But he looked like the future.

Medical Oversight and Recovery Timeline

The Los Angeles Lakers medical staff, led by Dr. Nathan Kaplan, is conducting daily evaluations at the training center. According to anonymous sources cited by BasketNews, Dončić is "progressing well," with swelling reduced and mobility returning. But the team remains tight-lipped about exact milestones.

"It’s not just about the finger," said one insider familiar with the rehab process. "The leg contusion is deeper than it looks. He’s got to be able to explode off that leg — not just run, not just jump, but change direction at full speed without flinching. That’s the real test." The projected seven-to-ten-day window still stands. But in the NBA, timelines are suggestions. A single bad practice can set a player back days. And with Dončić’s contract extension looming in 2026, the Lakers have every incentive to be cautious.

Financial and Competitive Fallout

The economic hit is real. League sources estimate Dončić’s absence will cost the Lakers about $1.8 million in lost jersey sales and sponsorship revenue over the next two weeks. He’s the team’s top-selling merchandise player — outselling even LeBron in the first three months of the season. That’s not just about pride. It’s about payroll. It’s about marketing. It’s about survival in a league where every dollar counts.

On the court, the impact is even starker. Dončić and James combined for 58.7 points per game last season. Together, they were the engine. Now, the Lakers are running on fumes. Their offensive rating has dropped 12 points since Dončić went down. Their assist-to-turnover ratio has plummeted. They’re shooting 28% from three in their last two games — a far cry from the 39% they posted when Dončić was healthy.

What’s Next?

The Lakers’ next two games — Friday in Denver and Sunday at home against Oklahoma City — will define their early-season identity. Without Dončić and James, they’re not contenders. They’re survivors. The question isn’t whether they’ll make the playoffs. It’s whether they’ll stay relevant enough to keep fans buying tickets, watching on TV, and believing in the vision.

Redick knows it. "We’ve got to play smarter," he said. "We’ve got to play harder. And we’ve got to hope that the next guy steps up — because the stars aren’t here right now."