It's been 34 days since Luka Doncic went down with a Grade-2 hamstring strain against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers have been feeling the effects of his absence ever since.

The Lakers got by against the Houston Rockets in the opening series of the playoffs, but now they're taking on the powerhouse Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals and as the Los Angeles offense sputters, the void of Doncic is growing more and more apparent. 

Doncic was flown to Spain to undergo treatment for his injury, but he's now back with the team watching from the sidelines.

He's not expected to be back for any game against the Thunder and in a recent availability, he shared some insight into what his recovery has been like and possibly when he could expect to return.

“I’m just doing everything I can … Every day I’m doing things I’m supposed to do… The doctor said eight weeks at the beginning of the first MRI. So I’m just going day by day and I feel better every day," Doncic said (via Dave McMenamin.)

An eight-week recovery timeline means that Doncic wouldn't be back in action until Game 1 of the NBA Finals at the earliest, and that timeline itself isn't concrete, meaning Doncic could be out the remainder of the playoffs altogether.

That return to the court is also dependent on the Lakers actually making it all the way to the NBA Finals, which looks increasingly difficult with the Thunder standing in their way.

Doncic received platelet-rich plasma treatment in Spain, a series of injections of the patient's own concentrated blood platelets into an injured area to stimulate growth and healing. He received a series of four injections that were each followed by a four-day waiting period, extending his stay overseas to over two weeks. 

On one hand, the Lakers are desperate to have Donicc's production back on the floor to even have a hope of contending with the Thunder, but on the other hand with the seeming severity of Donic's injury, it might be wise for the Lakers' to hold off on pushing Doncic and instead let him fully recover over the offseason. 

Doncic is guaranteed under contract for at least one more season, with a player option up to him in his contract for the 2027-28 season, meaning the Lakers will have more opportunities to win with Doncic.

Los Angeles won't stop competing in this season's playoffs, obviously, but whatever happens, it may be safer to let Doncic full rest up and reload for next season.