Luka Dončić gave the Los Angeles Lakers and NBA fans a scare on Saturday after exiting a FIBA Eurobasket exhibition game between Slovenia and Latvia with an apparent knee injury.
The incident occurred in the third quarter when teammate Gregor Hrovat, while backpedaling on defense, accidentally fell into Dončić’s planted knee. Dončić left the court and headed to the locker room, walking without assistance but favoring his right leg.
Concerns were quickly eased when he returned to the bench in full uniform with an ice pack on his knee. According to the game’s broadcast, Dončić wanted to re-enter the contest, but Slovenia’s medical staff held him out as a precaution.
NBA reporter Marc Stein later confirmed that Dončić was diagnosed with a knee contusion, an injury not believed to be serious. The update is a significant relief for the Lakers, who recently signed their superstar to a three-year, $165 million max extension and consider him the cornerstone of their future.
Before the injury, Dončić was dominating the game, posting 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in just 17 minutes of play. The brief injury scare comes after a transformative summer for the guard, who has made headlines for improving his diet and conditioning, reportedly losing 31 pounds and earning a cover story for Men’s Health.
Dončić and the Slovenian national team will begin official Eurobasket play on August 27, with their first game against Poland scheduled for August 28.
