Lakers Star Luka Dončić Injury Scare Ends With Stunning Slovenia Update

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić shrugged off an injury scare during Slovenia’s 100-88 exhibition loss to Latvia on Aug. 16.

The Basketball Federation of Slovenia announced the following day that Dončić, diagnosed with a right knee contusion, per NBA insider Marc Stein, will rejoin national team practice on Aug. 18. Slovenia faces Great Britain on Aug. 19 as part of its preparations for the 2025 EuroBasket later this month.

“After the match in Riga, the team will continue preparations for EuroBasket on Monday – already on Tuesday, a clash with Great Britain awaits us at Arena Stožice. 💪 The team will also be joined in training by captain Luka Dončić, who fortunately finished the game against Latvia without injury🔥,” the federation posted on its official X account.

However, his official status for the Great Britain game is still to be determined, according to Stein.

Dončić briefly left the game in the third quarter after teammate Gregor Hrovat fell on his right knee.

The Lakers guard immediately grabbed his leg and signaled to be subbed out, leaving with a staff member for the locker room. To the crowd’s relief, he returned to the bench shortly after.

Despite the scare, Dončić finished with a game-high 26 points, knocking down 5-of-11 from three, along with five assists and two steals.

His former Dallas Mavericks co-star Kristaps Porziņģis, now with the Atlanta Hawks, paced Latvia with 20 points and six rebounds, while former NBA forward Davis Bertans chipped in 16 points.

Mavericks Gave Up on Luka, Lakers Believe in Him

Dončić’s improved conditioning this offseason may have helped him avoid another serious injury. However, the Lakers would wish for their new franchise star to proceed with caution after the injury scare.

Just last year, the Slovenian star missed a career-high 22 straight games with a calf injury — an absence the Mavericks privately believed could have been prevented had he been in better shape.

By the time he finally returned, Dončić was no longer a Maverick. In a blockbuster Feb. 2 deal, Dallas shockingly shipped him to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick.

Frustrations over Dončić’s conditioning and lifestyle habits were a key factor in the stunning trade. Shortly after the move, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that the Mavericks had serious reservations about committing another supermax extension to their franchise cornerstone, citing long-standing concerns about his conditioning.

The Lakers wasted no time locking up Dončić long-term, handing him a three-year, $165 million contract earlier this summer.

Staggering Weight Drop

In response to long-standing criticisms of his conditioning, Dončić has undergone a dramatic transformation, shedding 31 pounds thanks to a strict new diet, according to Slovenian Pop TV.

On the cover of Men’s Health, Dončić detailed his new regimen: intermittent fasting for 16 hours a day, six days a week, since the end of last season. From 8:30 p.m. until noon the next day, he consumes zero calories, often pushing through his first workout just before breaking the fast.

His revamped diet is gluten-free, low in sugar, and heavy on protein — at least 250 grams daily, plus an almond milk–based shake. He’s also incorporated more plant-based foods, while giving himself a rare month away from basketball to mentally and physically recharge.

The commitment isn’t just an offseason experiment. Dončić said he plans to carry the program into the regular season, confident it will make him leaner, faster, and far more durable than the sluggish version that averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in 28 games for the Lakers last year.

“I’d say a little bit of everything,” Doncic said of what his new physique will bring. “Obviously, a little bit faster. But really, just trying to help the team conditioning-wise. Playing a lot of minutes, a lot of games — I think this will be the best for me.”