The Los Angeles Lakers can’t forget their loss to the Thunder even if they wanted to. It was the worst defeat they suffered this season, losing by 43 points. But the bigger concern comes with Luka Doncic. The Lakers’ MVP candidate exited the game in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury. Suddenly, not only the Lakers’ championship hopes, but even Doncic’s MVP candidacy could be shut down.
It all circles back to the controversial 65-game rule. Stars such as Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards have already been ruled out for post-season awards since they couldn’t reach the 65-game mark. 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 NBA does have an exception for late-season injuries. Does that mean there’s still hope for Luka Doncic?
Can Luka Doncic still qualify for post-season 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 vital to read the fine print. Notably, they only meet the exception if, at the time of the injury, the player has played 85% of the total games.
For Luka Doncic, that number would have had to be over 65 or more games played at this point. 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 Luka Doncic, would want to avoid. If Doncic is ruled out for the season, that would squash the Lakers’ hopes of contending for a championship.
Luka has played in 83.1% of the Lakers’ games to this point, including tonight. He does not qualify for the exception.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) April 3, 2026
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 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.
Luka 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. The leaves a rematch against OKC and games from there on out.
If the MRI results show Doncic’s hamstring doesn’t have any significant damage, he has a good chance of being eligible for regular-season awards. However, it seems it’s a must for him to play 65 games.
