JJ Redick Gives Blunt Response When Asked About Luka Doncic's Game 1 Status

The Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs despite the absence of their leading scorer: Luka Doncic.

Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain during a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2. Now more than a month later, his status for the Lakers’ second-round series against the Thunder is in question.

During a practice session on Monday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick was asked about Doncic’s status for Game 1.

“No update,” Redick replied, via team insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

Doncic dressed out in full practice gear and did light shooting work in Monday’s session.

ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst recently reported that Doncic is “not close” to making his return to the court. The All-Star guard is expected to miss at least the first two games of the Lakers’ postseason series against OKC.

"He is not close. There is a whole ramp up that's required when you’re coming back from a hamstring and he has not started that contact ramp up yet,” Windhorst said on Monday. “Do not expect to see Luka the first few games of this series.”

Led by 41-year-old NBA superstar LeBron James, the Lakers took care of the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series. Austin Reaves, who suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain in the same April 2 game as Doncic, returned to the court for Los Angeles in Game 5.

Game 1 of the Lakers-Thunder series will tipoff at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 12:06 PM.