The treatment of Luka Doncic’s groin injury provides a sigh of relief

Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Dončić opened the 2025-26 NBA season with 43 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in the team’s 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. In doing so, he became the first Lakers player to score 40 or more points in an opener since Kobe Bryant did it in 2007.

However, the news after the game that Doncic had discomfort in his right inner leg immediately sent Los Angeles into a panic.

Although he was treated for a groin problem on Wednesday, Doncic was a participant in the Lakers’ short practice following their loss, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike.

Doncic said after Tuesday’s game that he “felt a little bit” because of the hip rotation during the game. Doncic added that this discomfort was “probably nothing.”

“He seems fine. I don’t think it’s anything major,” the head coach JJ Redick told reporters on Wednesday, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “He received some treatment this morning and we didn’t practice for long, but he was a participant in training.”

Not only did Doncic’s massive game put him in Lakers history with Kobe, but so did he he joined Shaquille O’Neal as the only players in franchise history to have at least 35 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the season opener.

Despite Luka’s scoring spree in the first game of the season, the Lakers struggled all night offensively against the Warriors. Austin Reaves (26 points) and Deandre Ayton (10 points) were the only other players to score in double figures as the team shot just 25 percent from 3-point range.

The main reason why Doncic looked like a one-man show for Los Angeles in their first game of the season is that LeBron James is currently sidelined with a sciatica issue. James is not expected to be available until sometime in mid-November.

During the game, James was seen on the Lakers bench looking very unenthusiastic and out of touch all night. Many NBA fans were questioning LeBron’s commitment to Los Angeles this season on social media after the Lakers loss.

While this isn’t how the Lakers envisioned starting the 2025-26 season, the good news is that Doncic is injury-free and doesn’t look like he’ll miss any time. The Lakers will try to win their first game of the new season on Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.