[Injury] Luka Dončić goes down.
Literally worst possible day for the Lakers
The haters said they couldn’t do it. And they were correct. Honestly great call from the haters.
I mean, who honestly thought the Lakers were beating OKC. Anyone (including me) rooting for the Lakers, or any team to beat OKC, knows it’s a longshot
Tbf, somehow a worse version of the Lakers smoked OKC last season
Well, this season is the first time I actually watch and keep up with the NBA, but I do know this OKC is even better than last year, even if they have a worse record
Their record is only worse than last year because they are the 2nd most injured team this year.
They were also up there in that last year as well
Chet almost missed the whole damn season
I think the spurs and Celtics both stand a decent chance at beating them. Maybe Denver if you want to be generous
The officials reffing both ends of the court the same way could have OKC in major trouble. They’ll be bounced in the second round if either a. Dort, Caruso, and co are reffed like everyone else or b. People are actually able to guard SGA without fear of a foul for looking at him.
Their defense hinges on the refs letting them play insanely physically. Their offense is built around a guy that has defenders giving him so much space the last two years because normal defense means two free throws for him. The nba is going to have to keep doing their thing or their golden boys will be bounced in the second round.
Despite the hate you’ll get from the blind and dumb okc crowd, you called it perfectly.
r/nba cant handle the truth.
They have at least 8 good defenders. They dont care who fouls out. Shai can hit 30 no matter if he has 3 fta like tonight or 9 his average.
Spurs smoking on that Thunder Pack
Losing to OKC is one thing. Whatever tonight was is even worse.
Was hoping for a competitive game at least 😂
Luka started the day as the runner-up for the MVP, and now he won’t even make an All-NBA team.
He was never the runner up for MVP. SGA was a large favorite, Wemby was a decent underdog at 4:1 odds, and Luka was over 10:1 odds
Yes imo at best he could have gotten up to 3rd/solidified 3rd in MVP but there is no scenario where he finished top 2, let alone won it.
I think he still qualifies because of the exception for season-ending injuries clause even if he misses the rest of the season
Interesting, I never heard of that exception. It doesn’t apply though. First, its a season-ending injury which usually means past the playoffs too. Not just out until the end of the regular season. And second, he would need to play in 85% of the games up until this point, which hasn’t happened. 85% of the Lakers’ 77 games played would be 65 games. He hasn’t played in 65 games, so he doesn’t qualify.
Oh yeah you’re right. Thanks for adding that
If only he hadn’t been suspended for the technicals…
So he’s confirmed out? I have some bets to regret
Purple and fools gold
Alright that’s funny as fuck ngl
thank God baseball is here
stg being a LA sports fan is life on easy mode lol. happy that OKC is somehow the Dodgers AAA team lol
Can we get a AAA affiliate of Oklahoma Joe’s in SoCal?
Funnily enough, they do have an affiliate, all the way up in Kansas City called Joe’s BBQ, they sell out of a gas station.
im linking this shit bc i looked it up bc im a fatass and im hungry as fuck: https://www.joeskc.com/pages/our-story?srsltid=AfmBOooT-tI6B7kHqO07pZqflJlbwCJ7M2bu06gfpxpb3VqHjYtopZ2d
Joe’s BBQ is the original. It’s a KC barbecue joint first.
fuuuck this is embarrassing bc I thought Eskimo Joes in Stillwater was the OG spot lol then they moved up to KC.
No completely different. It used to be called Oklahoma Joes in KC. I do think the owners split and one did take the Oklahoma joes name with him leaving the original with the names joes KC. I can’t speak for the Oklahoma restaurant but Joes KC is regarded as one of the best barbecue joints in a barbecue city.
Eskimo Joes is a sports bar.
Dodgers
Thunder fans 🤝 Laker fans
If you think about it, without their farm teams, are the Dodgers even good? Basically Oklahoman
so weird that I’m feeling a lot less sympathetic for the lakers today
He was holding the hammy pretty early on in this game. Given the score I’m kinda surprised he came back out for the second half.
Probably were trying to get him to 20 minutes so this game counted for end-of-season stuff. Horrific irony.
Doesn’t make much sense considering he played 25 minutes. Either way, he should have been pulled at the half along with the other starters.
You don’t have to make sense you just complain about popular shit and hope for internet points.
JJ has an aversion to playing his bench in any situation, leading or trailing big – the starters play big minutes, he’s got a little Thibs in him.
JJ is a regular season magician, but dude is rarely good in his rotations.
Also this March Luka and Reaves were playing so many minutes. Even in some blowout games both still had 36+ minutes. No wonder both looked hurt.
lol. Just like spreading out tanking odds, every solution Silver cooks up makes the problem worse.
It really doesn’t, though. You want your stars playing games for the fans. If people think even 65 games is too risky for players’ health, then you could reduce a star player’s minutes like what the Spurs have been doing with Wemby. Also, Luka was suspended for a game for his technical fouls, which would have gotten him 65 games (and they could still appeal due to injury if he’s out for the rest of the regular season).
Reaves holding his lower side as well.
Lakers all getting the ty law flue huh
First made basket he hurt it by decelerating hard. Dude shouldn’t have come back in the 2nd because game was over by that point.
Him and Reaves were acting inured from the start. I’m surprised either of them played.
Yeah he hurt it again and he’s out for weeks. Same thing happened with AG.
From in the MVP discussion to won’t even make all nba. So stupid.
He’s played in 63 games, so if this takes him out for the rest of the season(which is very likely) he will still qualify due to the season ending injury clause.
Edit:BBRef only shows completed games, so this Thunder game was #64, with 2 of the previous 63 being under 20, but more than 15 min. So he should be good for end of season awards.
Hes already played a game with like 5 minutes tho right? So only 61 count
This is actually game 64. There were 2 other games under 20 min, but both were over 15 min.
What has happened to the NBA awards discussion man
Adam Silvers NBA.
I’m all for Mikal Bridges mvps so that we can stop using awards and accolades for ranking players.
For the life of me I can’t wrap my head around why the NBPA agreed to this.
The real kicker for me is how these awards affect contract incentives. It’s totally incomprehensible.
Someone like Wemby for example is obviously worth every possible dollar you could pay him. But if he got hurt at the wrong time it could completely change his pay scale. I just don’t get how the players agreed to this.
The players really, really, really wanted weed removed from the banned substances.
I mean, presumably the NBPA has a bunch of people who agree that if we’re going to tie salary to awards, then we better make sure it isn’t just a popularity contest. It’s an imperfect solution to a real problem. But the real problem (that seems to be pretty universal) is that the voters suck.
The players got tons of money and got weed legalized for use.
All for the cost of forcing like a few stars to play more?
Why should 430 players care about the 20 who get awards?
I feel like folks forget that these GP numbers weren’t chosen using a dartboard; they were determined by looking at historical averages over the history of the league and the various awards. The best ability is availability.
But for the overall health of the players, maybe all the stars missing out on awards might get the league to consider how to improve the game beyond raw athleticism. Its pretty damn clear at this point the stresses (e.g. sudden accelerations, overall training loads) from the game are becoming too much for most bodies to handle.
Players just not playing like they used to. If you miss 20% of the regular season you frankly should be out of the awards discussion.
Players with less than 65 games have won individual awards in the last 25 years but it was pretty uncommon.
I mean playing basketball games is a valid criteria for winning basketball awards to me.
The criteria can be valid but that doesn’t mean shifting our discussion to tracking the games played counter isn’t a little boring considering it’s a pretty exciting MVP race right now
The other issue is the 62-game exception for a season-ending injury only counts if you’ve played 85% of your team’s games before suffering the injury
Luka’s at 64⁄77 right now which is just over 83% but I don’t know if the exception factored in suffering the injury 10 days before the season ends
He also would have need to play in 85% of the teams games so far, which hasn’t happened, so that rule doesn’t apply. The Lakers have played 77 games, 85% would be 65.
Also, the rule states that a season-ending injury is one that would likely keep them out until after May 31, not just miss the end of the regular season. So I don’t think this qualifies as a season ending injury either.
This was his 64th game - oh you knew that already. My bad.
I think Luka will still qualify with the 62 game exception rule but that’s the least of our concerns
Welp might be fucked with the 85% rule so nvm 😔
It’s stupid to win awards while missing 20% of the games.
All-NBA is not an award tho. Every team will take 60 games from Luka over 80 games of someone in All-NBA 3rd team.
For MVP it makes sense.
It’s very likely Lukas place in the all-nba teams will be filled by someone who plays 65-70 games anyway
You people are obsessed smh
And Gordon missed 30+ games
AG was the first player that came to my mind too. Sucks.
Can you help with me with who AG is?
Aaron Gordon
Thank you. I’m an idiot. He was on my fantasy team too and I still couldn’t figure it out lmfao.
Attorney General
He clearly tweaked it earlier in the game. I don’t know why they didn’t pull him at the time.
Same way he got hurt on Christmas 2024
Nearly the same spot
He was favoring his leg earlier in the game too and many other previous games
Rip
Hamstring injury at this time of the year is absolutely brutal. We’ve seen how long it took Haliburton and Harden to get back to form after their hamstring injuries. What a nightmare game
Haliburton took a while for sure, but Harden actively played through a major tear which undoubtedly did damage
Hali also came back early to meet the games minimum for an all-nba team. He clearly wasn’t right the rest of the season
Yep. I think people forget about that additional bit of context. The vast majority of the two years before our finals run he was playing injured. The last time he was truly completely healthy was like the IST run two years ago.
Poor dude only got like 2 months of being back to normal before going down again
harden is a trooper that will put everything out there but theres people that question his commitment to his teammates/team.
it’s ridiculous
and they called him a choker lol. harden sacrificed his career for the nets
That hamstring injury took hardens prime from him,(also the fact he didn’t get enough time to recover) I pray that the same thing doesnt happen to Luka. Tbh tho I think the lakers are gonna shut him down until hes 100% healthy.
Reaves seems hurt as well.
Fox injured his hamstring early in the summer and we still couldn’t play him until November. They take forever to fully heal
And they reinjure at the drop of a hat
Woww that means he’s getting traded back to the Mavs before he returns, sign me up
No, that means he’s getting traded to Washington for AD
Wizards cast would be his 2nd best in his career by 2027
At least they have assets
his left leg always be time ticking bomb
pivot, decel, stepback 3 combined with bad habit before
prayers
Unbelievably stupid from the Lakers to put him in on that 2nd half. He has been grabbing that hamstring for a lot of the 2nd quarter and the game is over, should have just sat him.
If it is serious the Lakers essentially ended their season for no reason. And that didn’t seem fake to me, despite the memes.
They should’ve sat him today, he was already limping against the Cavs.
He was limping when they put him in the game up 16 with 5 mins left. Dumbass coaching staff
Yep. People praise their coach but I don’t think you’re good if you rely on your staters or star players all the time. You gotta be good enough to coach with your bench
What bench?
Dude has looked in trouble for weeks really. Im amazed its taken this long
Every Lakers starter should have been sat when they were down 30 at half
Sure. But if with the others I can understand the benefits of not doing it immediately, if your star player is clearly dealing with hamstring issues in such a game… it is an absolute no brainer. Hell regardless of game state it would be, this isn’t the playoffs and the Lakers are pretty much set for the 3rd seed anyways
U mean JJ reddic. ? Ok lol
Why is he in the game when it’s 90-58?
Are you saying the Lakers should’ve pulled their starters at halftime? If anything they keep them out there purely because it’s more film for them to go back on
Yes. When your star player is already favoring his leg and you’re down 32 you sit him. This ain’t rocket appliances.
It doesn’t take a brain sturgeon either
The shitwinds are blowing, Randy
Is everyone voting and commenting in this thread watching the NBA for the first time today? 32 point comebacks happen, tf are people on about “pull the starters at halftime” lmfao are you hearing yourselves
If he has a medical reason to sit then sit him, if he’s cleared he plays. Clearly he was cleared, that’s a mistake of trainers/medical staff not the coaching. y’all sound dumb
A 32 or greater comeback has happened 4 times ever. Two in the last 5 years though.
It’s not even a game they need to win, against a better team and down 32. What is the point? The only dumb thing is trying to stick out a lost cause and risking something bigger
“It happens, the odds are only 1:100,000”
They should have pulled their injured starting backcourt down 30. Absolutely. They’re about to play the thunder again anyways
Yes they should’ve pulled him lol
Just fade me right now seriously
Nah deadass, worst way for his March surge to end bro
he could get traded
sorry big bro
I’ll have what he’s having I can’t with this
I’ll top you
life was so great 24 hours ago
get well soon pookie
Dude just had a potential season ending injury and all comments are about qualifying for all nba and MVP. You people are unhealthily obsessed with this, damn.
This is the modern NBA. The discourse is sick in the head. Watch NBA coverage on ESPN, it’s all about predicting awards with a few minutes of highlights mixed in, and a splash of Kendrick Perkins yelling.
It’s all they got because the Lakers aren’t contenders
what should they be talking about then?
Hamstring is 3-4 weeks usually. Gonna miss first round at least
Lakers are getting swept first round if Luka is out
Timberwolves would destroy them
They destroyed them last year WITH Luka. Without him it would be a massacre
Realistically if Luka is actually out then they’re dropping to 4th and playing the Rockets. They can definitely win a couple games in that series without him.
Not great though because it’s moves them to the OKC side of the bracket.
Lmao I remember the games of Spurs against Luka, it’s literally 1v9 and when Luka’s out, lead just keeps getting bigger and bigger
And that’s the season for the Lakers, if they don’t have Luka
You guys are sick in the head if you believe Luka is faking it
They are hateful idiots. It’s the same injury that has been bothering him for years and you could see it bothering him the whole game. Last couple of games actually.
He was also grabbing that same leg the end of the cavs game
The amount of thunder flairs in this thread saying he’s faking it has genuinely changed my perspective on their fans lmao. It’s kinda crazy
Your perspective hadn’t already been changed after… gestures at the entire season?
Lakers fanbase would never though, right? lol
After I saw this I scrolled down… that is unfortunate. I would assume most thunder fans don’t have that opinion. And thankfully there are other thunder fans pushing back on some of those people.
Even if you believe he’s faking (give him an Oscar right now if so) why the hell would he not stay in the game to statpad and THEN ‘fake’ it
Should’ve seen the game thread. Bunch of clowns in there.
Luka 1000% does do the “fake limp” when he’s bummed. This wasn’t that though. He definitely pulled that hammy.
I’m not sad because I am now dead. To make it worse, he also needs just 1 game to qualify for All-NBA teams :(
no if its season ending its less games
If it’s season ending then Awards are the least of their concerns
We aren’t winning regardless, but any chance we have would be gone.
One of the problems with the league is that fans and media (and even players and teams) seem more concerned about the post-season Awards than the actual post-season.
He still qualifies, if you get a season ending injury but have played at least 62 up to that point you’re good
This rule doesn’t apply. He would need to play in 85% of their games up to this point, which hasn’t happened. And a season ending injury is one that would likely keep him out past May 31, not just until the end of the regular season (determined by a physician selected by NBA+Players Association).
Source?
https://sports.yahoo.com/explaining-nbas-65-game-rule-030826797.html
I believe this is the first time this exception will actually be used so not surprised it’s relatively unknown
The player played in at least 62 regular-season games, suffered a season-ending injury and played in at least85% of the regular-season games played by his team prior to the player suffering said injury
Luka has played 64⁄77
But it depends if the injury is season-ending if not he will not be eligible.
He’s 1 game away from qualifying though, so if it is not season ending it means he’ll play enough games no?
He won’t come back till after playoffs already begin.
Good info, thank you. Hoping it’s just a regular season ending injury and he’s back for the first round
He’s too important to miss games until playoffs, gonna be back final week.
The playoffs start in two weeks. Hamstrings can take a while to heal. I would not be surprised if this ends his regular season
dawg theres only 5 more games left 💔
Don’t worry he will be back up playing the mavs
ya it’s sad when they go young missing ALL NBA teams qualifications like that
Overused him for a month. This felt inevitable
This. Lakers can’t excel without Luka operating on a huge usage rate (terribly flawed roster), but that clearly wears him out
Meanwhile people knock Wemby for not playing enough minutes. Wanna give the MVP to SGA because Wemby doesn’t play enough minutes? Be my guest. I’d rather have him healthy.
Wemby still my MVP.. fuck it!!!
This one is on JJ
Thunder fans doing their best to become more unlikable in this thread.
Thunder fans saying he’s faking gtfo
Real Thunder fans (like me) have mad respect for Luka for all the years he was killing us on Dallas. He’s usually an instant double team when he crosses half court, and he’s the only person in the league we play like that.
I’m hoping he’s not seriously injured. He didn’t seem to be in a ton of pain and wasn’t crazy limping. He could’ve overextended it or only partially tore a fiber or two that could heal quick. We know nothing yet.
Let’s not forget this is the guy who beat the Thunders ass (and I saw it all in person) with bloody knees the entire series. Shame on my Thunder brethren for anything but well-wishes.
You’re a real one for this
Game recognizes game. Always has.
Oh fuck no
I think he got aaron gordoned
he was grabbing that hammy since the first quarter I am stunned he was still in the game. felt like playing with fire
This is on the Lakers medical and coaching staff.
I am going to become the Joker
Hate to see that happen. I hope he’s not out long term
This thread is my daily reminder that a large chunk of the OKC fan base is educated in Oklahoma.
Dude was limping and grabbing his leg like crazy in the first half. Absolute coaching malpractice that he wasn’t pulled.
The harden comparison is actually insane
I just want to say to anyone saying Luka is faking it, you’re dumb as fuck. I’ve already seen several Thunder fans laughing saying he’ll be back next game, sort yourselves out lmao
I get everyone is hating on him rn but it would genuinely be terrible if this was a serious injury. Hoping he’s good by playoff time.
was it Dort? jk.
regardless, fuck Dort.
He was grabbing at it all night
Luka is not that durable sadly
Fuck that OKC fan talking shit when he’s injured. What a chud.
I hope it’s not serious. I’m not sure why JJ is playing him in a blowout when he was grabbing his hamstring in the first half. As well as reaves and his back
why not pull starters
I think I heard some thunder fans cheering when he went down too, Today’s just wasn’t Luka night man,
I have seen some injuries in arenas. Never seen someone cheer. Sometimes there are cheers before it is realized it is an injury and not just a turnover or something
Raptors fans cheered when Durant tore his Achilles. Even had to be told by Lowry to stop
Of course they were. They cheered when dort attacked jokic
Fuck my life
into pieces
This is my
season cut short
Man this sucks to see but always felt that I wouldn’t be surprised at a Luka injury with the strain the man puts himself through with his play style and usage.
Hoping its not season ending I was looking forward to a classic Spurs-Lakers playoff series this year.
JJ deserves a horse head in his bed for playing Luka. Absolutely moronic decision making. The game was over 7 minutes into this game. Now the season is over
We have a lot of new shitty fans that have a memory of a goldfish. Luka bitches to the ref constantly but he has no history of faking injuries. In fact he always play thru them in the past. You often see his bloody knees before, some signs of injections and fluid removal.
NBA is always better when a player the caliber of Luka is playing. If he’s out of the season, real fans regardless of team affiliation will admit that watching games, specially playoffs games, are now less enjoyable without him.
Lakers deserve this