Luka Doncic didn’t run a single drill, yet his presence alone gave the Los Angeles Lakers a jolt they hadn’t felt since their Game 1 win. Head coach JJ Redick said Doncic was just lending a helping hand during practice. However, the Slovenian’s return has revitalized the Lakers after stealing an important Game 1 victory over the Houston Rockets. The players feel his energy.
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“Oh, it’s amazing you know. I think people don’t know how much impact Luka has not only on the court but off the court. He is a guy who will always be around. He always wants to be around with us. We love to see him around and just hanging out, talking. So yeah, really happy that he’s back finally,” said Lakers’ Rui Hachimura.
The players haven’t forgotten the responsibilities on their shoulders. They know Luka Doncic needs some more time before he can return to the court. But it’s the small things that are adding value.
“Just messing around with the coaches and the players and just the normal things you guys see on the camera, probably.” Hachimura added.
Doncic was also on the bench during Game 1, offering advice and playfully celebrating his teammates.
Hachimura’s point stresses something bigger- at a time when every possession carries weight, Doncic’s presence brings a sense of calm and confidence to a locker room under pressure.
Rui Hachimura on Luka Doncic being back: “I think people don't know that how much impact that Luka has — not just on the court but off the court.” “We love him just being around, just hanging out … We happy that he's back finally. And, he's doing funny things like always.”
It’s a dynamic the NBA has seen before. When Kevin Garnett was sidelined late in the 2009 season, he refused to disengage, instead pacing the sidelines, barking instructions, and holding teammates accountable during practices and games.
Even without playing, his voice remained central to the team’s identity, reinforcing habits and intensity that translated onto the floor.
More recently, that same blueprint played out with Fred VanVleet, who continued mentoring younger guards from the bench after a serious injury. His courtside guidance, from film sessions to in-game adjustments, helped stabilize a developing roster and sharpen decision-making under pressure.
Doncic’s role with the Lakers fits squarely into that lineage: the injured star who can’t contribute minutes, but still shapes outcomes.
The six-time All-Star is still recovering from his hamstring injury. However, there’s growing optimism that Luka Doncic could return sooner than expected. He traveled to Spain to receive specialized medical treatment to accelerate his recovery.
If the treatment works well, Doncic could return at some point during the first-round series. The favorable spacing between games in this series against the Houston Rockets is another advantage. The Lakers will get the same two days of rest before Game 3 as they did after the first game.
However, that doesn’t mean JJ Redick and the Lakers are waiting. The Purple and Gold still have a job to do. Defending home court is the top priority.
The Lakers are looking to attack once again
The Houston Rockets had a big absence in Game 1. They were without seasoned forward Kevin Durant. The former MVP is dealing with a right knee contusion and only went through half a practice. He is a game-time decision. But regardless of whether the Slim Reaper plays or not, the Lakers aren’t holding back.
They still have their backs against the wall with injuries to both Doncic and Austin Reaves. Even with a 1-0 series lead, there’s no sense of comfort inside the locker room.
“Yesterday required an elevated recovery day. Today required an elevated focus. It was a longer film session. A decent amount of teach [and] talk on the court beyond just the practice session. Tomorrow is going to require an elevated sense of desperation on our part because they’re going to come in with that,” JJ Redick said ahead of Game 2.
Despite strong individual performances- including 27 points from Luke Kennard and an elite outing from LeBron James- the Lakers showed cracks. Their 18 turnovers and inability to control the glass, surrendering 21 offensive rebounds, led to a costly second-chance points deficit that nearly swung the game.
Regardless of whether KD returns, such mistakes will occur and could ultimately cost the Lakers.
Cleaning up those issues is critical because going up 2-0 would put the Lakers in a commanding position. Over the course of the NBA, teams with a 2-0 lead in the first round have advanced 93.7% of the time.
Hence, with the Lakers’ injury crisis, it’s a Game 7 for the organization. Winning tomorrow gives the Lakers another three days of rest before resuming the series in Houston- a valuable cushion.
Doncic could rest longer, getting fully fit before he returns for the postseason. Everything now hinges on tomorrow’s game. The Lakers know it and are showing no signs of satisfaction after a pivotal Game 1 victory.
