Luka Doncic Return Timeline: When Is Doncic Coming Back From Injury?

Luka Doncic suffered an injury recently and has not been able to play for the Dallas Mavericks. He injured his left thigh when playing against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 8, 2023. Since then, Luka has not set foot on the NBA court. 

“He’s gonna be day-to-day with this thigh injury…He could be back as soon as their next game.”

Shams Charania delivers the latest news on Luka Doncic 🗣

(via @FanDuelTV)pic.twitter.com/ZFiIYqjUPd

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 13, 2023

Since Luka’s last appearance, the Mavericks have only won two games out of a possible five. It looks quite certain that they are missing the Slovenian even with Kyrie Irving on the roster. The Texas-based franchise was able to beat the Los Angeles Lakers recently, thanks to Maxi Kleber’s game-winner. Mavs fans are hoping for some momentum toward the end of the season and Luka’s return will be vital for that.

Luka Doncic can be expected to return against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 20

Doncic suffered a left thigh strain against the Pelicans. He has missed 4 consecutive games for the Mavericks and there still isn’t a definite return timeline for the young player. However, he recently took part in the shoot-around before the game against the Lakers but was not available for the game.

Luka Doncic getting shots up after the Mavericks’ practice in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/FfjHM2jEae

— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) March 16, 2023

This hasn’t been the first time Luka has been sidelined for a significant amount of time. Last month, he took a hard fall against the Pelicans and suffered a heel contusion as well. Before the All-Star break, Doncic was having a phenomenal season. He has been averaging 33.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.0 assists.

Many predicted that he would go on to have the best year in Mavs history. But it would be safe to claim that the second half of his season has been injury-plagued. The Mavericks are currently in a playoff spot, but it doesn’t look that great for them. Their defense isn’t what it used to be after the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith.

The Mavs got Kyrie Irving in return but he has only been able to help the offense with his playmaking and scoring abilities. The Mavs do not have a trustworthy defender on their roster and it certainly means their offense has been one of the biggest reasons for their wins this season. Christian Wood would have to step up in Doncic’s absence and help them win games with his shooting prowess.