Luka Doncic injury could cost him MVP shot. His agent plans to fight.
· Yahoo Sports
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic has been ruled out for the final five games of the regular season.
The team announced that Doncic was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, which he suffered on April 2 in the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Doncic has missed 13 games this season. In missing the final games of the regular season, his total will reach 18. Based on NBA rules, a player becomes ineligible for awards if they are inactive for 18 or more games during the season. He needs to be credited for one more game as an active participant to meet the 65-game threshold.
Doncic’s agent, Bill Duffy of WME Basketball, expects to appeal Doncic’s total number of games missed.
“To ensure that Luka’s incredible accomplishments this season are rightly honored and he can be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards, we intend to apply for an 'Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge' to the 65-game rule,” Duffy said in a statement to ESPN.
The six-time All-Star missed two games in December to be present for the birth of his child in Slovenia.
“His record-breaking season deserves to be noted in the history books, despite last night’s unfortunate injury and other extraordinary circumstances,” Duffy said. “We look forward to working with the NBAPA and the league office to ensure a fair outcome in this matter.”
An arbitrator would rule on it after the regular season, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.
Doncic has averaged a league-leading 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game in 64 games played this season.
Which star NBA players are ineligible for awards?
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
- Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
- Anthony Davis, Washington Wizards
- Trae Young, Washington Wizards
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
- Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls
- Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
- Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
- Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
- Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
- Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic injury could cost him NBA awards. His agent plans to fight