The Los Angeles Lakers may be handling business on the court, but it’s what happens off it that reminded everyone just how important Luka Doncic is to the group.
After spending time away receiving treatment in Europe, Doncic recently rejoined the team ahead of Game 1 of their playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
While his return hasn’t yet translated to minutes on the floor, his presence alone has already made an impact.
Forward Rui Hachimura didn’t hold back when describing what it meant to have Doncic back around the team environment.
“It’s amazing. I think people don’t know how much impact Luka has not only on the court but off the court,” Hachimura said. “He’s a guy that’s always wants be around with us. We love him just being around, just hanging out, talking. So we’re happy he’s back finally. He was doing funny things as always, so we missed him for sure.”
That energy has been noticeable, especially for a Lakers team navigating the postseason without multiple key pieces.
Doncic’s personality, known across the league for its mix of humor and competitiveness, has long been part of what makes him such a central figure in any locker room.
Hachimura expanded on that, pointing out that Doncic’s antics are nothing new to those inside the organization.
“Just messing around with the coaches, the players,” Hachimura said. ” Just the normal thing you guys see on the camera, probably. It’s a normal thing for him.”
Luka smacking Rui’s head while the ball is in play 💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/x3ey2QCpfq
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) April 19, 2026
Even with Doncic sidelined alongside Austin Reaves, the Lakers managed to take a one-zero series lead, showing resilience in a tough matchup. But internally, there’s no doubt the team feels more complete with him back in the building, even if he’s not yet back on the court.
There remains optimism that Doncic could return at some point during the series, though no timeline has been confirmed. Until then, Los Angeles will continue to rely on its depth and chemistry to hold its position.
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