LA Lakers coach JJ Redick has an update on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves ahead of his team’s Game 2 clash against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. Redick responded when asked about Reaves’ potential return (via Dave McMenamin):
“Austin (Reaves) has started to return to top play (progression), but we don’t have a timeline update on him.”
McMenamin also tweeted about the latest on Doncic:
“Redick added that Luka Doncic is preparing to begin his return to play progression, and there is no timeline update on Doncic, either.”
McMenamin’s report came a few hours after ESPN colleague Shams Charania said on NBA Today that Reaves has started doing one-on-one drills. According to Charania, the “sense” among Lakers players is that AR is further along in his rehab from a Grade 2 oblique strain compared to Doncic’s hamstring recovery. The reporter continued that AR could see action late in the series or potentially in the second round if the Lakers advance.
Charania noted that Doncic, who is working his way back from a Grade 2 hamstring injury, is not expected to play in the first round.
The Lakers took a 1-0 lead against the Rockets after beating the Kevin Durant-less team 107-98 on Sunday. NBA insiders have been claiming before the series started that a long-drawn affair will help Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves’ return timeline.
Fans react to JJ Redick’s update on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves
Fans have been waiting for the latest update on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. After JJ Redick’s press conference, the tweet from Dave McMenamin quickly gained traction. One fan reacted:
“If we win tonight, I don’t want to see Austin and Luka on the court until G1 of R2 or G7 of R1.”
Another fan added:
“Why does Luka status keep drastically changing?”
One more fan continued:
“Yeah, would guess both are not returning until round 2.”
Another fan commented:
“They’re being cautious, which makes sense.”
One fan tweeted:
“The Lakers’ training room has definitely been the busiest in Los Angeles lately.”
Early this month, NBA insider Ramona Shelburne reported that Doncic was likely to return earlier than Reaves. Roughly two weeks later, Charania stated that AR is a little further along, making a potential first-round return a possibility, while McMenamin contends that there is no return timeline for either.
Only time will tell which NBA insiders got the right sources, as fans continue to monitor the status of both.
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