Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has been sidelined for the past week, as he deals with dual finger and leg injuries. The 26-year-old has a sprained left finger and a lower left leg contusion.
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Now, the five-time All-NBA First Team guard will be rejoining his comrades on the floor for an Emirates NBA Cup clash against the struggling Memphis Grizzlies.
And he’s not the only one.
Three-time All-Defensive Team Lakers guard Marcus Smart, a key offseason pickup (albeit a risky one, given his age, injury history and mileage), has also been given the green light to return, according to “Buha’s Block” broadcaster Jovan Buha. Smart had been grappling with a right quad contusion.
Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart are both available tonight vs. Memphis, per the Lakers.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) November 1, 2025
That doesn’t mean Los Angeles will be playing with a full deck, unfortunately.
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The Lakers will be missing 21-time All-NBA superstar forward LeBron James — who remains shelved with a right-side sciatica injury — and one of their other top defenders, Gabe Vincent — who is sidelined with a lingering left ankle ailment.
According to the NBA’s latest injury report, rookie Lakers forward Adou Thiero will have to wait until November at least to make his pro debut. He’s still recuperating from the left knee surgery he suffered with Arkansas last season. Center Maxi Kleber has played exactly one contest, a Game 5 playoff clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves, since he arrived to LA in February as part of the club’s blockbuster Luka Doncic trade.
In his two healthy games, Doncic has been unreal for LA (sans James), averaging 46.0 points on .620/.318/.793 shooting splits, 11.5 boards, 8.5 dimes, 1.0 swipes and 0.5 rejections per. It’s unfair to expect that kind of production over the course of a full season (although ascendant Lakers guard Austin Reaves certainly thinks it’s possible), but Doncic has certainly hovered around triple-double output, with epic scoring numbers, before over the course of a full year.
Smart has had a more modest run in his first few games as a Laker. Through his two healthy contests, the 6-foot-3 Oklahoma State product has averaged 6.0 points on .500/.250/.750 shooting splits, 1.5 steals and 0.5 dimes in 21.7 minutes per. Smart’s biggest contributions have been on the defensive end. He may not be playing like the Defensive Player of the Year anymore, but he’s still talented enough to give former teammate Ja Morant fits on Friday night.
For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
