The final image of Luka Dončić’s first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers was not one the franchise intended to carry into the summer. Three months later, the Lakers’ franchise centerpiece says the injury is behind him. In an email to fans shared Monday by The Athletic’s Dan Woike, Dončić explained that he initially stepped away from basketball to concentrate on rehabilitation. Luka Doncic’s Injury Ended Lakers’ Playoff HopesDončić suffered the injury April 2 during a blowout loss to Oklahoma City. Without Dončić’s shot creation and ability to bend a defense, Los Angeles’ margin for error disappeared.