{"id":658206,"date":"2026-05-08T18:05:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T18:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/658206\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T18:05:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T18:05:11","slug":"skip-bayless-goes-off-on-luka-doncic-after-lakers-game-2-loss-vs-thunder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/658206\/","title":{"rendered":"Skip Bayless Goes Off On Luka Doncic After Lakers’ Game 2 Loss Vs Thunder"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Luka\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 30: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates in front of Jamir Watkins #5 of the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on January 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. <\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> have struggled in their first two games of the second round of the NBA playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>, now down 2-0, as the team is still without Luka Doncic<\/a>, who remains sidelined with a grade 2 hamstring strain.<\/p>\n

While Doncic is still without an official return timeline<\/a>, signs point to the star not returning for the Lakers in this series, and they face an uphill battle against the defending champions.<\/p>\n

However, Skip Bayless doesn\u2019t think the Lakers playing without Doncic is a problem, as in his return to ESPN\u2019s First Take<\/a> show, the pundit said he doesn\u2019t think Los Angeles is better with the star player healthy and on the court.<\/p>\n

Skip Bayless Delivers Bold Luka Doncic Take After Lakers\u2019 Game 2 Loss\"Luka<\/p>\n

GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA \u2013 MARCH 14: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on prior to a game against the Denver Nuggets<\/a> at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Following the Lakers\u2019 Game 2 loss against the Thunder on Thursday night, Bayless doesn\u2019t believe that Doncic would make a difference in the second-round series for Los Angeles, as he said the Lakers are worse on both sides of the floor when the Slovenian is healthy and playing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Los Angeles Lakers are better both ends of the floor basketball team without Luka [Doncic],\u201d Bayless said<\/a>, while giving credit to the Thunder through the first two games of the series. \u201cWhat are my issues with Luka? He is the most inefficient player in the league, and it ain\u2019t even close.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Los Angeles Lakers are better both ends of the floor basketball team without Luka [Doncic]\u2026 What are my issues with Luka? He is the most inefficient player in the league, and it ain\u2019t even close.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014Skip Bayless<\/p>\n

(via @FirstTake<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Bayless discussed how in the April 2 Lakers-Thunder game<\/a> that saw both Doncic and Austin Reaves<\/a> go down with injuries, Los Angeles already had no chance of coming out victorious.<\/p>\n

Further speaking about Doncic, Bayless didn\u2019t hold back on the star\u2019s impact and why his presence doesn\u2019t make the Lakers a better team.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes he might lead the league in scoring, but he\u2019s going to lead the league in usage rate. He\u2019s going to lead the league in turnovers. He\u2019s going to lead the league in shots attempted,\u201d Bayless added. \u201cHe dominates the basketball so much that with him, the Lakers\u2019 offense that moved the ball so beautifully (in Game 2)\u2026it just degenerates into a lot of standing around and watching Luka dribble, dribble, dribble and create a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bayless is correct that Doncic led the NBA in scoring<\/a>, turnovers, usage rate<\/a>, and field goals attempted during the regular season. However, with him on the court, the Lakers went 43-21 this year<\/a>, compared to just 10-8 without him.<\/p>\n

Bayless, known for his \u2018hot takes<\/a>,\u2019 wasn\u2019t afraid to throw another one out there after the Lakers\u2019 Game 2 loss to the Thunder as they continue to play without Doncic.<\/p>\n

Luka Doncic Injury: Is The Star Returning For The Lakers?\"Luka<\/p>\n

GettyLuka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas.<\/p>\n

Doncic remains out indefinitely with his grade 2 hamstring strain, and the Lakers have not offered an official return timeline.<\/p>\n

According to Shams Charania<\/a> and Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Doncic is not expected to return for Los Angeles in their current series against the Thunder.<\/p>\n

Additionally, when breaking his silence to the media for the first time after suffering his injury, Doncic told reporters that doctors<\/a> said he would be out for at least eight weeks, which is a lot longer than the initial four-to-six-week timeline that was first reported when he was sidelined.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you talk about eight weeks<\/a>, that would suggest he\u2019s nowhere close to a return,\u201d McMenamin said on a\u00a0recent SportsCenter appearance<\/a>. \u201cHe didn\u2019t flat-out say that he wouldn\u2019t return in this series, but his body language and answers let all of us in the room with him yesterday to believe that we\u2019re not going to see Luka Doncic in this series against the Thunder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLuka [is] saying without explicitly saying it, that you\u2019re not going to see him in the second round.\u201d
\n@mcten<\/a> updates @KevinNegandhi<\/a> on Luka\u2019s injury and the Lakers game plan for Game 2 \ud83d\udcdd <\/p>\n

Doncic has progressed slightly<\/a> with his on-court work, but has yet to participate in full-contact scrimmages. He doesn\u2019t appear close to returning for the Lakers, and if that eight-week timeline was true, he wouldn\u2019t be available until the NBA Finals<\/a>, which, at this point, doesn\u2019t look like a place Los Angeles will be, especially with how their series against the Thunder has gone so far.<\/p>\n

But regardless, Bayless doesn\u2019t appear to think that the Lakers getting Doncic back would make a difference. While they did beat the Houston Rockets<\/a> in six games, from an outside lens, it looks like they could use him now against Oklahoma City, but based on recent injury updates, it doesn\u2019t look like that will happen.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEli Gregorski<\/a> is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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