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Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers

When Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic went to Spain last month shortly after injuring his hamstring in a blowout loss against the Thunder, the reasoning behind the decision was that he would be undergoing PRP therapy which, possibly, would give him a quicker path to return from the injury and perhaps even get him back on the floor ahead of schedule. The hamstring injury was a bad one–Grade 2–and certainly put his participation in the first round of the NBA playoffs into doubt.

But earlier this week, in an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst appeared to throw the reasoning for Doncic’s departure overseas into question. Doncic was not so much going abroad to speed his recovery–he was just going for a break and to see family in Madrid, where he has an offseason home.

“Luke went to Spain for ‘treatment,'” Windhorst said, using air quotes. “Have you ever heard—I have heard of going to Germany, I never heard of going to Spain. Now, Luka also has a newborn who lives in Slovenia, I certainly think if he had an opportunity to go and get some time off, go to Slovenia and see your newborn child. He lives in Madrid in the offseason.”

Luka Doncic: ‘I Went to Spain to Do PRP’

Given the fact that we are now in early May and Doncic is still not back on the court for the Lakers–and not close to doing so–there was reason to be skeptical of his time away. Except that, it turns out, Doncic does not live in Madrid in the offseason. And doctors in Madrid (Doncic played for Real Madrid for six years before coming to the NBA) are plenty capable of doing PRP treatments.

On Wednesday, Doncic met with reporters for the first time since his injury, and responded to Windhorst’s claims.

“I went to Spain to do PRP. Obviously, everybody knows, that Spain, they’re just one of the best countries to do that,” Doncic said with a chuckle. “I talked to the Lakers doctors if it is all right for me to go there. I know and trust lots of people from Spain, I used to work (there) before. Why I was in Spain so long is because I needed four days in between every shot. So, I did it four times. So that’s why I stayed longer.”

Lakers Doctors Told Luka Doncic He’d Need 8 Weeks

Doncic, who was averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds this season, was certainly missed during the Lakers’ 108-90 loss to open the conference semifinals against the Thunder, the fourth straight game the Lakers were held below 100 points. But there’s little hope he is going to be back, perhaps not even in this series.

Doncic reiterated that doctors told him he would need eight weeks to recover when he first suffered the injury, and it seems the PRP has not changed that.

“I’m just doing everything I can, like I said, every day I’m doing stuff I’m supposed to do,” Doncic said. “The doctors said eight weeks at the beginning after the first MRI. So I’m just going day by day and I feel better every day.”

Lakers Won’t Hurry Him Back

Doncic wants to be on the floor as much as the Lakers want and need him on the floor. But he is cognizant about not wanting to return too soon and risk making things worse.

“That’s a tough one for me because I came back from injuries before too soon and it wasn’t the best result,” Doncic said. “But like I said, this is the first time I had a hamstring injury. It’s not the same like other injuries. You have to be very careful and I’m doing everything to come back. All the recoveries, chamber, cold tub, everything I can to come back. But it’s obviously way different than other injuries I’ve had.”