LUKA DONčIć'S RETURN TIMELINE REVEALED; ESPN ANALYST HINTS AT LATE FIRST-ROUND COMEBACK
Ramona Shelburne reveals a potential return timeline for Luka Dončić. Discover how the Lakers can save their season.
So, when exactly might Luka Dončić make his return from that hamstring injury? A leading ESPN analyst has put forward a timeline that, if it holds true, could significantly improve the Lakers’ chances in the playoffs.
Why is this important? Because the timeline hints at Dončić possibly coming back during the first round, assuming the Lakers manage to push the series beyond a quick exit.
Dončić, originally from Slovenia, has quite a background. As a teenager, he spent five years playing for Real Madrid, even leading them to a EuroLeague title in 2018. That same year, the Atlanta Hawks picked him third overall in the draft but traded him immediately to Dallas.
Right now, Dončić is back in Spain for treatment on the hamstring he hurt early April during a Lakers loss to the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Reports from the Los Angeles Times suggest he’s undergoing advanced therapies like ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections, approaches designed to accelerate healing.
It’s interesting to note that while the US only allows PRP and stem cell treatments using the patient’s own cells without manipulation, European regulations are less strict. This means doctors there can boost the concentration of anti-inflammatory agents or culture stem cells over several days, potentially speeding up recovery.
So, if these treatments yield the hoped-for results, when might Dončić be back on the court? ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne shared her perspective during a recent interview.
She pointed out that Dončić’s return could give LeBron James a fitting finale in his long and storied NBA career, basically setting the stage for a memorable chapter. Shelburne mentioned that there’s a chance Luka could rejoin the team later in the first-round series. He’s actively receiving daily treatment in Spain and stays in constant communication with teammates, which sounds promising.
Even if he doesn’t make it back for the entire first round, that window of possibility offers some hope. If the Lakers can stretch their series by a couple of games at home, maybe Dončić’s comeback becomes more than just a distant dream.
Put simply, whether Dončić returns during the first round seems to hinge on whether the Lakers avoid a sweep by their likely first-round foe, the Houston Rockets.
Looking at the Lakers’ playoff picture with just one regular-season game left, they’re on a two-game winning streak heading into Sunday’s finale against the Utah Jazz, a team sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference.
Win that game, and the Lakers secure the No. 4 seed, thanks to tiebreakers over both Houston, trailing by one game, and the Denver Nuggets, a game ahead. That would set up a first-round matchup against Houston.
However, if the Lakers win and the Nuggets lose their last game to the Spurs, the Lakers could leap to the No. 3 seed and host the Minnesota Timberwolves instead.
RORY MCILROY SHARES MASTERS LEAD DESPITE "HAND SHAKING" WITH FIRST-TEE NERVES
Rory McIlroy survives a "wild" start to lead the 2026 Masters. See how the defending champ tied Sam Burns at 5-under.
For most people, that kind of anxiety would feel like a medical emergency. But Rory McIlroy knew he was fine.
A lot has shifted for him since he finally won the Masters last year. He’s now part of the exclusive club; only six players in history have completed the career grand slam. At the same time, a few things haven’t changed at all.
He still felt all the familiar first-tee nerves when he started at Augusta National on Thursday. It took him a while to settle. He looked a bit shaky over the first seven holes. But after that, he found his rhythm and played the last eleven holes at five under par. Not only that, but he became just the sixth defending champion in 90 years to tie for the lead after round one.
Did he feel different, teeing off at his first major since becoming a Masters champion, finally breaking through after all the heartbreak? When someone asked, McIlroy shrugged: “I was nervous, I was anxious just like always on that first tee,” he said. “It’s the start of major season, the first of the 16 rounds that matter most in the year. I’m glad I still get the butterflies. I’d actually worry if I didn’t. It means this all still means something.”
Funny enough, after winning the Masters last year, McIlroy admitted that a few tournaments felt strangely dull for him. “At certain events, yeah, it’s felt different,” he said. “But this is the Masters. If I didn’t feel nerves here, that’d be a bad sign.” Even Rafael Nadal followed him for the round, which probably didn’t make it easier. “I liked feeling my hand shake when I put the tee in the ground. That’s why we do this. We want to see if we can play our best when it matters most.”
The round itself? A mixed start. McIlroy made a birdie on the second, then bogeyed the third, kept missing fairways, and really had to scramble. “Honestly, I felt like I squeezed a lot out of my round,” he said. “A bit of a mess early, I was in the trees a bunch. But after the eighth, I started swinging better.” He hit only five fairways all day (and didn’t hit one until hole eight). “Even when I was wild off the tee, I just tried to get myself near the green and rely on my short game. Move on, don’t make a mess.”
His goal was just to start solidly, but he ended up five-under better than he expected. “If I’m honest, I thought two-under was more like it for today,” he said. “But I played smart. Didn’t let any mistakes snowball. That’s the lesson around here, and today I did a good job with it.”
Sam Burns joined McIlroy at the top by eagling No. 2 and adding four birdies with just one bogey. Justin Rose, who beat McIlroy in a playoff last year and fits Augusta’s style so well, posted a three-under 69. That put him a shot ahead of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who shot 70. Rose has finished second at Augusta three times. He’s always a threat.
YANKEES REMAIN "FIRST IN LINE" IF PITTSBURGH EVER DECIDES TO TRADE PAUL SKENES
Paul Skenes reacts to Konnor Griffin’s $140M deal. Discover why the Yankees are still chasing the Pirates' Cy Young ace.
The New York Yankees tried to land Paul Skenes at last year’s trade deadline, but the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t even entertain the idea. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees offered up four of their top prospects, but Pittsburgh slammed the door shut.
After that, Skenes just kept climbing. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 2025, striking out 216 hitters over 187.2 innings, keeping his WHIP at 0.95, and posting a 1.97 ERA in 32 starts. Fresh off a Rookie of the Year campaign in 2024, he put together one of the best pitching seasons anyone’s seen lately. Pittsburgh stood its ground, and New York had to move on.
Then on Wednesday, the Pirates threw down a franchise-record contract: nine years, $140 million for 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin. It’s the biggest deal the team’s ever handed out. When reporters asked Skenes about it, his answer prompted people to discuss his own future all over again.
What did Skenes say about the Griffin deal? He kept it simple and positive.
“He’s going to be the face of the Pirates for a long time,” Skenes said.
And here’s the thing: Skenes is the reigning Cy Young winner, a two-time All-Star, probably the best arm in the National League right now. If anyone embodies the Pirates, it’s him. But he didn’t say that. Maybe it was just being a great teammate, maybe there was something more to it, but people noticed.
Skenes becomes arbitration-eligible in 2027, and he’s under team control until the end of the 2029 season. He’ll hit free agency just before 2030.
Pittsburgh made its feelings clear with Griffin’s $140 million deal. Now everyone’s watching to see what they’ll put on the table for their ace.
Paul Skenes’ reaction to Griffin’s extension, calling him “the face of the Pirates”, only added fuel to the speculation.
Why are the Yankees still paying attention? They’ve liked Skenes for a while, and that’s not changing. They tried to get him last deadline and struck out. Heyman says if the Pirates ever budge, New York will be first in line. Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay gets why Skenes is appealing, but he’s sceptical a trade will happen soon. Skenes is under team control for four more years. Pittsburgh doesn’t have any incentive to make a deal right now.
And then there’s the money side of things. Skenes made $1.085 million this year, still in the pre-arbitration stage. Meanwhile, Griffin just locked in $140 million. The Pirates front office keeps saying they want Skenes for the long haul. General manager Ben Cherington even called him a player they’d love to keep as long as possible. But Pittsburgh hasn’t always managed to hang onto its stars once the price tag soars.
Every dominant outing from Skenes makes that next contract more expensive. Every year without an extension shrinks Pittsburgh’s window.
At the end of the day, maybe Skenes was being supportive when he called Griffin “the face of the Pirates.” He was happy for a young teammate in his big moment. It sounded simple enough. But in Pittsburgh, where so many top players have left before, his words hit differently, even if he didn’t mean anything by them. The Yankees aren’t backing off. They’ll be ready to try again.
Time’s moving fast in Pittsburgh. You can bet New York is listening.
