WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair voices frustration over Luka Doncic's absence during Lakers series
Ric Flair has renewed his criticism of injured Lakers star Luka Doncic on social media, expressing disappointment that the $46 million-a-year player remains sidelined with a hamstring strain during a critical series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair has taken to the social media platform X to criticise Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic, focusing his comments on the basketball player's absence during Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In a post shared during the match, Flair expressed his disappointment regarding Doncic's salary and his inability to play, stating that he would take significant risks for the annual income that Doncic commands.
This marks the second instance where Flair has publicly called out Doncic regarding his absence in the series. The WWE legend previously voiced similar concerns after the Lakers suffered a loss in Game 1, suggesting the player take cortisone and hinting at a trade should the situation persist. The current criticism highlights the tension surrounding the team's performance while their leading scorer remains unavailable.
Doncic has been sidelined since April 2 with a grade 2 left hamstring strain. Medical guidance from Johns Hopkins Medicine indicates that the treatment he has undergone, platelet-rich plasma injections in Spain, is a non-surgical procedure designed to accelerate healing in muscles and tendons using the patient's own blood. However, despite these efforts to speed up recovery, Doncic is proceeding under the original eight-week timeline.
Under this recovery plan, a return to the court is unlikely until the end of the Western Conference finals, provided the Lakers advance to that stage. The uncertainty of the timeline remains dependent on both the progress of his healing and the outcome of the ongoing series against the Thunder. Flair's comments on social media do not constitute official medical advice but reflect the public scrutiny surrounding the high-profile injury.
The Lakers are currently trying to avoid an 0-3 deficit against the No 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder. With Doncic remaining out, the team faces a significant challenge in the semifinals. Flair's posts have drawn attention to the financial implications of the injury, questioning the value of a player who cannot contribute to the team's efforts despite earning a substantial salary.
As the series progresses, the focus remains on the Lakers' ability to navigate the deficit without their star player. The effectiveness of the treatment in Spain is not guaranteed to alter the eight-week estimate, leaving the return date conditional on further medical assessment and the series' trajectory.
