Luka Doncic’s bloody knees are here again, for the nth time, and fans are now starting to wonder. It’s already been weeks since the 2024 NBA playoffs started, but one of the biggest highlights of the postseason is Luka’s terrifying bleeding knees. During game 1 of the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves WCF matchup, Doncic visibly had blood stains on his left leggings after bumping into Rudy Gobert.
Luka Doncic playing through pain
Some NBA fans really can’t believe why Doncic’s knee has been bleeding for several weeks now. Well, the truth is, he’s been playing through numerous injuries. Luka continues to perform despite suffering a right knee sprain, left knee soreness, back soreness, and left Achilles soreness, which he has been suffering from for more than four months now.
During game 2 in the semifinal round against the Oklahoma City Thunder, footage of the visible bleeding of Luka’s left leg went viral on the internet. He was constantly being harassed by OKC defenders, and it took a toll on him, especially on his bad leg.
The reason behind Luka Doncic’s bleeding knees
Even before the playoffs kicked off, Luka Doncic was already having issues with his knees. His knees already bled more than once, and it’s somehow a bit scary. But his knee sprain is just part of the reason why his knees constantly bleed. The blood stains that appear on his leggings or knee sleeves are caused by wear and tear due to excessive contact with the floor.
Luka often gets knocked down by his defenders. As a result, he scrapes his knees, and the wounds keep re-opening every time he goes down. It’s a common injury, but those bleeding knees are less serious compared to his knee soreness. Every defender he went up against in this year’s playoffs had always given him a tough time. P.J. Tucker and Russell Westbrook were pestering the Slovenian superstar in the first round. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, and Lu Dort played very physically against Doncic and the Mavericks.
Honestly, it’s obvious that Doncic is hurt. He’s been playing through the pain, but it is heavily affecting his performance. So far, he’s still averaging nice stats in the postseason. In 13 games, the 25-year-old point guard is averaging 27.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists while playing 42 minutes per game on a bad knee. However, his injuries have greatly affected his shooting and mobility. Doncic has been terrible from three-point land, and his mediocre defense gets even worse with him limping on the court.
But Luka won’t go out without a fight
He and Kyrie Irving, as well as the other members of the Dallas Mavericks, continue to defy the odds in the playoffs. They managed to beat a star-studded Los Angeles Clippers in the first round and then the first-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals.
Nothing can stop Luka. Not even his injuries. Not even his bloody knees. Will this be the year that Doncic finally gets his first ring?
