2 min read • December 23, 2021
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Mavericks star Luka Doncic was placed in the NBA's health and safety protocols Wednesday, the latest in a laundry list of former all-stars currently affected by COVID-19.
Doncic will have to miss at least 10 days, or post two negative PCR tests at least 24 hours apart, before he can clear protocols and rejoin the Mavericks, meaning he will almost certainly miss the final five games in December.
The 4th-year guard was expected to return on Thursday after a two-week absence from his left ankle sprain, but our team of ProBasketballDocs believe the delay may have a silver lining for Doncic and the Mavericks.
Back in November, the franchise cornerstone missed 3 games with a high ankle sprain, a rapid return for an injury that could have easily cost him multiple weeks.
His quick return played a role in his most recent sprain, as his lower ligaments had to compensate for the ailing high ankle. While 2 weeks should be enough for a classic lower inversion sprain, the timeline of injuries hints that he his ankle never healed during his 1st absence.
LeBron James suffered a similar string of ankle injuries last season, starting with a high ankle sprain in late March, that ultimately kept him out for 26 games over a 2-month period and limited him during a playoff run that ended in an early exit.
Extra time to get that ankle right – and get his playing weight back to an optimal level – could help prevent a potential lost season for Dallas and a chance for Doncic to make another leap.
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