Opportunistic, probably, but Luka suffered a CALF strain

[Rubios]

Two patterns.

Players with long PS runs suffer serious injuries during the same POs or the following season.
"Lower leg pain" - Calf injury - Achilles.

Luka played the past season POs with a compromised knee. And then -probably due to biomechanic imbalances- developed a calf strain.
MAYBE resting was actually the best way to handle it, because otherwise he could be risking a serious knee (ligaments, chondromalacia...) or achilles tear.

How are you supposed to do cardio without stressing your leg's ligaments, tendons and calf? I've been there, not even stationary bike is recommended.

[TheGeneral99]

There are also many players that suffer calf strains that don't end up tearing their achilles.

Giannis had a calf strain in February, Towns half a calf strain in 2023, Murray had a calf strain last year in the playoffs, Ball had a calf strain this year, Gordon had one this year etc.

The issue probably is that where Haliburton in the season likely would have taken a few weeks off, he played 2 days later on a calf strain...

Obviously good to be extra cautious, but the tear is the rare scenario.

[FrodoBaggins]

Luka's constantly putting his ankle in acute angles, doing his moves to create separation, so I'm not surprised.

[MrGoat]

There was a much deeper dive into the issues surrounding how the Mavs mishandled Luka's health (and Dereck Lively) in this article https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44704219/inside-end-luka-doncic-era-dallas-mavericks

Long story short Luka hired his own medical staff and they disagreed with the team's

"The tension between the sides soared after Doncic sustained another left calf strain -- his fourth in a 28-month span -- on Christmas Day. Doncic's camp believed he had returned too quickly from a left heel bruise he had sustained during his 45-point triple-double in a Dec. 15 win over the Golden State Warriors and had been playing on his toes to avoid discomfort in his heel. Harrison blamed poor conditioning."

"The sides also drastically disagreed on the timetable for Doncic's return after receiving the MRI results. Bilsborough believed Doncic could be back in two or three weeks, sources said, while Doncic's team adamantly stated that he needed to sit out six weeks. They got their way, and a target return date was set for the Feb. 8 home game against the Houston Rockets."

If Nico got his way I wouldn't be surprised if you could have added Luka to the list of players who ruptured their Achilles this season

[morosis]

How are you supposed to do cardio without stressing your leg's ligaments, tendons and calf? I've been there, not even stationary bike is recommended.

swimming. swimming is low key some of the best exercise on the planet. it does not load the lower body, it is low/zero impact, its requires strength, flexibility and cv endurance, and you can turn it into punishing anerobic work easily depending how hard you push a guy. you can use different strokes to work different muscles, somewhat target core/low back, shoulders, hip adductor/abductor, etc. side benefit is also that most pools are cold, so jumping in the pool can have some of the same swelling/inflammation reducing properties as an ice bath without being nearly as miserable.

if someone has a lower leg issue like you did, and needs to train despite that, i'm throwing them in the pool.

[Lockdown504090]

How are you supposed to do cardio without stressing your leg's ligaments, tendons and calf? I've been there, not even stationary bike is recommended.

swimming. swimming is low key some of the best exercise on the planet. it does not load the lower body, it is low/zero impact, its requires strength, flexibility and cv endurance, and you can turn it into punishing anerobic work easily depending how hard you push a guy. you can use different strokes to work different muscles, somewhat target core/low back, shoulders, hip adductor/abductor, etc. side benefit is also that most pools are cold, so jumping in the pool can have some of the same swelling/inflammation reducing properties as an ice bath without being nearly as miserable.

if someone has a lower leg issue like you did, and needs to train despite that, i'm throwing them in the pool.

basketball players are using the assault bike for cardio when they want to de load their joints. you can kill yourself faster, the bike is in the same place as the court and the weights unlike a pool, and for hoopers with a lot of mileage, swimming makes players cramp up very easily. personally, I think these guys just arent training their lower calves. Theres a lot of research that says straight legged calf excersices are better for strength training and superior to seated or bent calf, but i wonder if thats true for injury prevention as well. ( havent found any evidence related to hoopers, basketball players makes up 40 percent of achilles surgeries in the US)

[Rubios]

With a somewhat serious knee ligament damage (not a full tear, obviously) or a soleus/calf strain, you can't swim or get on the bike. You shouldn't, depending on the injury degree obviously.
You can (and will) do underwater mobility/strength drills.