Despite having Doncic and LeBron James, the Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. Doncic, 26, put up 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the LA-Minnesota series, but he was targeted on defense and couldn't stay in front of anyone.

The Lakers did not trade for Luka to win in 2025. Why they rescinded the trade they made for Charlotte center Mark Williams at the deadline is beyond me. He’s 7 feet tall, averaged 15.2 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Hornets and had a 26-16 game here in Dallas after LA deemed him unfit. Didn’t look that way to the Mavericks.