What's Happening?
The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off one of the most shocking trades in NBA history last season, acquiring superstar Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. Unfortunately, that move did not lead to playoff success for the team. Doncic and company were able to get into the postseason, but were quickly eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Heading into the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season, the Lakers are facing more pressure to win. Doncic has had an entire offseason to get accustomed to Los Angeles and the team went out and brought in more talent. Both Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart were added to the roster, as was talented young wing Jake LaRavia.
Why It's Important?
Many believe that Doncic can lead Los Angeles to an NBA Finals win. He has become one of the top stars in the game. However, there are still some who doubt his ability to do so. One of those doubters is none other than NBA legend Scottie Pippen. During an interview with Jorge Quiroga of Marca, Pippen shared his opinion about Doncic. His opinion is not going to be a popular one among Lakers fans. Pippen expressed skepticism about Doncic's style of play leading to another Finals appearance, despite his impressive statistics following the trade to Los Angeles.
Beyond the Headlines
Truthfully, no team should be relying on one player to lead them to a championship. If the Lakers want to win a title with Doncic leading the way, they'll need to surround him with the right players. Perhaps Los Angeles will not win a title with Doncic being their primary superstar. He may not end up being able to make that happen. But, he has the talent and ability to be a franchise cornerstone and to bring an NBA Finals appearance and win to the Lakers if he has enough help.
