Since landing in Los Angeles via a blockbuster midseason trade, Luka Doncic has quickly proven he’s exactly what the Lakers needed. He’s delivered scoring, leadership, and a jolt of energy, especially during stretches without LeBron James.
Doncic hasn’t just filled a gap; he’s taken command. With him at the helm, the Lakers have surged to the third seed in the Western Conference. Fans finally have a reliable offensive anchor who can carry the load, with or without LeBron on the floor.
“Luka just stepped into rarefied air right next to Kobe. When your name echoes with legends it means your spirit is making history not just buckets,” a fan commented on X.
luka just stepped into rarefied air right next to kobe
— The Spiritual Accelerationist (@spirit_state) April 12, 2025
when your name echoes with legends it means your spirit is making history not just buckets
“The best Lakers ever,” one wrote on X.
the best laker ever
— goat obese (@NnkureM) April 12, 2025
Doncic is averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. He’s making an all-around impact—and doing it with efficiency.
Take the recent rout of the Houston Rockets. In 31 minutes, Doncic dropped 39 points on 13-of-19 shooting, hitting five of his nine three-point attempts. He added eight rebounds and seven assists, powering the Lakers to a dominant 140-109 win, their 50th of the season.
Doncic became the only Laker since Kobe Bryant to post back-to-back games with at least 35 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five threes. He also became the fastest in franchise history to hit 100 made three-pointers.
The Lakers finally have a star who can lead them into the future.
Is Luka Doncic built to win titles?
Despite Luka Doncic’s stellar stats and the Lakers’ surge to the third seed since his arrival, not everyone is sold on his championship credentials. Former NBA player Rashad McCants is one of them.
On Gil’s Arena with Gilbert Arenas, McCants didn’t hold back. He called Doncic’s current approach “not championship basketball” and said the Lakers must follow the LeBron James model, surround Doncic with superstar talent if they expect to win it all.
“They’re gonna have to do what they did with LeBron,” McCants said. “They gotta stack him with superstar players to give him more of an advantage to win championships. Because the way he plays basketball is not championship basketball.”
“The way he plays basketball is not championship basketball”
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 11, 2025
– Rashad McCants on Luka Doncic
(🎥 @GilsArenaShow / h/t @Sports_Legacyy )
pic.twitter.com/T25MvMStJg
In McCants’ view, Doncic’s ball-dominant style and questionable defensive impact won’t hold up deep in the playoffs unless he’s backed by multiple All-Star-level teammates.
Yes, Doncic has delivered. He’s lifted the Lakers into contender territory and piled up eye-popping numbers. But McCants’ skepticism offers a fresh take: dominance alone may not be enough.
This debate strikes at the heart of an age-old NBA question – can one superstar carry a team, or is winning in June all about building the right constellation of stars?
READ: Luka Doncic’s Trade Still Hurts Dallas, Devastated the Fanbase
