When the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a stunning midseason trade to acquire Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, the move sent shockwaves across the NBA. Now, just a few months later, Doncic is showing exactly why the Lakers made such a bold move— and why he remains one of the league’s premier postseason performers.

LeBron James praises Luka Doncic’s playoff brilliance after the Los Angeles Lakers' Game 2 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The postseason expectation for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers changed after they acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. The 2024-25 NBA season changed, and the Lakers are now among the favorites to win the Larry O’Brien trophy.