The Los Angeles Lakers have entered the offseason after a historic loss — their first time losing a first-round series as the higher seed in franchise history. The Minnesota Timberwolves simply outmatched them in the series, whether due to being younger and more athletic or by exploiting the Lakers’ lack of size.
The playoff run was initially exciting for Los Angeles fans, especially with LeBron James and Luka Dončić teaming up for their first postseason together. But expectations quickly crumbled. Anthony Edwards emerged as the star of the series, and he made sure to pay his respects to James — particularly regarding James’ legacy in basketball.
“We beat the best player in the world. The best player ever,” Edwards told the media.
After the game, the 40-year-old James was asked about the possibility of retirement. His response left the future uncertain.
“I don’t know. I don’t have the answer to that," James said. "It’s something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife, and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens.”
The day after the Lakers' elimination, JJ Redick held a press conference to lay out the team’s offseason priorities.
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“I’ll start with the offseason and the work that’s required in an offseason to be in championship shape,” Redick said.
This approach could be exactly what the Lakers need, especially considering how fatigued they appeared late in games — notably in every game except Game 4, when the starters played the entire second half. However, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst expressed doubts that Redick’s vision would be fully embraced, pointing to concerns about Dončić.
“The people [with the Mavericks] that knew [Luka Dončić] best said they didn't believe he could do it,” Windhorst said.
If the Mavericks’ assessment holds true, Redick may face a tough challenge in getting Dončić to fully commit to a rigorous offseason program.