On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers will be up against the Brooklyn Nets. Just a few days ago, this would’ve been an easy dub for the Lakers. However, within a span of just a few days, a lot has changed in Los Angeles. Firstly they saw their eight-game winning streak snapped by their dreaded rivals, and then they lost their superstar, LeBron James. The 40-year-old suffered a groin injury and will be out for 1-to-2 weeks. If all of this wasn’t enough, Luka Doncic is also suffering from back soreness.
So, where do the Lakers go from here? Well, former LA star, Lou Williams has raised a few concerns and thinks it’s going to be a stern test for Los Angeles in the coming weeks. Moreover, he questioned the depth (or the lack of it) of the Lakers stating, “And I’ve said this, that roster is kind of paper-thin for me. Like, they’re really good with the guys that they have on the floor. But when you have to outsource and continue on with this schedule, where do you go from here?“. He’s got a strong point! The Lakers don’t have a strong roster when compared to some of the better teams in the West.
They’ve got a few players who could cover a few games, but filling in for LeBron James might be too much of an ask from them. According to Williams, the Lakers are just one injury away from entering a downward spiral. “I mentioned this last week, they’re one injury away from being a really good team to going through some real turbulence right here.” He pointed. Well, Los Angeles is in a precarious position. They’ll have to make sure they stay afloat until James’ return. Any slip-up, even in the form of an injury, might be disastrous.
Considering this, a lot will depend on how well JJ Redick handles the pressure. The Lakers are currently the second seed in the West boasting a 40-22 record. They will be up against some tough opponents in the coming weeks as they face the likes of Denver and Milwaukee. It will be interesting to see how JJ Redick and Co. fare given their injury troubles. However, Lou Williams suggested something interesting about LA’s newly acquired ace Luka Doncic. Can he be their X factor as LeBron recovers from an unfortunate injury?
Can Luka Doncic lead the Lakers in LeBron James’ absence?
With LeBron James being injured, all eyes are on only one player–Luka Doncic. The 26-year-old superstar must step up to help his new team navigate through a stretch without veteran LeBron James. The 40-year-old is set to miss a few weeks and at this point in the season, every game carries a lot of weight. Well, former Laker Lou Williams believes that “this is a great opportunity for Luka to show and prove who he is to the Laker nation.”
Mar 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts to a play during the third quarter against the LA Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images.
Well, that’s absolutely on point! Moreover, this isn’t unchartered territory for the Slovenian point guard. He’s got plenty of experience of carrying a team from his time in Dallas. It’s still the early days of his career in LA but this opportunity is massive for Doncic to win over Los Angeles fans. What’s more interesting is the fact that he’s started hitting his strides. Doncic is averaging an impressive 27 points along with 8.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists.
But, he also isn’t operating at full fitness. Luka has been troubled by back soreness after taking hard falls against the Clippers and the Pelicans. However, he’s stated that he’s fine and that it’s nothing to worry about for the Lakers Nation. This gives every LA fan a sigh of relief as now a lot depends on the Slovenian star as the Lakers hope to stay competitive until James makes a comeback. However, JJ Redick will keep a keen eye on Luka’s fitness as he wouldn’t want to lose another star due to an injury. Well, whether Doncic and the Lakers HC will be able to handle this added pressure only time will tell.
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