The 2025 NBA playoffs began in April with high expectations. The Oklahoma City Thunder (+170), the Boston Celtics (+190), and the Cleveland Cavaliers (+550) were the top favorites among the 16 teams. The Thunder are set to play a winner-take-all Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Celtics are fighting to keep their season alive in Game 6 against the New York Knicks in Manhattan. While the Cavaliers were ousted at home by the Indiana Pacers.
Further down the odds board, the Los Angeles Lakers (+1600) and the Golden State Warriors (+1800) were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Unlike their opponents, the Timberwolves made no midseason trades. The Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler, and the Lakers made a blockbuster deal for Luka Doncic-a move that continues to reverberate throughout the league.
Warriors’ Stunned Response to Doncic’s Move to Lakers
A video capturing the Golden State Warriors’ reaction to the Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers has gone viral, offering a glimpse into the shockwave that rippled through the NBA. In the clip, Stephen Curry exclaims “What?” three times, his disbelief palpable, while Draymond Green and other teammates share similar expressions of surprise. Even Kirk Lacob, the team’s assistant general manager, asks, “Is this real?” The trade, which saw the Mavericks part with one of the game’s brightest stars, left the basketball world reeling. When the news broke, social media, particularly X, was flooded with reactions from players across the league.
Doncic was a constant threat with the Mavericks. He led them to the Conference Finals the previous season and boasts an impressive résumé: 28.6 points, 8.3 assists, and 8.7 rebounds per game. He is also the only player to reach 10,000 points, 3,000 rebounds, and 3,000 assists in his first six seasons, and he has received five First-Team All-NBA selections and five playoff series wins. Given Doncic’s impact and the unexpected nature of the deal, the Warriors’ astonishment is understandable.
Following the trade, Doncic played 23 regular-season and five playoff games with the Lakers. He averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists during this time. His arrival alongside LeBron James, under coach JJ Redick, promises to transform the team, especially with a full offseason for integration. The Lakers’ front office will likely make more moves.
They urgently need a competent center to bolster their roster as they chase their 18th championship, which would tie the Boston Celtics‘ record-unless the Celtics claim another title first, a prospect complicated by Jayson Tatum’s injury. Meanwhile, the Warriors reflect on a season where their midseason acquisition of Jimmy Butler couldn’t propel them past the Timberwolves, but well Curry’s injury and absence is the reason why the Warriors didn’t win a game again in the series.
Doncic’s Lakers Era Begins with High Expectations
Although Luka Doncic’s tenure with the Lakers has just begun, his potential is immense. Even in a limited sample, his statistics with the team hint at the synergy he could develop with James and the rest of the roster. A full season under Redick’s guidance, combined with strategic offseason additions, could make the Lakers serious contenders. Initially met with skepticism, the trade now offers a narrative of opportunity, with Doncic’s playmaking and scoring ability complementing James’s veteran leadership.
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