Luka Doncic's ability to lead an NBA Finals-caliber team is being questioned again, despite his proven track record. Just two years ago, he took the Mavericks to the Finals, where they fell to the Celtics.
If you can make it to the Finals, you have the potential to win it all. That's a simple truth in basketball.
However, with the 2025-26 Lakers hovering around "good" rather than "great," the debate about Luka's leadership has resurfaced. ESPN's Brian Windhorst weighed in, saying, "You can't just say that just because a guy can't defend, he can't lead a championship, because we all know Luka can't defend.
I think that he can, guys, because I've seen the Mavericks come pretty close. But I will see this, you're gonna have to have the right team around him."
Windhorst has a point. Every player needs the right team to reach the Finals, except maybe prime LeBron James, who's a category of his own.
Luka Doncic seems to be taking the heat for the Lakers' struggles. It's understandable why fans might be frustrated with his frequent complaints to referees and his defensive lapses.
Yet, he's arguably the most dangerous all-around offensive player in the league, a skillset that already took a team to the Finals when he was just 25. For context, stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Steph Curry hadn't reached the Finals by that age.
They've all proven capable of leading teams to championships, so let's keep things in perspective.
This season, the Lakers are unlikely to make the NBA Finals in their first full year with Luka. And that's okay.
Their recent moves suggest they're not aiming for the Finals right now. They've decided to focus on the future.
Blaming Luka for not leading a team that's not fully committed to a Finals run seems misguided.