It was thought that the Los Angeles Lakers may make a deep postseason run with Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves at the forefront. But the Minnesota Timberwolves would defeat them in five games in the first round.
Even though James and Doncic provide the Lakers with a strong base, the series against Minnesota was ultimately decided by the performance of the supporting players. The Timberwolves were a more complete squad overall, and players like Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid provided a significant boost.
And that is the thing that LeBron finds most striking. The Lakers star emphasized on a recent episode of Steve Nash’s “Mind the Game” podcast that teams, not individual players, win titles:
“Over the years, I’ve undoubtedly discovered that teams do win. Always. Although individuals receive a lot of the recognition and acclaim, teams are always the ones who win championships. I understand that teams win championships even though you have your big guys that make big plays throughout games, at the end of games, or in other situations. It was always Minnesota versus. the Lakers, and it was never just about Luka and myself or Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. I know it, and I’m at a stage in my career where I don’t worry about it like, “F— how did Luka and I lose?” Eight more men are on the floor.
All throughout the NBA’s history, this has been demonstrated. As LeBron stated, while some players receive the most recognition and appreciation, winning titles requires a team effort, and those supporting players are crucial.