Luka Dončić heads into the 2026-27 NBA season as the lone star in Los Angeles, as LeBron James starts a new chapter with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Before this dynamic duo parted ways, many believed the Lakers would be adding another Larry O’Brien Trophy to its storied trophy case, but that never came to fruition.
Dončić, though, believes last season it could’ve happened — if it weren’t for something he feels he’s at fault for.
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On April 2, the Lakers owned a 16-2 record in a stretch where they looked unstoppable. They were facing the reigning NBA-champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a litmus test of sorts, especially for Dončić, who had been playing extremely well for the Lakers.
In fact, Dončić was playing for a potential MVP award.
However, the Thunder took the red-hot Lakers to the woodshed, defeating them 139-96. But that wasn’t the only loss the Lakers would have on the night.
Dončić said he felt a hamstring tweak in the second quarter, but instead of taking himself out in a game that was getting out of hand, he pushed even harder. The decision backfired.
In the second half, Dončić started to grab at his hamstring and was eventually taken out of the game. The result for pushing? A Grade 2 hamstring strain that didn’t just force him to miss the final five games of the season — he missed the entire postseason for Los Angeles.
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"When it comes to my spirit of trying to win, I am just stubborn," Dončić told Sports Illustrated in an interview. " I felt a little bit in the first half that I should have just stopped. I should have come out. I think we had a team that could compete for the championship. I definitely regret it."
Dončić, for the first time since suffering his injury, admitted he wishes to have done things differently. Of course, hindsight is always 20-20, but perhaps Dončić didn’t even know it would be his last chance to get a ring alongside James had they been healthy together in the postseason.
James, who had been the third offensive option on the Lakers when everyone was healthy, with Austin Reaves playing well on that side of the court, had to find a different gear in the playoffs with Dončić out. He was able to lead the way past the Houston Rockets, but the Thunder were too much for Los Angeles again in the second round.
If Dončić was healthy, could the Lakers have gone all the way instead of the San Antonio Spurs to take on the New York Knicks in the Finals? Unfortunately for Dončić and the rest of the franchise, we’ll never know.
[Image text:] LT LAKERS bibigo 77 OCLU