The Los Angeles Lakers (46-29) are currently fourth in the Western Conference standings. With less than 10 games remaining in the regular season, only three games separate the Lakers from the second-seeded Houston Rockets (49-27) or the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers (43-32).
To keep it simple, the Lakers have an opportunity down the stretch to drastically improve their playoff positioning or significantly lose ground in the standings. Health will be vital to a team’s chances as we approach the end of the regular season. However, an argument could be made that team chemistry is just as crucial for the playoff push.
Does Luka Dončić Believe the Los Angeles Lakers Have the Right Amount of Team Chemistry?
The Lakers acquired Dončić in a three-team trade deadline deal that shocked many around the league. Los Angeles had to part ways with All-Star forward Anthony Davis, a 2029 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and guards Jalen Hood-Schifino and Max Christie. For the Lakers, the deal was a no-brainer. Bringing in the 26-year-old Dončić allowed the team to get younger and potentially have a franchise player for the next decade.
Dončić recently revealed one thing missing from the team’s chemistry in a locker room that has quickly bonded.
“Well, we didn’t even do dinner yet,” Luka said. “We’ve had so many games, so we didn’t have time for that. But off the court is great. We joke in the locker room and when we need to lock in, we lock in. The chemistry is at a great point right now.”
Luka talking about the teams chemistry since he joined the Lakers
Look at how tired Doncic is when gets up lol. He has his elbow wrapped up from the hard fall he took by Dillon Brooks pic.twitter.com/TgC0ufWf41
— LakeShow Highlights (@LSH_lakeshow) April 1, 2025
Since joining the Lakers, Dončić is averaging 27.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.9 assists in 22 games. While those numbers are comparable to the stats he was putting up in Dallas, Dončić’s 41.5 percent shooting from the field with the Lakers is the lowest since he shot 42.7 percent as a rookie in 2019. The transition to a new team is always challenging. Add in the fact Lakers star LeBron James has also some missed time in the lineup post-Dončić trade, and it’s easy to understand why his shooting, which is about rhythm, has experienced a decline.
The Lakers wrap up the regular season hosting the Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans, and Houston Rockets and traveling to face the Oklahoma City Thunder (twice), Mavericks, and Portland Trail Blazers.
SEE MORE: LeBron James Shares What Makes Teammate Luka Dončić Special, Steve Nash Heaps Praise on Lakers Star
What were the details of the three-team deal that led to Dončić joining the Lakers?
Lakers received:
PG Luka Dončić
PF Maxi Kleber
PF Markieff Morris
$55,000 (from Jazz)
Mavericks received:
PF Anthony Davis
SG Max Christie
2029 1st round pick (from Lakers)
$55,000 (from Jazz)
Utah Jazz received:
PG Jalen Hood-Schifino
2025 2nd round pick (from Clippers via Lakers)
2025 2nd round pick (from Mavericks)