The Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff journey concluded unexpectedly early, with a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games during the first round. As the team reflects on this season, coach J.J. Redick stressed the need for players to get in better shape for next season.

“We have a ways to go as a roster,” Redick stated during a press conference. “There are individuals that were in phenomenal shape. There’s certainly other ones that could have been in better shape.”

Fans speculated whether Redick was referencing Luka Dončić, whose performance faced intense scrutiny during the playoffs. In particular, his conditioning came into question after noticeable lapses in defense during critical moments of the series.

Although Dončić averaged an impressive 30.2 points per game, he struggled during fourth quarters. A notable example was in Game 4, where he only secured one rebound in 46 minutes of play.

Chris Broussard, co-host of First Things First, noted that both Dončić and LeBron James needed to improve their fourth-quarter performances to avoid further playoff disappointments.

“[The Lakers’] two superstars didn’t deliver in the fourth quarter,” Broussard said. “In those three games, Minnesota outscored the Lakers by 29 points in the fourth quarter.”

Additionally, Nick Wright, Broussard’s co-host, indicated that Dončić bore a significant amount of the responsibility for the playoff exit.

Dončić’s defensive abilities have been under review since his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks, particularly during the previous year’s Finals against the Boston Celtics. This off-season will require significant effort on Dončić’s part to adjust his gameplay.

“This offseason needs to be the most pivotal of his career,” Broussard emphasized.

As the Lakers move forward, fans and experts alike will watch closely to see how Luka Dončić develops his game and if he can elevate his performance leading into next season.