The 2024-2025 NBA season has been anything but ordinary. From Jimmy Butlerās messy exit from Miami to LiAngelo Ball signing a record deal after releasing a viral hit song, this season has delivered plenty of unforgettable moments.
Of course, one of the biggest storylines in basketball history has been Luka Doncicās trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. What initially seemed like a lingering calf injury on Christmas Day turned into a blockbuster deal, as the Dallas Mavericks sent their franchise star to L.A. to pair with LeBron James.
While opinions on the Doncic-James duo vary, ESPNās Kendrick Perkins has made a bold claim: The Lakers have saved the NBA.
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Grading the Take: C
Since acquiring Doncic at the trade deadline, the Lakers have been on a tear, winning seven straight games and eight of their last ten. Now sitting at No. 2 in the Western Conference, they have emerged as one of the favorites to make a deep playoff run and potentially win their first championship since 2020.
But did they really āsaveā the NBA? Thatās where Perkinsā take starts to fall apart, earning it a C grade ā not entirely wrong, but far from entirely right.
The NBAās bigger issues are about more than the Lakers
One of the biggest concerns for the NBA has been declining interest in marquee events. The NBA Cupās second edition failed to generate significant buzz outside of Las Vegas, and Adam Silverās attempt to revive the All-Star Game with a new format flopped spectacularly.
Sure, the Lakersā success helps ratings, but so does strong competition across the league. The NBA isnāt struggling because of one team, nor can it be saved by one team alone.
The Lakers were good before the trade
Itās no secret that big-market teams drive engagement. The league thrives when the Lakers, Warriors, and Knicks are competitive. However, before Doncic even arrived, L.A. was already in a solid position. The LeBron-Anthony Davis pairing was working, and they were trending upward.
Doncicās addition certainly elevated the Lakers, but to say they "saved" the league ignores the other 29 teams.
Other teams are creating buzz, too
The Lakersā rise isnāt the only compelling storyline this season. Across the league, several teams and players have driven excitement:
- The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder have dominated, reaching 50 wins faster than any other teams in their conferences.
- Jimmy Butlerās move to Golden State has rejuvenated the Warriors, leading to an 8-1 run in their last nine games.
- The Philadelphia 76ersā failed āBig Threeā experiment has kept analysts and fans debating whether they were ever true contenders.
- Karl-Anthony Townsā impact on the Knicks has given New York a new sense of hope in unexpected ways.
Whenever a team acquires a superstar, excitement naturally follows. If the Lakers had struggled post-trade, fans would have shifted their focus to another team. Doncicās arrival helped, but the NBAās overall excitement is the result of many stars, not just one move.
Perkins wasnāt entirely wrong, but he oversimplified the situation. The Lakers are great TV, but this seasonās thrill factor is due to multiple stars and teams creating compelling narratives across the league.
So, did the Lakers āsaveā the NBA? No. They just added to the excitement.