Lakers fans are overlooking the biggest benefit of Luka Doncic

The Los Angeles Lakers have tight-roped a lot of basketball games in 2025-26, leaving fans on the edge of their seats with the result hanging in the balance. The things is, with Luka Doncic in the mix, the Lakers have been perfect in the clutch.

That is not hyperbolic either. The Lakers are, quiet literally, undefeated in clutch scenarios this season. Los Angeles is 8-0 in games that are defined as ones coming down to the clutch by the NBA. They are the only team in the league who have yet to lose a game in those scenarios.

Doncic has not been available for all of those games, but when he has been around, his value cannot be overstated when it comes to that department.

The Lakers superstar has always loved taking those big shots and thriving in the moments that matters most. It has given him a well-deserved reputation that leads to his mere presence alone making the lives of his teammates so much easier.

Doncic will always command exceptional attention from defenses in those moments. That is going to leave some massive openings for the Lakers as a result. The most recent 112-108 crunch-time victory against the Philadelphia 76ers offers a great example of why that is the case.

Playing beside Luka Doncic is operating on easy mode for the Lakers

The big story from the Lakers' win on the road in Philadelphia was the scoring surge from LeBron James in the fourth quarter. It was easily James' best game of the season thus far.

A quick look at James' buckets from down the stretch will show off two things. One of them is the fact that LeBron still has it. The other would be defenses being heavily preoccupied with stopping Doncic.

The first of LeBron's 10 straight points had Doncic drawing the eyes and bodies of multiple defenders. It led to the Lakers point guard spotting James for an easy two-point bucket.

James then followed that score up with a triple. It was a 3-point attempt that was made significantly less challenging following the defense selling out in an effort to get Doncic to give up the basketball on the play. Deandre Ayton then found LeBron for the shot after the fact.

The third bucket for James once again had Doncic finding him for the shot. After two-man action involving the dynamic offensive players, Luka ends up drawing both defenders and dishing the ball to LeBron for a relatively comfortable 3-point look.

James gets most of the credit on the fourth make, winning his one-on-one. Doncic is not without a silent contribution on this one too. Paul George, who could theoretically come and help force a decision from LeBron with about five seconds left on the shot clock, is forced to stick firmly to the threat of Luka, despite him being all the way out behind the 3-point line.

The obstacles that come with guarding Doncic are a headache for opposing defenses. His teammates should be loving every bit of that by contrast.