Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic was vanquished in the first round of the 2020 playoffs by Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. It was Luka’s first NBA postseason experience against a 29-year-old Kawhi. Doncic’s Mavericks kept getting leads only to see Leonard and the Clippers steal the game. LA outscored Dallas by 23 over the six fourth quarters to take the series, and it was a 29-year-old Jalen Brunson showing Victor Wembanyama in his first NBA playoff experience how a superstar at the peak of his powers controls the game late.
The Spurs led by double-digits in every game and lost the NBA Finals in five. Brunson kept the Knicks in it and turned it on in the fourth. Luka’s former teammate averaged 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in 39.0 minutes per game during the series. The Knicks always went to Brunson in the fourth, and the superstar delivered. He was lights out.
The Lakers know Wembanyama stands in their way. The Spurs superstar is forcing LA to adjust, but the NBA Finals should be a positive. The Lakers have a prime superstar leading their charge. Fans know Doncic can control the game and take over late. He watched Kawhi do it to him and quickly realized that was his missing piece to excelling in the biggest moments.
Kawhi Leonard showed Luka Doncic how to take over a game late
Kawhi was like the Terminator in that 2020 series. He was fresh off winning a championship with the Raptors in 2019. The Lakers and the Clippers were the two favorites coming into the bubble. Leonard finished fifth in MVP voting and absolutely went off on the Mavs. He averaged 32.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.3 steals, while shooting 53.8 percent from the field.
The Lakers went on to win that championship as the Clippers blew a 3-1 series lead against the Nuggets in the second round.
Credit to Wembanyama. He led the Spurs to the NBA Finals as a 22-year-old in his first playoff experience. Luka was only 20 when he first made the playoffs. He made the conference finals at 22 before being knocked out by the Warriors.
Every superstar learns this lesson. The best player usually wins the series, and that star is the one who controls the fourth quarter. Fans saw the best of Jalen Brunson help the Knicks win the championship over a young Wemby, just like a peak Kawhi knocked out young Luka in the bubble six years ago.
Doncic is now that prime superstar. He imparted the lesson on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards in 2024 as the Mavericks knocked out the Thunder and Timberwolves on their way to the NBA Finals. Luka would have done it again this season, but a hamstring injury forced him to miss the playoffs.
Doncic did win his second scoring title and joined Kobe and Shaq in historic company. Lakers fans should be excited. Luka alone gives them a shot at a title. Los Angeles wants to build the roster around him this summer, which will only improve their chances.
Jalen Brunson just taught Victor Wembanyama what Kawhi Leonard showed Luka Doncic in 2020. A superstar has to take over the game late and elevate his team to victory. It is why the Knicks are NBA champions. Luka learned this lesson in back-to-back years from Kawhi before mastering it. He is already teaching the young stars just how it is done.
Doncic is eager to win his first championship, and the Los Angeles Lakers must put the right roster around him. He is one of the best players on the planet, but number 77 can’t do it alone. All fans can do is wait to see what the purple and gold do to improve this summer.
Add us as a preferred source on Google