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Lakers Former Playoff Rival Believes LA Could Reach NBA Finals This Year

A Finals berth in the summer would mark Luka Doncic's second straight.
Alex Kirschenbaum|
Feb 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and forward LeBron James (23) defend during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
Feb 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and forward LeBron James (23) defend during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images | Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

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Los Angeles Lakers

Could the new-look Los Angeles Lakers truly have a shot at making the NBA Finals just months after swinging for the fences with their blockbuster trade to acquire five-time All-NBA superstar guard Luka Doncic?

To hear former three-time All-Star shooting guard Richard "Rip" Hamilton tell it, that's at least in the cards this postseason as L.A.'s ceiling.

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During a new conversation on CBS Sports, the former longtime Pistons wing revealed that he believes L.A., behind a new core of Doncic and 21-time All-Star power forward LeBron James, could truly mount a run to the promised land this spring.

"When they first got Luka, I was the guy that was really questioning — 'How would this work?' and 'Is this team good enough to get out the first or second round?'" Hamilton said. "I'm watching this team play now... I could see this team making it to the NBA Finals. I mean they're just playing great basketball."

A Finals berth in the summer would mark Luka Doncic's second straight, after he took the Dallas Mavericks there in 2024. They fell in five games to the Boston Celtics. James has played in 10 NBA Finals with the Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, winning four championships.

Doncic, hurt power forward/center Maxi Kleber, and deep-bench forward Markieff Morris were flipped to L.A. just before this year's trade deadline, in exchange for 10-time All-Star big man Anthony Davis, 3-and-D wing Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round Lakers draft pick.

Both teams also dumped 2025 second-rounders to the Utah Jazz, who also received (and waived) former Los Angeles 2023 first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino.

"We know that in the playoffs, the game slows down," Hamilton continued. "When you've got LeBron James and Luka Doncic on your floor able to make plays and manipulate defensively, I think this team really has a chance."

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Hamilton, infamously, was long a thorn in the sides of the Lakers. His Pistons, led by Hamilton, four-time All-Star power forward Rasheed Wallace, and Hall of Famers Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups, upset a loaded Lakers squad in the 2004 NBA Finals with a dominant five-game performance.

The Lakers are currently 39-21 on the year, and seem to have their sites set on a top-four finish in the crowded Western Conference.

More Los Angeles Lakers:

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Lakers Fans Call Out Darvin Ham Following Rise of Max Christie

For the latest Los Angeles Lakers news and notes, stay glued to Los Angeles Lakers On SI.

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Alex Kirschenbaum
ALEX KIRSCHENBAUM

Currently also a scribe for Newsweek, Hoops Rumors, The Sporting News and "Gremlins" director Joe Dante's film site Trailers From Hell, Alex is an alum of Men's Journal, Grizzlies fan site Grizzly Bear Blues, and Bulls fan sites Blog-A-Bull and Pippen Ain't Easy, among others.

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