ESPN Star Calls Out Luka Doncic After Lakers-Timberwolves Game 4

Former New Orleans Pelicans center Kendrick Perkins calls out Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic after Minnesota Timberwolves loss

Apr 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers entered the NBA Playoffs with about as much hype as any team, due in part to their pairing of LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Two of the best playmakers in the NBA, who can do so much offensively, the Lakers seemed like an easy pick to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first round series. However, the Lakers face a 3-1 deficit following Sunday's Game 4 loss.

Despite 38 points from Doncic and 27 points from James, a fourth quarter collapse allowed the Timberwolves to come back and hand them a 116-113 loss. Backed by Anthony Edwards' 43 points, ESPN star and former New Orleans Pelicans center Kendrick Perkins called out Doncic following his team's performance.

Kendrick Perkins:

“Anthony Edwards is going to win a championship before Luka Doncic… [Ant] is a better all-around basketball player than Luka Doncic... [Ant] is a top 5 player in the game today.”

(via @FirstTake, h/t @ClutchPoints)pic.twitter.com/BBbnnBSQth

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 28, 2025

"Watching the fourth quarter...I saw what Nico Harrison was talking about when it comes down to the reason why he traded Luka [Doncic]...," Perkins said on ESPN. "I'm saying to myself, Anthony Edwards is going to win a championship before Luka Doncic… [Edwards] is a better all-around basketball player than Luka Doncic... [Ant] is a top 5 player in the game today.”

Perkins justified his stance on Edwards' greatness for how he eliminated Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic from the playoffs last season, and has a chance to eliminate LeBron and Luka this playoffs, with potentially Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler waiting in the next round.

Anthony Edwards is really THAT GUY 🔥

43 PTS
12-23 FG
14-17 FT
9 REB
6 AST

Wolves lead series 3-1 🐺 pic.twitter.com/kDeMxVlksn

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 27, 2025

While Perkins goes as bold as saying he sees why Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison made the Doncic trade, it's hard to justify that until Dallas' situation is ironed out. But for now, it looks as though Edwards will be knocking yet another pair of stars out of the playoffs this season.

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