Shannon Sharpe had become an internet sensation for his viral catchphrases and staunch belief in the “Lakers in 5” statement. However, with the Los Angeles Lakers falling out of title contention after a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5, Sharpe hilariously backtracked on his statement in a recent episode of “Nightcap”.
While reviewing the results of the game, Sharpe said, “I was pressed for time. What I meant to say was Lakers going home in 5! That’s what I meant. But y’all don’t let me finish my thoughts. Y’all don’t let me finish my sentences.”
Sharpe continued analyzing the game. He said, “If someone told me that Antman was going to struggle shooting the ball tonight, and they were going to win this game because Rudy Gobert was going to be one of the few guys in the playoffs to have a 20-20 game, I’m okay. I like that.”
Unc meant the Lakers were going home in 5 y’all 🤣🤣🤣
The guys react to the Timberwolves victory over the Lakers @ShannonSharpe @ochocinco @ShayShayMedia_ pic.twitter.com/XOGibso8bj
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) May 1, 2025
Anthony Edwards, although a factor throughout the series, played a much lesser role in the 103-96 win on Wednesday night. Rudy Gobert dominated against the Lakers, who opted to play without a legitimate center for Game 5. Gobert ended the night with 27 points and 24 rebounds, while picking up nine offensive rebounds for the Wolves.
Sharpe was shocked by JJ Redick’s decision to play Maxi Kleber in an elimination game, especially considering that it was his debut game in a Lakers uniform. Overall, the 56-year-old couldn’t make sense of a lot of what happened in Game 5 for the Lakers.
The Purple and Gold saw poor performances across the board. Although Luka Doncic has 28 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists on the night, he missed a crucial layup late in the fourth quarter. LeBron James, who had 22 points, seven rebounds, and six assists to his name, shot 1-5 from beyond the arc and 9-21 from the field.
The largest disappointment, however, was Austin Reaves. Reaves had a nightmare performance with just 12 points on the night to go with five rebounds and two assists. His 2-10 from beyond the arc and 5-14 from the field summed up the Lakers’ struggles to get going offensively. When factoring in their poor output from the bench as well, Los Angeles had no elements that could facilitate winning.
The loss sees the Lakers eliminated from the playoffs in five games, contrary to Sharpe’s iconic statement. With a long offseason awaiting, Los Angeles will have a lot of concerns waiting to be addressed. Considering that there is also a need for roster restructuring, the team will look to make some additions to support their stars next season.
