Luka Doncic’s postgame response following the Los Angeles Lakers’ Game 1 blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves has stirred conversation, especially after his cryptic answer to a question about whether he needs to get his teammates more involved offensively.
When asked about striking a balance between scoring and distributing the ball, particularly after putting up 14 of the team’s first 26 points, Doncic gave a somewhat vague and self-critical answer.
“Yeah sure, I don’t know how to respond to that one really, but yeah I guess got to pass more. I don’t know how to respond honestly. I just try to set the tone early, but obviously you want assists, that’s not good enough for me.”
Doncic’s stat line in the loss was impressive at first glance: 38 points, eight rebounds on 12-of-22 shooting from the field and 5-of-10 from deep.
Yet the glaring number was just one assist, unusual for someone who typically thrives as both a scorer and a playmaker. It raised eyebrows, not because Doncic was being selfish, but because the Lakers’ offense looked disconnected outside of him.
It wasn’t for a lack of effort to involve others. Doncic did try to make plays, but missed shots plagued the Lakers all night. LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the team’s second and third options, went scoreless in the first quarter, shooting 0-for-5 combined.
Rui Hachimura was the only starter outside Luka to register a field goal in the first 12 minutes. As a result, Doncic carried the early load, scoring 16 points in the opening frame, while his teammates failed to provide any complementary offense.
Still, questions remain about whether Doncic’s high-usage, high-scoring approach early in games stunts the rhythm of his teammates.
His starts have often ignited the Lakers since his arrival, but in a playoff setting, finding a better flow from the start may be necessary, especially against a deep and disciplined Timberwolves squad that took full advantage of the Lakers’ static offense.
Doncic’s five turnovers also contributed to the lack of offensive cohesion. A few errant passes in transition and attempts at threading the needle inside were broken up by Minnesota’s length and active hands. But this isn’t out of the ordinary for the Lakers’ offensive structure since Doncic joined the team.
He typically plays with the ball in his hands for most of the first quarter, setting the tone before gradually getting others involved. That blueprint has worked. Yet when shots aren’t falling and ball movement stagnates, it becomes easier to point fingers, even at someone putting up nearly 40 points.
Going forward, Luka may need to prioritize getting LeBron and Reaves into rhythm earlier. But this Game 1 loss was less about playmaking decisions and more about a lack of collective energy. As Magic Johnson noted, the Lakers played with the intensity of a regular-season game, not a playoff opener.
Game 2 will be different. LeBron won’t stay quiet for long, and the Lakers as a whole are unlikely to have such a flat showing again. Doncic will still be the offensive engine, but expect him to make an extra effort to ensure the wheels around him start turning sooner.
