Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not treating the Los Angeles Lakers like a team simply waiting for Luka Doncic to return.
The Oklahoma City Thunder star was asked about the Lakers during a recent press conference before the second-round playoff matchup, and his answer pointed to the bigger issue facing OKC. Doncic’s injured hamstring remains one of the defining storylines of the series, but Gilgeous-Alexander made it clear the Thunder are preparing for more than one player.
“Playing identity,” Gilgeous-Alexander said when asked what stood out about the Lakers. “They’re playing really well right now regardless of who’s out there.”
Gilgeous-Alexander also pointed to the Lakers’ coaching and the stage of the season, adding that Oklahoma City does not take Los Angeles lightly.
That matters because the Lakers enter the series in a strange position. They are the underdog against the No. 1-seeded Thunder, who swept the regular-season series 4-0 and won those games by an average of 29.3 points, according to NBA.com. But Los Angeles also just eliminated the Houston Rockets in six games despite Doncic missing the entire first round.
The Thunder have every reason to feel confident. They dominated the Lakers during the regular season and are trying to defend their NBA title. But Gilgeous-Alexander’s answer reflected the other side of the matchup: the Lakers have already proved they can survive without being whole.
Luka Doncic Injury: Star Is Not Close to Coming Back
Doncic remains the biggest variable in the series.
Video did emerge on May 4 showing Doncic shooting tentatively at the Lakers’ facility, but no clear update was available.
Shams Charania reported on “Inside the NBA” that Doncic is expected to be out to start the series against Oklahoma City and that the Lakers are evaluating him on a week-to-week basis because of a Grade 2 hamstring strain.
Charania also reported that one source described Doncic’s recovery as “still a slow path,” while noting that he had been doing more on-court work but had not yet progressed to full running or full contact workouts.
That is why Gilgeous-Alexander’s comment lands differently. The Thunder cannot build their entire plan around Doncic being unavailable, but they also cannot assume he will be the same version of himself if he returns.
The Lakers have already been living in that uncertainty. Instead of leaning on Doncic’s scoring and creation, Los Angeles has had to reshape itself around LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart and JJ Redick’s playoff adjustments.
That formula was enough against Houston. Oklahoma City is a much different test.
Will Luka Play Against OKC?
Yes, Doncic could still play against OKC.
That is the key distinction. He is not expected to start the series, but the Lakers have held out hope that he could return at some point during the matchup. The schedule gives that possibility room to matter, especially if Los Angeles can extend the series long enough for Doncic to make progress.
The Lakers-Thunder schedule starts with Game 1 on May 5 in Oklahoma City, followed by Game 2 on May 7, Game 3 on May 9 in Los Angeles and Game 4 on May 11. If necessary, the series would continue with Game 5 on May 13, Game 6 on May 16 and Game 7 on May 18.
That creates a clear early challenge for the Lakers. They do not need every Doncic question answered immediately. They need to make the series competitive enough for his possible return to keep mattering.
The regular-season history is not encouraging. Oklahoma City beat Los Angeles four times, including blowout wins on November 12, April 2 and April 7. But the Lakers team entering this series has already been forced to develop without Doncic, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s comments suggest the Thunder have noticed.
Lakers-Thunder Could be Determined by LeBron James
“We can sit here all day and talk about things he has done for the game. The guy is one of the best players to ever pick up a basketball in the history of human beings, so it speaks for itself. The whole positionless
Until Doncic returns, the Lakers-Thunder series may be determined by LeBron James.
Chet Holmgren praised James’ longevity and acknowledged the challenge of facing him. Holmgren said it was “extremely impressive” that James is still operating at this level physically and mentally at 41.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha also expected James’ bully-ball ability to be a key factor in the series.
James gave the Thunder a reason to be cautious in Round 1. The Lakers closed out the Rockets with a 98-78 win in Game 6, holding Houston to its fewest points of the season. James finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in the elimination win.
SGA was asked about James during the same media session, as transcribed by Justin Martinez: “We can sit here all day and talk about things he has done for the game. The guy is one of the best players to ever pick up a basketball in the history of human beings, so it speaks for itself. The whole positionless basketball, I guess, is him. You guys don’t need me to sit here and tell you how great of a player LeBron James is. It should be a fun matchup, to really test yourself against the greatest. Obviously, he’s a little bit out of his prime, but he’s still very very capable.”
That is the Lakers’ path if Doncic remains out early. James has to control possessions, keep the offense organized and prevent Oklahoma City from turning the series into a sprint.
Gilgeous-Alexander noticed the Lakers’ identity. Until Doncic’s injury watch turns into a return date, that identity starts with James.
Lakers Get Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Attention Amid Luka Doncic Injury Watch