The Los Angeles Lakers have climbed to fourth in the Western Conference with a 32-19 record, and newcomer Luka Doncic has suited up just once since his arrival. Questions remain about their need for an elite defensive anchor, but there’s growing confidence in their ceiling.
That confidence is something former NFL star and current media personality Shannon Sharpe has fully embraced. He believes the Lakers are headed to the NBA Finals, especially if they run into the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
“Let us get OKC in the Western Conference Finals. I guarantee it! … If the Lakers get the OKC Thunder in the Western Conference, we are going to the NBA Finals!”
Shannon Sharpe: “Let us get OKC in the Western Conference Finals. I guarantee it! … If the Lakers get the OKC Thunder in the Western Conference, we are going to the NBA Finals!”
Stephen A. Smith: “Shannon need to be drug tested.” 😂pic.twitter.com/PXFNy1Rb8y
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 11, 2025
Sitting at 43-9, no team has been better in the standings than the OKC Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a legitimate MVP candidate, Jalen Williams has taken the leap to All-Star status, and Chet Holmgren has returned to give them even more firepower.
OKC’s front office has also made calculated moves, adding Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso to complement their young players and boost their defense. No doubt, they’re a serious threat. But come playoff time, experience and superstar play could make a difference, and the Lakers might see that as an advantage, especially with a four-time champion in LeBron and Luka, who just made the NBA Finals.
