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[Saba Sports News] The Los Angeles Lakers’ season came to an end Wednesday night with a Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and NBA legend Magic Johnson wasn’t shy about pointing out what went wrong.
Following the Lakers’ 103-96 defeat at Crypto.com Arena, which sealed their first-round exit, Johnson congratulated the Timberwolves on X but didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Lakers’ performance—particularly on the defensive end.
“The reason the Lakers lost was because they played awful on defense, they were too small, and the Timberwolves dominated them in the paint,” Johnson wrote.
His comments were especially timely after Rudy Gobert overwhelmed the Lakers’ undersized frontcourt in Game 5, finishing with 27 points and 24 rebounds. Without a true interior presence to counter Minnesota’s size, the Lakers struggled to protect the paint.
While the midseason trade for Luka Doncic was a blockbuster move that energized fans, it also underscored the void left by Anthony Davis—particularly on defense and the glass. The failed trade for Hornets center Mark Williams loomed large in hindsight, as the Lakers’ need for size was never properly addressed.
Fixing that frontcourt weakness will be a top priority in the offseason. The core talent is in place, but the lack of size ultimately proved fatal to their playoff hopes.