Stan Van Gundy Says Luka Doncic’s MVP Calibre Start Will Go in Vain: “I’m Not Sold”

Stan Van Gundy had doubts about the Lakers last December, too. Despite an MVP-caliber start from Luka Doncic, he said he couldn't picture the team at the level of OKC. Now Doncic has scored 45 points in a win over the Raptors, and Van Gundy again isn't convinced.

His concern is the same as before: what the Lakers have around their star.

“Well, you know, the hard thing is, is they’re really dependent on three guys, him and Reaves and Kessler. Any one of those three goes down and they can really struggle. I’m not sold on the rest of their roster. It’s almost like Luka has to play at this level for him to win, but he’s capable of doing that," Van Gundy said.

Van Gundy then described where he thinks that leaves Los Angeles. “So could they be a top four team? Yeah, but do I think they will be at the end of the year? I think it’ll be marginal. I think they’ll be in that four, five, six range. Their defense has been better than I thought it would be. But yeah, I think they’ll be in the thick of it. I don’t see them winning the West.”

Doncic had 45 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals in Los Angeles’ 131-125 win over Toronto, becoming the first player in NBA history with 45 or more points, 15 or more rebounds, five or more assists, five or more steals and five or more threes in a game.

The Lakers brought Austin Reaves back on a four-year, $185 million extension, and Jovan Buha reported that Doncic wanted both Reaves and Walker Kessler.

Van Gundy's concern has some support in how the Lakers play. One report noted that with Doncic and Reaves leading the attack, the team looks like a top-tier contender, but once they sit, the Lakers look like a fringe playoff team.

The Lakers’ preseason lineup featured Quentin Grimes alongside Doncic, with Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma among the supporting names.

He has said similar things about fit. Earlier this year, Van Gundy argued that you have to "put shooting around" Doncic when discussing whether the Lakers should pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo.

LeBron James has since left for Philadelphia, so the Lakers’ roster is built differently now.

There is a bright spot he acknowledged. His comment that the defense is "better than I thought it would be" lines up with Kessler's role. Kessler, the Lakers' defensive anchor, said "Luka doesn't get enough credit for his defense" after Doncic's five-steal, three-charge night against Toronto.

Another analyst reached a similar conclusion about the standings. Kendrick Perkins said Doncic will have the numbers, but the Lakers won't be a top-three seed in the West, which he argued would hurt Doncic's MVP case.

Van Gundy’s prediction of a four-to-six seed matches that, and neither expects the Lakers to be a title favorite.

Doncic’s output is among the league’s best, and Van Gundy doesn’t dispute that. His doubt is whether the Lakers can stay healthy and deep enough to turn those numbers into a high seed.