Kendrick Perkins Has Harsh Criticism of Lakers' Luka Doncic

The Los Angeles Lakers started to hit their stride late in the 2025-26 NBA season with a big three featuring Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

But in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2, both Doncic and Reaves suffered soft-tissue injuries that held them off the court for the remainder of the regular season.

Reaves returned to action in Game 5 of the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, but Doncic was unable to return to the court as he continued to recover from a Grade 2 hamstring strain.

Los Angeles was ultimately swept by the reigning NBA-champion Thunder in Round 2 as Doncic watched from the bench.

Former NBA player turned NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins delivered a harsh criticism of Doncic during Thursday morning’s episode of “First Take” on ESPN.

“Luka Doncic, for the last three years, it’s been something come postseason time. Whether he’s been out of shape or he’s dealing with some type of injury. If you’re the Lakers, you have a concern there,” Perkins said.

“Luka is starting to get in that territory of Joel Embiid,” he added. “When you need him the most, and it comes postseason time, he’s not available.”

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In Doncic’s first year with Los Angeles in 2024-25, the Lakers suffered a first-round postseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Through five games, the superstar guard averaged 30.2 points, 7 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game.

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Doncic led all players in total points (635), rebounds (208) and assists (178) through his run to the NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks in 2024. He averaged 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and and 8.1 assists per game as his team went on to lose against the Boston Celtics in their championship series.

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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 12:57 PM.