The NBA world was rocked by the Los Angeles Lakers’ acquisition of Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks, a move that has drawn strong reactions from Boston Celtics legends Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. The former Celtics stars weighed in on whether Dončić can redefine the Lakers’ future, even comparing him to a transformative player like Shohei Ohtani in baseball.
Paul Pierce has voiced skepticism about Dončić fitting the mold of past Lakers superstars like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. He noted that Dončić’s style—more skill-based than athletic—differs from the traditional Lakers icons. Initially, Pierce speculated that Dončić wanted out of Dallas, but later suggested that LeBron James might mentor him into becoming the NBA’s next face.
On the other hand, Kevin Garnett was more optimistic about Dončić’s impact. He believes Dončić’s elite playmaking and scoring ability could make him a franchise cornerstone for the Lakers. Garnett emphasized that while Dončić doesn’t have the physical dominance of past Lakers stars, his high basketball IQ and versatility could be game-changing.
One key concern is whether Dončić and LeBron can coexist, given their ball-dominant styles. Pierce expressed doubt that the duo could effectively share the floor, suggesting that the Lakers might even need to trade LeBron and Bronny James to fully build around Dončić. However, it remains to be seen how the new Lakers lineup will function on the court.
Comparisons to Shohei Ohtani stem from Dončić’s ability to revolutionize the game in his own way, much like how Ohtani has reshaped baseball with his dual-threat skills. If Dončić adapts well to the Lakers’ system, he could emerge as the next iconic figure in the franchise’s storied history.
