Dirk Nowitzki Reveals the Moment He Felt Lakers Could Compete With Anyone

Fair enough, during the 2025–26 season, a healthy Doncic elevated the Lakers to a legitimate championship contender, resulting in a dominant 15-2 run through March.

He helped the team rank in the top ten both offensively and defensively. Operating as the primary scoring engine, the Slovenian averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds over 64 games.

In addition to that, he established a dynamic offensive synergy alongside a highly efficient LeBron James and Austin Reaves. While this core functioned at a 53-win pace, they faced ongoing defensive inconsistencies and early-season shooting slumps before Doncic’s late-season hamstring strain ultimately derailed their playoff run.

Dirk Nowitzki Has Been Critical Of Lakers’ Recent Struggle

Dirk Nowitzki did not appear particularly sympathetic toward the Lakers and their growing frustration with officiating during the playoff series against the Thunder.

However, initially, after Game 2, Lakers players and head coach JJ Redick openly criticized the officiating, arguing Oklahoma City’s physical defense crossed the line too often without being penalized. 

But Nowitzki offered a very different perspective during NBA on Prime’s postgame coverage.

“The Lakers are usually the team that wins the free-throw battle,” Nowitzki said with a smile. “So this is a little new to them.”

The comment immediately stood out as a subtle jab at Los Angeles, especially given that the franchise has frequently benefited from favorable whistle narratives over the years. 

In this past series, however, the Lakers suddenly found themselves complaining about physicality and missed calls from the other side.

Nowitzki acknowledged that Oklahoma City’s defense can be physically overwhelming.

The Thunder attempted only five more free throws than the Lakers in Game 2, but the frustration in Los Angeles centered more on timing and consistency than on raw numbers.