'I Am Getting Back There:' NBA Insider Reveals What Luka Dončić Told Rob Pelinka, JJ Redick After Lakers Got Eliminated From 2025 Playoffs

After the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs in five games, Luka Dončić went to dinner with Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick. Dončić’s business manager, Lara Beth Seager, was at the dinner too.

According to NBA reporter Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Dončić delivered a message to Pelinka and Redick during dinner.

“I don’t want to wait,” Dončić said. “I had a taste of the Finals. I am getting back there. So let’s do whatever we can now.”

Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals in five games. Eight months later, the Mavericks traded the 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers for Anthony Davis and Max Christie.

Los Angeles signed Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart this offseason after losing Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets. Dončić recruited Ayton and Smart to the Lakers, who haven’t won a championship since 2020.

A five-time All-Star, Dončić has lost a lot of weight this offseason. He’s in elite shape and ready to lead the Lakers back to the promised land.

“We have what we need to compete for the championship,” Dončić said on Saturday after signing an extension with the Lakers. “I’ll try to win every game no matter what and we got some new great guys on the team. So you know, we’re going to go for it.”

The Lakers signed Dončić to a three-year, $165 million extension on Saturday. Dončić played in 28 games with Los Angeles last season, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists. The future Hall of Famer averaged 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists in the 2025 playoffs against the Timberwolves.

Dončić enters next season with career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists with the Mavericks and Lakers. He’s third in NBA history in points per game, trailing only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.