Mar 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots against New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Lakers' Luka Doncic Not Quite Hall of Fame Lock Yet, Insider Says

Originally posted on Los Angeles Lakers on SI
By Aaron Coloma | Last updated Sep 6, 2025 12:30 PM ET

ESPN NBA writer Zach Kram believes Los Angeles Lakers superstar point guard Luka Doncic isn't quite guaranteed a spot in the Hall of Fame as of yet.

Doncic has had a fantastic career at just 26 years old, already making five All-Star Games and All-NBA First Teams, as well as receiving the Rookie of the Year award in 2018-19.

His surprising move to Los Angeles didn't just shake the basketball world, but the sports world as a whole, and propelled the Lakers directly into championship contention talks. Despite all this, though, Krum believes it's still too early to tell.

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"Still in their mid-20s, Doncic and Tatum might already be locks," wrote Kram. "The former has five first team All-NBA selections, while the latter has four, plus a third team nod.

"Yet for now, they're arguably just short of, say, Gilgeous-Alexander because of one hiccup apiece. For Doncic, it's the lack of a title; for Tatum, it's the uncertainty around his right Achilles injury and whether he'll return at an All-NBA level.

"Basketball-Reference's Hall of Fame probability tool pegs Doncic's and Tatum's odds, if they retired today, at 45% and 59%, respectively. Those numbers will surely tick up over the coming years -- but Doncic and Tatum aren't quite locks yet."

If a title is what he is missing to make it to the Hall of Fame, Doncic may have the best chance of his career so far to make the leap in 2025-26. The Lakers have made several additions since the beginning of the offseason, addressing their needs for depth in the forward positions and — most notably — the need for a starting caliber center.

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In his 28 games as a Laker in 2024-25, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists, adding to an electric offense which already includes the NBA's all-time top scorer in LeBron James.

The Lakers entered last season's playoffs as the third seed, however suffered a crushing round one loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. A full season of Doncic and a gelled team come the playoffs will certainly pose a threat towards the league's best, even in an increasingly competitive Western Conference.