As NBA All-Star festivities continue at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Luka Doncic expressed confidence that the Los Angeles Lakers have the ability to win a championship this season.
Speaking with Chris Haynes during Saturday's NBA TV broadcast, Doncic made it clear the team's objective remains unchanged despite injury setbacks and inconsistent availability among primary contributors.
"Obviously, we're trying to win a championship. I think we can do it. We have the team to do it but obviously we've had a lot of injuries. Me, Bron and AR, everybody's been out for a while. So now coming back from All-Star, I think everybody's healthy. It's going to be a good test for us."
The Lakers entered the All-Star break with a 33–21 record, clinching the fifth seed in the Western Conference and firmly establishing themselves in the playoff picture. However, establishing continuity has been difficult. Doncic has missed 11 games this season, including the last four because of a strained left hamstring. LeBron James has been sidelined for 18 games due to sciatica, weight management and left foot arthritis. Austin Reaves has missed 22 games, 19 of which stem from a left calf strain.
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"Obviously, we're trying to win a championship. I think we can do it. We have the team to do it... Coming back from All-Star, I think everyone is healthy. It'll be a good test for us."
Luka Doncic on Lakers' title hopes 🗣️
(via @ChrisBHaynes)pic.twitter.com/QTThqZ3cak
- ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 14 February 2026
Luka Doncic confident Lakers can compete for championship despite injuries
As a result, Doncic, James, and Reaves only appeared in 10 games together, limiting the opportunity for the team to build chemistry during the first half of the season.
Despite those absences, Los Angeles remains within striking distance of the top of the conference. The Lakers are five games behind the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs (38-16) and 1.5 games behind the third-seeded Denver Nuggets (35-20).
The 26-year-old star is expected to recover from his hamstring strain during Sunday night's All-Star Game, a sign that the Lakers anticipate having a healthy roster heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
