On a night when the stakes couldn’t have been higher, when the banners of legends like Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar looked down from the rafters, the Los Angeles Lakers were supposed to rise. Instead, they fell hard. A Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a 4–1 first-round playoff exit, and a season that once glimmered with Luka Doncic-fueled hope ended in crushing disappointment. And somehow, amidst all the heartbreak, Kyrie Irving—not in uniform, not even limping—walked into Crypto.com Arena and stole the show.

Dressed in designer from head to toe, no crutches, no brace, no visible signs of the ACL tear that ended his season in March, Kyrie was all vibes. But to Lakers fans and NBA diehards alike, it was more than just a fashion statement. It was a symbol. A flashback. A question: What happened to Luka and Kyrie? And could this reunion—this courtside glimpse of chemistry long lost—have been something more?

The sight of Kyrie courtside, watching Luka struggle through pain and pressure, stirred memories of what once was in Dallas—a bond that never quite reached its full potential. After the game, Luka addressed that very topic. When asked if the lack of chemistry or closing struggles played a role in the series loss, Doncic offered a vulnerable, honest look into what it really means to try and figure things out on the fly.

“It’s tough to get that chemistry on the court without any practices,” he said. “I look back with Kyrie, when he got traded to the Mavs, we didn’t really connect on the court. Obviously, you see the game, but it’s not the same as being teammates. We didn’t know each other’s games like that.”

Now, with the Lakers, he hoped for a different outcome. But the results were achingly familiar—missed opportunities, disjointed offense, and another season slipping away in the fourth quarter. In fact, the Lakers averaged just 17 points in the final quarter across the series, despite having Luka and LeBron James, two of the best closers in basketball.

And yet, Luka remains hopeful. “I’m excited to have a preseason so we can learn about each other on court a lot,” he said, referring to LeBron. “That’s how I look at it.” But when pressed about his future—specifically whether he’d consider signing an extension on August 2, when he’s first eligible—Luka hesitated: “I didn’t think about it yet,” he said. “Obviously, now’s the time to think about everything.”

It was raw. It was real. It was the sound of a star reflecting not just on a playoff loss, but on an uncertain future.

Luka Doncic’s painful Game 5 that broke millions of hearts

This wasn’t supposed to be the ending. The Lakers returned home, desperate and hungry, after giving away Games 3 and 4 late. Game 5 was their moment. And when LeBron hit a late three to bring them within two—down just 93-91 with 3:08 left—it felt like destiny. But destiny didn’t care.

Minnesota closed the game on a 9–3 run. Anthony Edwards couldn’t hit a shot (5-of-19, 0-of-11 from deep). The Wolves shot a miserable 14.9% from three and 40.4% from the field. Yet it was still not enough for L.A. Why?

Out rebounded 54-37. Gave up 18 offensive boards. Allowed 20 second-chance points. Lost the paint battle 56-40. And then there was Rudy Gobert, the guy who’d been irrelevant offensively all series. On Wednesday night, he turned into Wilt Chamberlain, dropping 27 points on 12-of-15 shooting, while snatching 24 rebounds like a man possessed.

Even with Rui Hachimura lighting up from deep (23 points, 5-of-8 from three) and Dorian Finney-Smith giving solid minutes before fouling out, there just wasn’t enough help. Austin Reaves, once a playoff darling, looked over-matched—12 points, 6 turnovers, and 2-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Luka himself had his moments—28 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds—but he couldn’t stay in front of anyone on defense. He played through pain after a hard fall in the first half, yet pushed through the second. Still, it wasn’t enough.

This is the same franchise that built dynasties on the backs of Shaq and Kobe. That turned defense into offense, and offense into art. That brought magic to the hardwood—literally. And now? Even with LeBron James, arguably the greatest player of all time, wearing purple and gold, it feels… empty.

LeBron had 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, but shot just 9-of-21 and faded late. The fourth-quarter curse continued. No answers, just sighs. He’s noncommittal about his future, and who could blame him? Maxi Kleber’s return—a footnote in the blockbuster trade that brought Luka to L.A.—offered a flicker of hope. He got five minutes. Scored two points. That was it.

And as Kyrie sat courtside, fans couldn’t help but wonder: Was this a sign? Was this a goodbye? Was it a beginning? The bond between him and Luka is real. They hugged for what felt like forever back in February. They spoke highly of each other in interviews. Kyrie said he was proud of Luka Doncic. Luka said it was “amazing” to finally understand each other on the court—only for injury and timing to rob them of their chance.

And somewhere deep in that pain, as Kyrie smiled from the sidelines and Luka Doncic limped back to the locker room, one thought echoed louder than the rest: This can’t be the ending.