“It’s never just about me and Luka” – LeBron James breaks silence on devastating Los Angeles Lakers defeat against Minnesota Timberwolves

The Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff journey ended sooner than fans had hoped, crashing out in the first round despite boasting one of the NBA’s most star-powered lineups. Their elimination came at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by the electrifying Anthony Edwards, whose dominant performances turned the tide of the series. And while some were quick to point fingers at LeBron James, the 40-year-old icon didn’t hesitate to set the record straight.Speaking on the Mind The Game podcast, LeBron James addressed the criticism with a strong message about team basketball.“Teams win championships. It’s never just about me and Luka… there’s 8 other guys on the floor,” James said, reminding fans that basketball is a collective effort, not a solo show. His point rings louder given that both he and Luka Doncic were stellar offensively, but neither could push their teams beyond the first round.The Lakers’ struggles this season weren’t due to a lack of star power. Instead, their decline came on the defensive end. The once-fearsome defense faltered as the season wore on, and those cracks were fully exposed by Minnesota. LeBron shared insights into their failed strategy against Edwards, noting how difficult it was to limit him. “We wanted to try to change pitches on him as much as possible because you don’t ever give no great players one steady diet of the same thing,” James said.“But even when you try to double him, his ability to erase double teams, to split double teams, to get creative… and he’s still strong too so it’s not like he’s a frail guy where you can double him and be super aggressive with him and get him off,” the Lakers legend added.Despite their best efforts, the Timberwolves’ rising star proved too much to handle. LeBron praised Edwards not just for his scoring, but for his leadership, “He’s learned over time, but he’s strong, he has low center of gravity, he has a great handle, he can shoot the ball extremely well.”He added, “He’s trusting his teammates to make plays… Listen, we gotta give Minnesota their flowers, that’s a damn good team, man.”Also Read: “Why so serious?” – Nikola Jokic turns heads dressing like Joker ahead of game 3 against Oklahoma City ThunderWhile fans remain loyal to LeBron, many are voicing concerns about the Lakers’ roster construction. They argue the team lacks the depth seen in championship-caliber squads like the Celtics or Thunder.