Kendrick Perkins Predicts Lakers' Postseason Disaster After Injuries

Former NBA champion believes Lakers are headed for a first-round playoff exit.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 7:25pm

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Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins has predicted a 'first-round exit' for the Los Angeles Lakers in the upcoming playoffs, following injuries to stars Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Perkins believes the Lakers' chances of making a deep postseason run have been severely diminished by the loss of their two leading scorers.

Why it matters

The Lakers were seen as a contender this season, but the injuries to Dončić and Reaves have drastically changed the team's outlook. Perkins' prediction highlights the fragility of the Lakers' roster and the challenges they face in the playoffs without their top offensive threats.

The details

Dončić suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring injury, while Reaves was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury. Both players are expected to miss the remainder of the regular season, leaving LeBron James as the team's primary scoring option. Perkins believes the Lakers 'don't scare a soul' and that they cannot rely on Reaves and Dončić as their 'two franchise guys' going forward if they want to win a championship.

  • On April 2, Luka Dončić suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring injury.
  • On April 8, the Lakers announced that Austin Reaves is also done for the rest of the regular season with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury.

The players

Kendrick Perkins

A former NBA champion who has stepped in to predict a first-round playoff exit for the Lakers.

Luka Dončić

The Lakers' leading scorer this season, averaging 33.5 points per game, who is out with a Grade 2 left hamstring injury.

Austin Reaves

The Lakers' third-leading scorer this season, averaging 23.3 points per game, who is also out for the rest of the regular season with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury.

LeBron James

The 41-year-old Lakers star who is now expected to carry the team's offense with Dončić and Reaves sidelined.

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What they’re saying

“When I look at the Lakers, they're a 2nd round exit, that's their ceiling… The Lakers don't scare a soul. Even on Halloween…”

— Kendrick Perkins, Former NBA champion

“Last night showed me if you're the Lakers, you cannot invest all your money into Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić as your two franchise guys going forward if you're expecting to win a championship.”

— Kendrick Perkins, Former NBA champion

What’s next

The Lakers will need to rely heavily on LeBron James to carry the team through the playoffs, but it remains to be seen if the 41-year-old superstar can single-handedly lead them to a deep postseason run without Dončić and Reaves.

The takeaway

Kendrick Perkins' prediction of a first-round playoff exit for the Lakers highlights the team's vulnerability without their two leading scorers. The Lakers' championship aspirations have been severely compromised by the injuries to Dončić and Reaves, putting immense pressure on LeBron James to carry the team through the postseason.