In a tense finish on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers fell 109-108 to the Orlando Magic after a perplexing final possession. With just seven seconds remaining, the Lakers executed an after-timeout play designed to get Luka Doncic an open shot. However, instead of taking the shot, the Slovenian handed the ball to LeBron James, who missed a difficult, off-balance three-pointer as time expired, sealing the loss.
The critical question emerged: why did Doncic relinquish his chance for an open shot? Social media reports surfaced indicating that James had instructed Doncic to pass the ball to him during the closing play, and Doncic complied.
“He told me to pass, I passed,”
Doncic said, shrugging after the defeat.
Luka Doncic Accepts Responsibility for Passing Instead of Shooting
Despite the confusion, Doncic admitted fault for choosing to pass rather than take the shot himself. Entering Tuesday’s game, James was shooting just 30.3% from beyond the arc, casting doubt on whether passing was the best choice.
“I knew I was open, but I just thought it was a little bit far,”
Doncic stated after the game, as reported by BasketNews.
He confessed he tried to dribble closer for a better angle but ultimately passed due to time constraints and concerns about losing possession.
“I mean, I just saw him [LeBron] open, and I didn’t want to lose the ball, and we didn’t have timeouts,”
he added.
“Like I said, I should have picked up the ball, should have attacked. I thought he was gonna get a better look. So, that’s on me.”
Coach and Players Reflect on Final Play Execution
Lakers head coach JJ Redick verified that the final play was designed to give Doncic the shot opportunity.
“We obviously ran a play for [Luka] to get a look. I felt like we had a decent shot.”
Meanwhile, LeBron James expressed confusion over the decision to pass rather than shoot.
“Obviously, you have to ask Luka what he saw on that,”
James remarked, according to Lakers Daily.
“I thought he had a good look. … I was kind of off balance when he gave it to me. I thought he had a great look.”
With Doncic shooting just 2 of 10 from three-point range before the final possession, his lack of confidence likely influenced his decision to pass.
Lakers legend James Worthy suggested the team might have been better served running the play for Austin Reaves, who led the team with eight points in the fourth quarter and appeared more comfortable in the moment.
“With Luka not shooting the ball as well, maybe you go to Austin,”
Worthy commented during Spectrum SportsNet’s postgame show.
“The Lakers have many options (in crunch time). I think they gotta look at more than 1.”
Implications of the Final Shot Decision for the Lakers
The Lakers’ loss highlighted cracks in late-game decision-making, with the LeBron James final shot choice coming under intense scrutiny. The hesitation from Doncic and the missed opportunity by James signal challenges the team must address moving forward. Ensuring clarity on shot selection and trust during critical moments will be vital as the Lakers seek to improve execution in tight contests.
With the NBA season ongoing, the Lakers will likely adjust their approach in crunch time, potentially giving shooters like Austin Reaves more chances when primary scorers are struggling. How the team resolves these internal dynamics could play a pivotal role in their performance in upcoming games.
https://twitter.com/LakersDailyCom/status/2026556796815708461
Wow, look at the last possession again!! LeBron is yelling for the ball the entire time. That’s why he hesitated!! 🤯🤯
Watch what Luka Doncic says at the end here:
“He told me to pass, I passed”
Was LeBron trying to sabotage the Lakers right there!? pic.twitter.com/VGREp5tMq7
— HeroOfTheDay (@Hero_OfThe_Day) February 25, 2026
Q: Did you have any communication with LeBron after the final play?
Doncic: "No."Â
Q: When you passed it to him, did you think he had a shot or did you recognize it would be a tough opportunity?
Doncic: "I mean, I just saw him open and I didn’t want to lose the ball. We didn’t… pic.twitter.com/It6GfGJ2m2— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 25, 2026
Luka on his final shot: "I know I was open but I thought I was a little bit far"
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) February 25, 2026
JJ Redick on the Lakers' final possession:
"We obviously ran a play for [Luka] to get a look. I felt like we had a decent shot." pic.twitter.com/o26klhMvUG
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) February 25, 2026
LeBron on the final possession: "Obviously, you have to ask Luka what he saw on that. I thought he had a good look. … I was kind of off balance when he gave it to me. I thought he had a great look."
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) February 25, 2026
“I’m not sure. Obviously you’ll have to ask Luka what he saw. I thought he had a good look and it looked like he kind of lost his balance and didn’t have a rhythm with the ball” – LeBron James on the Lakers’ final inbounds play to Luka Doncic pic.twitter.com/ajWVYjl4sP
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 25, 2026
