The Los Angeles Lakers concluded the 2024-25 NBA season with a 50-32 record, finishing as the third seed in the Western Conference. However, their postseason run was short-lived, as they were eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.

In the second half of Game 4 of the Timberwolves-Lakers series, Los Angeles head coach JJ Redick only played Doncic, Reaves, James, Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith and benched center Jaxson Hayes in Game 5.