Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers closed out the regular season in strong form, securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record. The seeding sets up a first-round playoff showdown against the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves—a familiar opponent for Doncic.

The 26-year-old superstar capped off his seventh NBA season with averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in 50 games, while shooting 45% from the field. His journey this season, however, took a dramatic turn in February when he was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers in a stunning mid-season deal.

The trade brought an end to his seven-year stint in Dallas, the franchise that drafted him third overall in 2018 and where he morphed into one of the league’s best players.

Doncic, known for thriving on the biggest stages, reiterated his love for postseason basketball during a recent interview ahead of the Lakers’ playoff opener.

“Mostly just preparing for Timberwolves,” Doncic said. “… I like big games. Playoffs is fun time. Everybody plays 100%. It’s just fun to be out there.”

Last postseason, Doncic put together a historic playoff run with the Mavericks, averaging 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists while eliminating the fourth-seeded Clippers, top-seeded Thunder, and second-seeded Timberwolves. His run ended in the NBA Finals, where Dallas fell to the Boston Celtics.

Now donning purple and gold, Doncic will look to rekindle that same postseason form—starting with the very team he defeated in last year’s Western Conference Finals. With the Lakers loaded and locked in, all eyes will be on Doncic as he begins his next playoff chapter in Los Angeles.