Lakers Reveals Playoff Roster; Two Players Become Ineligible

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially revealed their 15-man roster for the 2025 NBA Playoffs, and while the lineup boasts elite talent and veteran depth, two notable names will be unavailable when the action begins. 

Luka Doncic 

Austin Reaves 

Rui Hachimura 

LeBron James 

Jaxson Hayes 

Dorian Finney-Smith 

Gabe Vincent 

Jarred Vanderbilt 

Jordan Goodwin 

Dalton Knecht 

Shake Milton 

Markieff Morris 

Maxi Kleber 

Bronny James Jr. 

Alex Len

Two-way players Trey Jemison III and Christian Koloko were not converted to standard NBA contracts before the regular season deadline, rendering them ineligible for the postseason. Though the duo won’t be suiting up, they will remain with the team throughout the playoff run, as confirmed by Dave McMenamin.

The Lakers enter the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference after finishing the regular season with a strong 50-32 record. Their first-round opponent will be the Minnesota Timberwolves, who finished sixth and bring a balanced attack on both ends of the floor. The Wolves are one of only four teams to rank inside the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating this season—proof that this will be no walkover.

Los Angeles will enjoy home-court advantage in the series, a critical edge in what promises to be a physical and tightly contested matchup. 

The regular season series between the two teams was split 2-2, with each squad defending home court. However, injuries and absences marred those games, including an ejection for Anthony Edwards during one contest, meaning both teams have yet to face each other at full strength.

The Lakers’ playoff roster is headlined by their superstar duo of Luka Doncic and LeBron James, with Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes rounding out the expected starting five. Depth comes in the form of defensive-minded players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Dorian Finney-Smith, scoring punch from Gabe Vincent and Shake Milton, and youth upside with Dalton Knecht and Bronny James Jr.

Also included is Maxi Kleber, who came over in the midseason blockbuster deal that sent Doncic to Los Angeles. Although Kleber hasn’t played a game yet for the Lakers due to foot surgery in January, head coach JJ Redick provided a positive update. 

Kleber has resumed on-court activities and participated fully in the team’s conditioning and shooting drills, though there remains no firm timeline for his return.

Despite his modest stats—just 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game with Dallas earlier this year—Kleber brings a unique skill set. He’s a mobile seven-footer who can defend on the perimeter and stretch the floor, qualities that provide valuable flexibility, especially in small-ball lineups. 

His long-standing chemistry with Doncic could also help him find a groove quickly once he returns.

Still, the Lakers' frontcourt is their thinnest area, and the lack of available bigs makes Kleber’s recovery timeline critical. His potential return would add a new layer to JJ Redick’s rotation and give L.A. much-needed size to combat Minnesota’s towering frontline led by Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert.

With the playoff stage set and expectations sky-high, the Lakers will rely on the leadership of LeBron and the brilliance of Luka Doncic to carry them through a grueling Western Conference bracket. While two players won’t be suiting up, the roster is still stacked—and primed for a deep run.