The Los Angeles Lakers are building their team with players who know what it feels like to lose in the Finals

The Los Angeles Lakers have long been associated with championship pedigree and a winning mentality, but in their quest to build another dynasty, there’s a different kind of experience the team seems to be focusing on: the pain of losing in the NBA Finals. While the franchise has plenty of players who have tasted the ultimate success, there’s a distinct trend in the moves they’ve made in recent years: bringing in players who know what it’s like to fall just short of a title, to fight through the grind, and to experience the deep sting of coming so close and yet not finishing the job.

The Lakers’ roster for the 2025 season features several key players who have experienced that Finals heartbreak, and while at first glance it might seem like a negative, there’s a deeper layer to this approach that could actually be the key to their future success. These players know what it takes to get to the biggest stage, and they now bring that experience, resilience, and drive to a locker room led by LeBron James, a player who has had his fair share of Finals losses but has used those moments to fuel his greatness.

Let’s break down how the Lakers are stacking their roster with players who have experienced the ultimate disappointment and what it means for the future of the team.

The Lakers have historically built their teams through superstars, but in recent years, they’ve supplemented their elite core with veteran players who have been to the Finals and experienced both the highs and lows of the postseason. The idea behind this strategy is simple: you bring in players who know what it feels like to fall short, and they will be even more motivated to help push the team over the top, whether it’s through leadership, experience, or a strong desire to finally win it all.

This roster is not just filled with talent, but with players who understand what it takes to win at the highest level and know how difficult the road to the Finals can be. The Lakers are constructing a roster that blends the hunger and experience of players who know both victory and defeat.

1. LeBron James – The Ultimate Survivor

It’s impossible to discuss the Lakers’ Finals-related experience without mentioning LeBron James, whose career has been filled with both championship triumphs and heartbreaking defeats.

LeBron’s four NBA championships (with Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles) are balanced by his five Finals losses, each providing lessons that have shaped his leadership style. While LeBron’s career has been punctuated by remarkable success, it’s the losses—particularly the heart-wrenching defeats to teams like the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, the Golden State Warriors in 2015 and 2016, and the San Antonio Spurs in 2007—that have defined his career as much as the victories.

But here’s the thing about LeBron: the losses don’t define him, but they fuel him. Over the course of his career, LeBron has become known not just for his basketball IQ, but for his ability to bounce back from disappointment and continue to drive himself and his teams to greatness. The Lakers are betting that this mentality can rub off on their younger players, particularly Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, and others who will likely have their own chances to experience the Finals.

Having a player who has lost in the Finals, time and time again, gives the Lakers an edge. LeBron’s understanding of how brutal those losses can be and the lessons they bring makes him invaluable in guiding his teammates through difficult moments. The Lakers don’t just rely on LeBron’s greatness—they rely on his resilience, his ability to take the team to the next level after a loss, and his experience in helping teammates recover after tough finals runs.

2. Anthony Davis – The One Who Was Almost There

Anthony Davis is another critical member of the Lakers who has experienced the soul-crushing feeling of coming up short in the Finals. Davis reached the Finals with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020 as part of the Lakers’ championship-winning roster. That Finals appearance remains one of the highlights of his career, as he was instrumental in securing that championship. However, AD has had his own share of Finals defeats, particularly during his time in New Orleans, where despite his talent, he was unable to push his team past the second round in his prime years.

Davis knows the challenge of being an elite player but not having the right team around him to secure the ultimate prize. He’s seen teams with great talent fall short due to injuries, lack of chemistry, or simply playing against superior competition.

The drive to be better, to lead a team to championship glory, and the understanding that championships aren’t guaranteed, even for a player of his caliber, is a constant motivator for Davis. His defensive presence and growing offensive game are no longer just a matter of skill—they are motivated by his desire to finally win it all after years of near-misses. Davis’s mindset is now centered around one key question: how can I push my team over the hump?

3. D’Angelo Russell – The Forgotten Finalist

The Lakers’ acquisition of D’Angelo Russell might not seem like the first place you’d look for Finals experience, but the young point guard has had his own run through the pressure cooker of the postseason.

In 2019, while still with the Brooklyn Nets, Russell got a taste of the Finals loss after the Nets were eliminated by the Toronto Raptors. It wasn’t a Finals appearance per se, but it was a hard-fought, highly competitive series, and Russell got a firsthand look at how critical every decision, every shot, and every defensive stop is during a Finals run.

While Russell hasn’t yet tasted the ultimate success, his experience in the Eastern Conference Finals taught him valuable lessons about playing under pressure. His desire to redeem his previous playoff shortcomings in Brooklyn is palpable, and he brings that hunger to Los Angeles, hoping to help the Lakers return to the Finals and finish what he wasn’t able to do in his younger days.

4. Rui Hachimura – The Hungry Role Player

Rui Hachimura’s career has been one of upward mobility, with the former Washington Wizard being traded to the Lakers in the 2022-2023 season. Despite not reaching the Finals yet, Hachimura has tasted the intensity of high-stakes playoff basketball. His runs with the Wizards, particularly during their 2021 Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers, introduced him to the pressure of playing in deep playoff runs.

Though not yet an established star, Hachimura’s hunger is evident. Coming from a background where he’s felt the sting of playoff elimination, he is now with a team poised to make another Finals run, and it’s clear that his previous playoff experiences will drive him to be a key contributor for the Lakers. Whether it’s his ability to hit clutch shots or his intensity on the defensive end, Hachimura knows that this could be his best chance to make a deep Finals push.

While it might seem counterintuitive to build a team with players who have lost in the Finals, it actually provides the Lakers with an important psychological edge: the drive to avoid past mistakes.

LeBron, Davis, Russell, and Hachimura each have a different story of loss, but they share a similar mindset: to never experience the pain of falling short again. That psychological edge can be invaluable, especially when it comes to playoff intensity. Failure in the Finals creates a hunger that can be channeled into work ethic, leadership, and performing under pressure. These players now know what it feels like to get close and fall short—and that’s the kind of experience that can motivate a team when everything is on the line.

1. The Motivational Drive

When the Lakers get to the postseason, there will be a collective hunger to prove that they can overcome the disappointment of past failures. Each of these players will have a chip on their shoulder, particularly if they face the same teams they lost to in previous years. The desire to get over the hump is something that only players who have truly been there can understand.

2. The Wisdom to Navigate Pressure

These players also know what finals pressure feels like. They won’t get rattled by big moments. They won’t be intimidated by the bright lights and the stakes. They’ve been through it before, and they’ve learned how to handle themselves when everything is on the line.

The Lakers’ new strategy of building their team around players who’ve lost in the Finals may be unorthodox, but it’s one that gives them a competitive edge. The pain of failure can be the greatest motivator and, in this case, it could be the fuel that propels the Lakers back to championship contention. The hunger for redemption, paired with their skill and leadership, could be the exact combination needed to push the Lakers across the finish line and back into the ranks of the NBA’s elite.

In the end, **championships aren’t just won with talent**, but with the wisdom gained from past heartbreaks. The Lakers are building a team that knows just how hard it is to win and, for that reason, is extraordinarily determined to get the job done.