The Los Angeles Lakers saw their 2025 postseason run come to an end much sooner than any fan or pundit had expected after the Purple and Gold fell 103-96 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 on Wednesday night.
The center position was a major issue for Los Angeles throughout this series, and that was only amplified during Game 5 as Rudy Gobert went off for one of the best performances of his career, and the Lakers had no answer. With that being the case, the reaction from Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams to the outcome of the series has made waves on social media.
Mark Williams on IG celebrating the Lakers’ downfall: pic.twitter.com/aiCVP5lCW3
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 1, 2025
For those who may be unaware, the meme shared by Williams gained fame in the 2010s after someone shared the image and said they were stopping by the funeral for one of their haters to make sure they were dead.
As all Lakers fans remember, the franchise had swung a trade with the Hornets at the deadline in order to bring Williams aboard to be Los Angeles' next starting center. However, that trade was ultimately rescinded by the league after Williams failed a physical. This turned into a rather contentious topic as the agent for Williams placed the blame squarely on the Lakers for the failed physical after he consulted with other physicians.
In the end, Williams never suited up for the Purple and Gold and finished out the 2024-25 campaign in Charlotte as a member of the bottom-feeding Hornets. It's clear that he still has plenty of hard feelings toward Los Angeles' medical staff and front office for nixing the deal, as he had nothing to gain by chiming in on the Lakers being eliminated in the first round.
As Rob Pelinka and the rest of the front office turn their attention to the NBA Draft and free agency, they will undoubtedly be on the hunt for an upgrade at the center position after what transpired against Minnesota. With public comments like this coming when they did, it seems safe to assume that Williams will not be on the Lakers' wish list this offseason.