The Los Angeles Lakers are ready to make some noise now that the 2024-25 NBA playoffs are finally here. The rollercoaster ride of a season saw the Lakers finish with a 50-32 record in head coach JJ Redick's first year behind the bench, securing them the Western Conference's No. 3 seed and an opening-round series against the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves.
Even though the Lakers are the higher seed in their upcoming series, the Timberwolves can't be underestimated. Every member of Redick's roster must do their part if Los Angeles wants to advance to the second round, including a specific guard who's been stuck in a recent slump.
Lakers Need Jordan Goodwin to Step Up in the Playoffs
A combination of injuries and roster moves led to 24 players suiting up for the Lakers this season, including veteran guard Jordan Goodwin. The former Saint Louis product spent the campaign's first few months playing G League minutes with South Bay before Los Angeles signed him to a two-way contract in February.
It didn't take long for Goodwin to impress his teammates and Redick's staff, resulting in the Lakers waiving Cam Reddish to upgrade the former's contract to a one-way deal. Unfortunately, the Centreville, IL native's production and efficiency have since fallen off a cliff.
In the nine games he's played since upgrading his contract, Goodwin is only averaging 3.4 points and 3.9 rebounds while playing about 15 minutes per outing. He's only shooting 32.5% from the field and 26.3% from the three-point line during that stretch, which are noticeably below the 48.1 FG% and 42.9 3P% he was averaging in the 20 previous games.
Goodwin still contributed with some aggressive play and the occasional defensive stop, however, it's clear that his lackluster offensive performances are doing the Lakers more harm than good. He must find a way to break out of his funk as early as Game 1 if he wants to maintain a key role with L.A. throughout the 2025 postseason.
A strong playoff performance is also crucial for Goodwin's outlook beyond this spring. The 6-foot-3 guard's new contract comes with a $2.3 million team option for the 2025-26 campaign, which the Lakers might decline if he doesn't prove his value to Redick & Co.
As hard as it's been to watch Goodwin lately, the good news is that his slump hasn't hurt Los Angeles' championship aspirations. The Lakers currently hold the fourth-best 2025 NBA Finals odds (+1400) on DraftKings Sportsbook ahead of Saturday's Game 1 showdown with the Timberwolves.
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Odds update periodically and are subject to change.