Ric Flair did not hold back after the Los Angeles Lakers’ Game 1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals Tuesday night. The wrestling legend and longtime Lakers supporter posted a fiery message on X, formerly Twitter, taking aim at injured superstar Luka Doncic, criticizing him for missing playoff action while recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.

“Luka @lukadoncic , Please Get In The Game! Take A Shot Of Cortisone And Deal With The Pain! They Are Paying You 50 Million A Year, And You’re Not There! WTF! I Hope @JeanieBuss Trades You Next Year. Nobody Wants A Lame Duck On Their Team!”

The frustration surrounding the Lakers stems from mounting expectations around the partnership between LeBron James and Doncic. Los Angeles was bounced from the 2025 NBA Playoffs in a 4–1 first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a disappointing end to their first postseason together after the blockbuster trade that brought Doncic to L.A. in February 2025. Now, in the 2026 playoffs, Lakers fans were hoping to see the superstar duo take a step forward after Los Angeles advanced past the Houston Rockets in the first round, but injuries have once again complicated the team’s path toward making a deeper postseason run.

Without Doncic in the lineup, Los Angeles has had to lean heavily on James and the remaining core to create offense and keep pace with Oklahoma City’s youth, athleticism, and depth. In Game 1 at Paycom Center, the Thunder ultimately pulled away after halftime, riding a strong second‑half surge from Chet Holmgren and their perimeter attack to outplay the short‑handed Lakers over the final two quarters.

Oklahoma City now carries momentum into Game 2, while the spotlight remains firmly on Doncic’s recovery and the Lakers’ playoff future.