Kendrick Perkins has sparked a heated debate by comparing Luka Doncic's postseason availability to Joel Embiid's infamous playoff struggles—and Lakers fans might not like what he has to say.

Doncic's absence loomed large over Los Angeles during the playoffs, leaving a glaring hole in their offensive game plan. After the Slovenian superstar suffered a hamstring injury late in the regular season, hopes of a return flickered but never fully ignited. He sat out the Lakers' victorious series against the Houston Rockets and remained sidelined against the Oklahoma City Thunder, when the team desperately needed another elite scorer and playmaker.

While Doncic's return wouldn't have made the Lakers favorites, it could have narrowed the gap and potentially prevented JJ Redick's squad from being swept. But the 27-year-old stayed on the bench, and Perkins didn't hold back on ESPN's First Take.

"When it matters the most, when it's time for those 16 games, the playoffs that I'm talking about, you best believe that LeBron James is going to be available," Perkins said. "You best believe that LeBron James is going to be healthy. I can't say the same thing about Luka Doncic."

The former NBA champion didn't stop there. He pointed to a troubling pattern: "Luka Doncic, for the last three years, it's been something come postseason time—whether it's been out of shape or him dealing with some type of injuries, and most of the time it comes to soft tissue injuries. So if you're the Lakers, you have a concern there."

Perkins acknowledged Doncic's undeniable talent—calling him "one of the best scorers that this game has ever seen"—but then dropped the hammer: "When it comes to being reliable, Luka is starting to get in that territory of Joel Embiid. When you need him the most and it comes postseason time, he's not available."

That comparison stings, especially for a player now carrying LeBron's burden. Doncic led the league in scoring and topped the Lakers in assists this season, but with that power comes responsibility. If he's the new centerpiece of the Lakers' project, his availability must match his production—or the concerns will only grow louder.