5 realistic expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2025-26 season

The Western Conference has always been a more challenging side in the NBA. As the Rockets and the Clippers continue to recruit more talents, their strength has increased. However, the Lakers are still the focus of attention as they enter the full season when LeBron James and Luca Doncic join forces for the first time.

Led by coach J.J. Reddick, the Lakers performed well in their first season and are now looking forward to taking a step further in the new season. The team has been eliminated in the first round in the past two seasons, and now with the new players joining, they are eager to go further in the playoffs.

The Lakers have strengthened their frontcourt strength by introducing DeAndre Ayton and Jack Lavaria, while Marcus Smart brings much-needed defensive hardness to the backcourt. Even so, the competition in the Western Conference remains fierce, which means Los Angeles must be down-to-earth and keep the goal pragmatic.

With that in mind, here are five reasonable expectations for the Lakers in the 2025-2026 season.

Five realistic expected performances of the Lakers in 2025-2026 season

5. Focusing on strengthening their efforts in the offense and defense of the inside, the biggest criticism of the Los Angeles Lakers last season was their scoring ability, and the introduction of Luka Doncic failed to alleviate this problem. Most of their scores in the interior depend on LeBron James, and their average score is 19th in the league, with just 113.4 points.

With the addition of DeAndre Ayton, the Lakers finally have the big guy they have longed for since Anthony Davis left the team. His joining gives them more control in the interior, while James and Doncic are able to focus on creating opportunities for him and matching him, making him a reliable interior choice.

4. Manage the depth of the player squad wisely to prevent players from being injured

The Lakers need to be wary of injuries this season. Many experts have questioned whether LeBron James can stay healthy and in a stable state during the season. Meanwhile, their new players D'Andre Ayton and Marcus Smart have had few appearances in the past two seasons.

In addition, Luka Doncic experienced high-intensity matches in the European basketball championship against Slovenia and played only 50 games last season. Given the huge workload he and LeBron have been under, the Lakers may face increasing injuries. If they cannot allocate their playing time wisely, rotation management should be a priority.

3. Turn the focus from LeBron James to Luca Doncic

The Lakers have been relying on LeBron James as team leader for the past few seasons. But the team has seen a turning point after Luca Doncic joined from the Mavericks in February this year. Their new members are now more accustomed to Doncic's playing style, while Arteton has become an excellent jump shot and hit point.

With LeBron turning 41 this year, his career is clearly coming to an end. And this is also his last season in his contract with the Lakers, and for this team, it is an excellent time to turn the core player into Luca Doncic.

2. Go beyond the first round and strive to achieve better performance in the playoffs

After being eliminated in the first round in the past two rounds of the playoffs, the Lakers need to go further this time. They made it to the Western Conference Finals two years ago, and the Lakers do have enough experience and strength to go further, but they need to win at home in the playoffs.

In addition, new players fill the gap in the team's roster, and the Western Conference Finals is a must-achieve goal for this team.

1. Continue to win more than 50 games in the season

Last season, the Lakers ranked third in the Western Conference, winning a total of 50 games. To continue this success, they must maintain good shape at the beginning of the new season; they cannot decline.

The Lakers should strive to win at least 50 wins again and reach 60 wins this year in the new season.

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