The Los Angeles Lakers have rolled out a consistent starting lineup when all of their players have been healthy. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have occupied the backcourt, Matisse Thybulle and either Jake LaRavia or Ziaire Williams have slotted in at forward, and Walker Kessler has started at center.
With LaRavia getting the start during the Lakers' most recent game, it's thus fair to ask: What must this starting lineup do differently to lead a team that can sustain success?
Los Angeles has made the bold decision to bring three of its four most lucrative offseason additions off the bench. With Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton anchoring the second unit, however, the Lakers have created a refreshing degree of depth and balance.
If this approach is going to last, however, then each starter will need to change something about the way they're currently playing.
Luka Doncic: Limit Turnovers
Luka Doncic is scoring and creating offense with unbelievable volume. He's currently averaging 38.5 points and 8.0 assists per game. In all, he's directly contributing 59.3 points per contest. That makes any criticism fairly difficult to justify.
If there's one area in which Doncic needs to improve, however, it's cutting back on his unforced errors. He's currently averaging 5.1 turnovers per game and is playing a rather significant role in the Lakers ranking No. 25 in points allowed via turnovers per contest.
Already a struggling defensive team, the Lakers are going to have a hard time achieving two-way balance if they keep handing the other team the ball.
Austin Reaves: Again... Limit Turnovers
While Doncic's turnovers are at least somewhat easy to defend, Reaves isn't exactly in the same boat. He's averaging 4.1 turnovers per game despite putting up the same number of points and 0.5 fewer assists per game than he averaged in 2025-26—when he coughed the ball up 3.0 times per contest.
23.3 points and 5.0 assists per game is certainly strong production, but Reaves is doing too much harm on offense for the good to be felt.
As noted, the Lakers are in the bottom four of the NBA in points allowed via turnovers. Reaves' 1.22 assist-to-turnover ratio is as big of a factor as any in that regard, as he's making the type of mistakes that one would expect with significantly greater volume.
Reaves is shooting the lights out and defending well away from the ball, but his turnovers could cost the Lakers dearly if he doesn't become more responsible.
Matisse Thybulle: Diversify offensive impact
It's hard to criticize one of the Lakers' most committed defenders, as well as one of their best shooters at the moment. Matisse Thybulle is playing fiercely competitive defense, causing chaos with his stocks, and creating invaluable space with his no-dip threes.
Though it's not necessarily the signature part of his game, the Lakers' starting lineup needs to be less predictable on offense and could thus benefit from situational diversification of Thybulle's game.
Thybulle doesn't need to score 15 points per game or dish out five assists per contest. Doncic and Reaves are high-volume players by design. He's attempting just 2.0 two-point field goals per 36 minutes, however, while dishing out just 2.0 assists per 36.
If Thybulle can be a bit more assertive with the ball in his hands, then the Lakers can become slightly more balanced. Truth be told, however, he should be safe as a starter if he keeps this up.
Jake LaRavia: Defensive rebounding
Yes, Doncic is an elite rebounder for a "point guard," if that's the position we're deciding his unique play fits best as. And yes, Walker Kessler must be better on the defensive glass. But Ziaire Williams was effectively being asked to play the 4 and struggled mightily on the rebounding front.
With this in mind, the best way for LaRavia to be a full-time starter is to make a stronger impact on the glass while maintaining a high level of shooting efficiency and defensive intensity.
LaRavia has never been the most prolific rebounder, but the Lakers need him to help finish possessions. Los Angeles currently ranks No. 26 in the NBA in offensive rebounds allowed and dead last in second-chance points allowed. Williams is a key culprit.
Thus far, Williams is averaging 2.0 defensive rebounds per game and 2.8 per 36 minutes. Furthermore, the Lakers are averaging 21.0 second-chance points allowed per 100 possessions when he's on the court and 18.3 when he isn't.
LaRavia, meanwhile, checks in at 2.1 defensive rebounds per game and 3.3 per 36—minimal progress, but progress nevertheless. More importantly, Los Angeles is allowing a team-low 16.8 second-chance points per 100 possessions with him on the floor and 21.0 without him.
LaRavia has things that he must do better, of course, but improving on what went wrong for Williams is a great start to stabilizing the starting five.
Walker Kessler: Consistently asserting himself on offense
Walker Kessler has been the last line of defense for the Lakers early in the 2026-27 season. He's also beginning to right the ship on the rebounding front from an individual perspective, which should help with the issue previously mentioned.
Though rebounding remains a pivotal matter, the biggest hurdle for Kessler to clear is remaining assertive on the offensive end of the floor.
With the outlined structure of the starting lineup, Doncic and Reaves are the only proven and reliable shot creators among them. Given Thybulle and Williams' limitations, that puts the onus on Kessler to not fade into the background.
He may not score much in isolation, but his activity on the glass, as a screener, and as a finisher can hold teams accountable. The good news is that he's attempted double-digit shots in three of his first eight games. The bad news is that he's also had outings with two field goal attempts and a 6-of-6 night where he should've asserted himself a bit more.
If Kessler can consistently step up with double-digit scoring nights, however, the Lakers' starting five should be able to prosper.
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