The Los Angeles Lakers picked up in 2025-26 right where they left off in 2024-25. They are enjoying a top-three seed in the Western Conference, and are on pace for another strong regular season. Despite that, some NBA personnel remain unconvinced of the Lakers being a real contender.
Tim Bontemps went around the NBA and delivered 30 lessons for all 30 teams. A major focus in that write-up was highlighting what was being said about each franchise. One Eastern Conference scout believed there was a clear aspect separating the Lakers from the cream of the crop in the West.
"Are they up there with [the] Oklahoma City [Thunder], Denver [Nuggets] and Houston [Rockets]? No," an East scout said. "But they're clearly in the top six. Their depth overall isn't good, but their top-line talent makes them a team I wouldn't want to see in the playoffs."
A different scout, from the West this time, offered a more hopeful take on the Lakers. Los Angeles was described as one of the best teams in the conference. The reason for that? Luka Doncic. The thought was when the Slovenian superstar is on your team, you're always going to be 'in the mix.'
Luka Doncic will be expected to carry a heavy burden for the Lakers
The idea of the best player on any given team carrying a heavy load is nothing new. That is especially true for a franchise that employs one of the the premier talents in the entire NBA.
Doncic has been nothing short of spectacular to start 2025-26. The Lakers superstar continues to lead the NBA in usage percentage with a mark of 37.5 throughout the new season thus far. The offensive production has matched the burden.
Doncic also leads the NBA in points per game with 34.5. If Luka continues this pace for the entire year, and stays at the number one spot, it will be the second time in his career when the scoring title will belong to him.
For whatever it is worth, the last time Doncic did that, his team made the NBA Finals.
Luka Doncic is the fastest player in NBA history to reach 400+ PTS & 100+ AST in a season. pic.twitter.com/9T26uXYDDL
— Real Sports (@realapp) November 24, 2025
The Lakers did improve their depth around Doncic a fair bit during the offseason. Effectively swapping out Dorian Finney-Smith (and Jordan Goodwin) for Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia has proven to be worth the trouble.
Los Angeles still needs more. Health is a big part of the equation as well.
Deandre Ayton will not return to tonight's game because of his knee contusion, the Lakers say.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 24, 2025
Ayton left the game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday with a right knee contusion and the entirety of Los Angeles let out a collective gulp. Just like that, Maxi Kleber was playing closing minutes for the Lakers.
That right there illustrates the point about depth perfectly. There are worse options than Kleber to turn to in a moment like that. However, it still does not inspire real faith in the slightest.
The reality is mostly inescapable for Los Angeles at this point. Doncic will be the leader of the Lakers' top-heavy approach in 2025-26 as they pursue a championship season.