As the Los Angeles Lakers search for ways out of their injury-inspired tailspin, the Denver Nuggets are showing the value of playing the long game. Both Denver and Los Angeles have endured endless injury absences in 2025-26, with even their franchise players going down for extended periods of time.
As the Nuggets leapfrog the Lakers in the standings and steal the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, however, one truth is prevailing: Denver is outpacing Los Angeles in team building.
Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic has missed 16 games this season, with a frightening knee injury sidelining him for a month. That only scratches the surface of the manner in which Denver's rotation has been ravaged by injuries in 2025-26.
With two outings remaining, Aaron Gordon has missed 44 games, Christian Braun was sidelined for 36, and Cameron Johnson and Peyton Watson have each been absent from 26.
Despite that fact, Denver is 52-28 and in sole possession of the No. 3 seed. Los Angeles has admittedly overcome its own injury issues to go 50-29 through 79 games, with Luka Doncic missing 15 and counting, Austin Reaves sitting for 28 and counting, and LeBron James absent from 22.
As the Lakers face a steady stream of lackluster showings without their top players, however, one truth prevails: They've built a wildly insufficient roster.
Nuggets are built to survive stretches without stars, Lakers are not
Los Angeles has admittedly only played a season-and-a-half with Doncic, but the 2024-25 mid-season trade didn't exactly blow up the roster. The Lakers only lost two players in the deal: Anthony Davis in a superstar swap, and Max Christie.
Christie would've undoubtedly been of great aid to the Lakers' need for 3-and-D specialists, but that only creates another question without an answer: Why was he the only talent being developed for that role?
The Nuggets have overcome their injury woes by turning to the youth movement for crucial present-day contributions. Watson, 23, flashed unexpected signs of star potential when Braun went down, and Braun, 24, has begun to look like the starting-caliber wing he is since Watson was injured himself.
Furthermore, the loss Gordon's of defensive impact has at least been somewhat covered up by the surprising emergence of Spencer Jones, 24, as a key contributor who has started 37 games.
Nuggets invested in young talent, prodcutive veterans to help Nikola Jokic
All three of those players, as well as recent standout Julian Strawther, were developed within the Nuggets organization. The Lakers, meanwhile, have devalued the NBA Draft to the point that their few 25-or-younger players are all but more consistently appearing in the G League than the Association.
To make matters worse, Los Angeles' veteran investments have failed to save them from disaster. Meanwhile, the likes of Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas have stepped up for Denver in pivotal moments.
That's resulted in the Nuggets not only overcoming injuries, but not overburdening Jokic. During their most recent outing, for instance, Jokic had 14 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. For as impressive as a triple-double may be, he attempted just eight field goals on a night when his team scored 136 points.
Eight different players scored in double figures, with Gordon adding six points and six assists. It's no small luxury for a superstar to have that type of offensive support—but it is a franchise's burden to provide it.
Lakers desperately need to find reliable help, developable talent
Therein lies the harsh reality of the Lakers' situation: Their recent shortcomings without the stars were inevitable. It will always be difficult to win games without top-tier players, but the Lakers' most recent outing was a 123-87 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder—just one game after losing 134-128 to a 25-win Dallas Mavericks team.
Though victory may not be the most realistic goal with multiple stars sidelined, the Lakers' lack of defensive consistency, developable talent, and general depth were all on display.
Adou Thiero played well against Oklahoma City, but it was just his 22nd appearance of the 2025-26 season. It was also his first game with at least 10 minutes since Feb. 10. Dalton Knecht played 19 minutes in a welcome return to the rotation, but it was just his ninth appearance since the same date—and he'd averaged 5.0 minutes per game during that time.
Having spent years trading away first-round draft picks and prioritizing star power while failing to support said standouts with quality depth, the Lakers are facing the consequences of inaction.