{"id":153133,"date":"2025-08-03T19:59:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T23:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=153133"},"modified":"2025-10-12T19:03:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T23:03:27","slug":"lakers-burning-questions-2025-26-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/08\/03\/lakers-burning-questions-2025-26-season\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Burning Questions For Lakers Heading Into 2025-26 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Los Angeles Lakers are so popular that they often seem like they\u2019re at the center of the sports world. Yet, looking at the state of the franchise, they\u2019re currently in the middle of two worlds. So, preparing for past and future as they head into the 2025-26 season, they\u2019re faced with several burning questions.<\/p>\n<h2>3 Burning Questions For Lakers Heading Into 2025-26 Season<\/h2>\n<h3>Will Luka Doncic\u2019s Weight Loss Pay Off?<\/h3>\n<p>Last season, Lakers franchise cornerstone <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Luka Doncic<\/a> was being shamed.<\/p>\n<p>At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, he undoubtedly has rare size as a natural point guard. Furthermore, Doncic isn\u2019t afraid to get physical, so his physique was a strength in myriad ways. Yet, at a time when professional athletes are expected to be in peak condition, the 26-year-old was.. well.. pudgy.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_125787\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-125787\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-125787\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_25460760_168415519_lowres-1-300x191.jpg\" alt=\"Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic\" width=\"300\" height=\"191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_25460760_168415519_lowres-1-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_25460760_168415519_lowres-1-1024x650.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_25460760_168415519_lowres-1-768x488.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_25460760_168415519_lowres-1-1536x975.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/USATSI_25460760_168415519_lowres-1-2048x1301.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-125787\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Feb 19, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrate after a play during the third quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Doncic didn\u2019t have to be ripped to make the game of basketball look like child\u2019s play. Nonetheless, while Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison wasn\u2019t the right messenger for an incensed franchise, there was some merit to his criticism.<\/p>\n<p>Doncic\u2019s weight impacted his lateral movement, which in turn affected his defense. Though he\u2019s had solid defensive performances, it\u2019s a weak point for him. The number of injuries that Doncic has sustained in recent years could be partially attributed to his poor nutritional habits as well. That being said, the fact his conditioning was even a concern at all spoke to a lack of discipline and maturity.<\/p>\n<p>Now that Doncic is <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/28\/behind-luka-doncics-insane-weight-transformation\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">looking as sleek as ever<\/a> though, the thinking is that his game will too.<\/p>\n<h3>What\u2019s The Deal With LeBron James?<\/h3>\n<p>An educated guess is that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LeBron James<\/a> will at least <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/16\/lakers-lebron-james-obvious-decision\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">begin next season with<\/a> the Lakers. Yet, his behavior this offseason does deserve <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/15\/los-angeles-lakers-lebron-james-trade\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">the speculation that it\u2019s generated<\/a>, not in the least because The Chosen One has a reputation for being Delphic. So many times this offseason, ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst\u2019s infamous meme has been fitting for something James has done.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Brian Windhorst became an NBA meme. Now why is that? <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2LbMvZkY4p\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/2LbMvZkY4p<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bkZO8sVlOa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/bkZO8sVlOa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Daily Dot (@dailydot) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dailydot\/status\/1836491506712010854?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Why is he at the Cleveland Cavaliers training facility?<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Bron pulled up to the Cavs practice facility \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n<p>(via iam_tcook\/IG) <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NLHROiykCD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/NLHROiykCD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BleacherReport\/status\/1941206663702380714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>What are those <em>Welcome Home<\/em> hats about?<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Rumors of LeBron James golfing in Northeast Ohio circulated this morning and now he posts himself wearing a \u201cWelcome Home\u201d hat.<\/p>\n<p>LeBron Watch 2025 is on. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TztURA9m9u\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/TztURA9m9u<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nick Pedone (@NickPedone12) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NickPedone12\/status\/1940431846346747909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 2, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Why hadn\u2019t he welcomed 2022 Defensive Player of the Year <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smartma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Marcus Smart<\/a> to the team by the time he had his introductory press conference?<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Smart says Luka Doncic recruiting him was \u201cbig time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He has not yet spoken to LeBron, who he called a \u201cbusy man\u201d that he hopes to connect with at some point.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DStarkand\/status\/1947787295886651590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Why had he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/3nLfOePvzj8?si=sLppqGE_bqItey7U\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">not been communicating<\/a> with former No. 1 pick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/aytonde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Deandre Ayton<\/a>?<\/p>\n<p>Where was he when the Lakers held a presser for Doncic signing <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/08\/02\/lakers-news-luka-doncic-extension\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">his max contract extension<\/a>?<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Most of the Lakers roster here supporting Luka as he announces his new max contract. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Ihdqa4p9HB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Ihdqa4p9HB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Rachel__Nichols\/status\/1951718968131260584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 2, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>What is this buzz that he\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/30\/buzz-mavs-could-land-lebron-james-surprise-trade\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">been thinking about joining<\/a> the Dallas Mavericks?<\/p>\n<p>At some point, it does start to look like James has started to look around for the exit sign, especially with <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/09\/lebron-james-update-retirement-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">his impending retirement<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/31\/should-lebron-james-retire-with-cavs-or-lakers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">connection to the Cavs<\/a>. All things being equal, he might already have walked out the door. Regardless of that, the Lakers have him under contract for at least one more season.<\/p>\n<p>With James returning, Doncic in arguably the best shape of his career, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/reaveau01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Austin Reaves<\/a> entering his prime and a rotation with multiple players who have been high-level starters, L.A. is a legitimate title-contender.<\/p>\n<h3>Will They Win It All?<\/h3>\n<p>Not many teams have two players who are arguably in the top-10 on their roster. So, so long as the Lakers have James and Doncic, there won\u2019t be a lot of competition for their top-end talent. In the regular season, this could be what leads them to beat up on the weaker teams. In the playoffs, it could be the difference making it to the next round or being eliminated.<\/p>\n<p>Basketball nor the NBA are always that cut-and-dry of black-and-white. However, the bottom line is that the Lakers have an advantage over most teams at the offensive end. There will likely be nights when they aren\u2019t the most prolific 3-point shooting team. Yet, they have two perennial All-NBA players that excel at creating for themselves and others. With Reaves as an x-factor, they should be able to take on even the toughest defenses.<\/p>\n<p>Whether they can hold up at their own end defensively is another matter.<\/p>\n<p>Doncic still has to prove his weight loss will translate to improved point-of-attack defense. Reaves has been vulnerable when faced with athletic and skilled perimeter players. James\u2019s activity level is seemingly impacted by his age and he\u2019s not getting any younger. Smart has frequently been injured as of late. Ayton\u2019s sputtering motor lowers ceiling (or, in this case, his hood).<\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Los Angeles Lakers are so popular that they often seem like they\u2019re at the center of the sports world. Yet, looking at the state of the franchise, they\u2019re currently in the middle of two worlds. So, preparing for past and future as they head into the 2025-26 season, they\u2019re faced with several burning questions. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":153208,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,1608,62,1248,3],"tags":[38,1133,596],"class_list":["post-153133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lakers","category-basketball","category-nba","category-nba-season-previews","category-news","tag-lebron-james","tag-luka-doncic","tag-nba-playoffs"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153133"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153133\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":153209,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153133\/revisions\/153209"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=153133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=153133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}