The Lakers will open their 2026 preseason with five games in 12 days, beginning Oct. 5 in Sacramento. The schedule gives JJ Redick an early chance to establish a new rotation around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves after an offseason that ended the LeBron James era in Los Angeles.
The early LegalBet.ro market reflects a team in transition. Los Angeles carries a 46.5-win total, with -105 odds on the over and -115 on the under. The Lakers also sit at 35-1 to win the 2027 NBA championship, a price that places them outside the league’s top tier entering training camp. Los Angeles finished the 2025–26 regular season 53–29, good for fourth place in the Western Conference.
Lakers Preseason Schedule Begins October 5
The Lakers start against the Kings at Golden 1 Center on Oct. 5, then travel to San Francisco to face the Warriors on Oct. 6. That quick back-to-back will test the team’s conditioning and should give Redick a useful look at his depth.
Los Angeles returns to Crypto.com Arena on Oct. 8 for a rematch with Sacramento. The Lakers then meet Golden State in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena on Oct. 13 before closing preseason against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on Oct. 16.
The five-game slate offers meaningful matchups without creating much room for a slow start. Sacramento and Golden State provide familiar Pacific Division opponents. Denver presents a late test against a Western Conference contender before the regular season begins.
Dončić will headline the offense. Reaves enters the season as his primary backcourt partner after re-signing with the Lakers in July. Their ability to create efficient shots for one another will shape the team’s ceiling.
The preseason also gives Los Angeles its first extended look at center Walker Kessler, acquired from Utah in July. Kessler can change the Lakers’ defensive identity with his rim protection and rebounding. Redick will need to find combinations that maximize Kessler’s interior presence while preserving the spacing Dončić requires.
Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, and Jaden Hardy add guard depth and shot creation. Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Adou Thiero will compete for frontcourt minutes on the wing. Those decisions matter as much as the preseason scores.
What The Win Total Says
A 46.5-win total sets a clear benchmark for the Lakers. It implies a strong playoff contender, but not a team expected to match the conference’s elite records. The slight juice toward the under shows the market sees more downside than upside at this stage.
That caution is understandable. Los Angeles is replacing a historic level of production and late-game poise after James’ departure. Dončić has proven he can carry an offense, but the Lakers must establish a new hierarchy around him.
Kessler gives the roster a needed anchor at center. Reaves has grown into a reliable high-volume scorer and secondary playmaker. Still, the Lakers need durable two-way contributions from their supporting cast, especially on the perimeter.
The key number is 47. A 47-35 record would clear the over and likely keep the Lakers in the top-six conversation in the West. Falling below that threshold could mean another trip through the Play-In Tournament, depending on the conference standings.
Redick’s second season will bring sharper expectations. His offense must generate clean looks without relying solely on Dončić isolations. His defense must protect the paint, limit second chances, and avoid the transition breakdowns that can sink a team over an 82-game season.
Lakers Championship Odds Start At 35-1
The Lakers opened at 35-1 to win the 2027 NBA championship. That price trails the early favorites, including the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, who entered the market at +250.
A 35-1 number does not rule out a Lakers run. It signals that oddsmakers need to see more before treating Los Angeles as a legitimate title favorite. The path is clear: Dončić must perform at an MVP level, Reaves must thrive as a co-star, Kessler must stabilize the defense, and the new pieces must fit quickly.
The preseason will not settle the championship question. It can answer smaller questions that lead there. Can the Lakers defend without sacrificing shooting? Which lineups best support Dončić? How much can Sexton and Grimes provide on both ends?
Those answers will begin to take shape on Oct. 5. The Lakers have a new foundation, a demanding Western Conference, and a futures market that remains skeptical. Training camp and five preseason games are the first opportunity to change that view.
