Through the first quarter of the 2025-26 season, Luka Doncic has propelled the Los Angeles Lakers to near the top of the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers currently sit with an 18-7 record, which is good for third alongside the San Antonio Spurs. Doncic has been among the league’s best, leading the NBA in scoring and vaulting the Lakers offense into the top ranks.
However, Los Angeles has shown cracks in recent weeks as the competition level has gotten better. Better teams have exposed the Lakers’ lack of perimeter defense and foot speed, often times resulting in track meets that the team isn’t equipped to handle over the long haul. Doncic acknowledged the purple and gold need to figure out their defensive issues quickly, though there are no clear answers on the roster as currently constructed.
Doncic revealed he and LeBron James recently met with head coach JJ Redick and said the conversation revolved around defense and the stars doing more to carry the team.
“It was good. We talked about a lot – not just that. But he was right. You got to get a little bit more, especially from the star players. So that’s on us, that’s on me,” Doncic admitted. “We just gotta give more, especially at the start of the game. We gotta start the game better. But I thought in Phoenix we did a pretty good job. The plan was to focus on ourselves and defensive mentality, so I think we did a pretty good job.”
Defense is an obvious concern for a Los Angeles team that doesn’t have many two-way players on the roster, but as Doncic noted he and James can also be better at the start of games. Slow starts to halves have plagued the Lakers for years, so getting off on better notes could go a long way in regards to team success.
It’s hard to imagine Doncic and James giving more than what they’re currently supplying, though that’s simply life for them until Austin Reaves returns. Even when the Lakers’ “Big 3” is available, Doncic will be counted to lead the way just about every night.
Los Angeles knows that it’ll go as far as its stars can take them, and it’ll be interesting to see if they’re up to the task.
Lakers’ future draft picks viewed as less valuable after Luka Doncic trade
The Luka Doncic trade will have rippled effects across the league for years as it fundamentally changed the balance of power in favor of the Lakers. Another by product of the Doncic trade is the team’s future draft picks are now reportedly considered less valuable around the league.
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