The Los Angeles Lakers have drawn intense criticism this offseason, with many analysts predicting a sharp decline following LeBron James’ departure. ESPN’s Nick Wright and other commentators have called the team’s offseason poor, forecasting a play-in finish or a first-round playoff exit. Critics argue the Lakers cannot survive without their former superstar, a narrative that has followed James every time he leaves a franchise. Brian Windhorst, a senior ESPN insider, is pushing back against that pessimism.
Speaking on the Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst expressed surprise that sportsbooks project the Lakers at only 45. 5 wins. He argued that the partnership between Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves gives Los Angeles a foundation capable of producing meaningful regular-season success, even if the roster still has weaknesses. The numbers support his confidence.
During the 2025-26 season, the Lakers went 30-11 when Dončić and Reaves played together, a win rate of roughly 73 percent. When those two shared the floor without LeBron James, the Lakers were 9-2. That small sample size undermines the claim that the franchise automatically collapses without James. Dončić led the league in scoring last season with 33.
5 points per game. Reaves, meanwhile, posted a career-best 23. 3 points per game. Together, they produced nearly 57 points per night, and with James no longer demanding possessions, both players are expected to have even more control of the offense.
Dončić creates, Reaves attacks, and the Lakers can now build their system entirely around that pairing. The roster still has a glaring issue: defense. Los Angeles finished 20th in defensive rating last season, a ranking that will not survive the Western Conference. That is where Walker Kessler becomes critical.
Acquired this offseason, Kessler is not just a rebounder; he provides rim protection, can erase defensive mistakes, and gives Dončić another dangerous pick-and-roll partner. If defenders collapse on Dončić, Kessler can roll to the basket. If they stay with Kessler, Dončić attacks or finds Reaves on the perimeter. There is a cost, however.
Los Angeles gave up valuable assets to acquire Kessler, and those assets could become a problem if another star becomes available later. But from a basketball standpoint, the move addresses the team’s biggest weakness directly. The emotional core of the debate remains LeBron James. No one disputes his greatness.
The question is whether the Lakers were obligated to keep building around a 42-year-old superstar because of his name and legacy. The NBA is getting younger, faster, and deeper, and Los Angeles decided to change direction. Instead of forcing an aging superstar into the future, they are building around Dončić. There was also a secondary benefit to the split.
The massive media circus surrounding James has left with him. A Lakers loss no longer triggers a national debate about his role, and every roster move no longer gets evaluated by whether it helps James win another championship. That pressure has moved to Philadelphia, where critics will now shift their focus. The Lakers finished 53-29 last season and already possess the most important piece of the new era in Dončić.
Reaves is playing alongside him at a career-high level, and Kessler addresses the roster’s biggest weakness. The team changed direction rather than waving a white flag. Whether that is enough remains to be seen, but the idea that Los Angeles was destined to fall apart without LeBron is far from proven.
