EL SEGUNDO—Media Day for the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, September 29 inside the UCLA Health Training Facility in El Segundo had the ambiance and hurried excitement of a Hollywood red carpet premiere. Cameras flashed, microphones and fans swarmed the packed gym as LeBron and Luka posed for pictures.
For the first time in years, a sense of optimism and Title expectations are surrounding the 2025-26 Lakers.
Last season ended bitterly as the Lakers were smashed in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.
Several changes needed to be made, and the team has addressed those issues. First, we absolutely needed a reliable Center.
We signed big man in DeAndre Ayton. “This is the biggest opportunity of my career,” Ayton said.
And he’s right. At 7 feet tall, with soft hands and natural touch, Ayton adds an interior presence the Lakers desperately need. His 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season in Portland only scratch the surface of his potential impact alongside Dončić and James.
Pick-and-rolls, rim protection, second-chance points—Ayton’s fingerprints could be all over the Lakers’ title chase if he fully embraces this role.
Just imagine Doncic dishing the rock to Ayton for thundering Alley-Oop at will. His fingerprints will be on defense.
This off-season Luka took greater responsibility in regard to his conditioning. Luka Dončić wore the crown. Leaner, quicker, and brimming with confidence after a dominant EuroBasket run with Slovenia, he walked in looking like a man ready to redefine his NBA chapter.
“I would just say way less tired,” Luka said of his offseason transformation. “Probably a little quicker because of that.”
Head coach JJ Redick praised his star’s commitment, noting that conditioning is no longer Luka’s weakness but his weapon. A rested Dončić doesn’t just score—he defends, he leads, he sustains. In Los Angeles, Luka isn’t just the future; he’s the present.
Next, the ageless LeBron James at 40 years old entering his unprecedented 23rd NBA campaign finally sees light at the end of the tunnel.
“I don’t know when the end is, but I know it’s a lot sooner than later,” James confessed, his words carrying the kind of pause that makes you stop and listen. He chose to pick up his $52.6 million player option this summer, ensuring one more ride with the Lakers, but beyond that? The future is a mystery.
When the Lakers acquired Marcus Smart, they weren’t just adding a defender. They were importing an identity.
“That’s what I came to do, that’s why Luka called me, that’s what JJ wants,” Smart explained, his voice carrying conviction. The former Defensive Player of the Year averaged nearly two steals per game last season, but his value goes beyond numbers.
With the NBA season just weeks away, the Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for an excellent year. Our season tips off on Tuesday, October 21, as Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors visit the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
