The Los Angeles Lakers will have their eye on trying to win a championship this season.
Fresh off a disappointing first round playoff exit, the Lakers enter the 2025 season with hopes of competing in a competitive Western Conference.
With teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets getting better, Los Angeles will have their work cut out for them.
They need everyone on the same page and their top players to rise if they want to make some noise.
Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves is coming off a breakout season with the Lakers, averaging 20.2 points, 5.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 73 games with the team.
Reaves burst onto the scene offensively, helping the Lakers during critical stretches of their season.
He developed an all-around offensive game and showed strong playmaking skills. He also proved to be a consistent enough three-point shooter.
Reaves had a couple of offensive outbursts including scoring a career-high 45 points in a game against the Indiana Pacers.
If these top performances continue this season, Reaves will surely be headed for a big payday in free agency.
DeAndre Ayton
The Lakers signed DeAndre Ayton this past summer after he finalized a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Ayton is exactly what the Lakers needed as the team lacked size and rim protection last season in the playoffs. Coming off a down year with the Blazers, a change of scenery might be exactly what he needs.
The big man should be able to feast off easy looks around the rim and be effective in the pick-and-roll.
He will provide strong rebounding and serve as a rim protector as well. It will be interesting to see if Ayton can return to his old form from when he was on the Phoenix Suns.
If he does, the Lakers will be in business.
Luka Doncic
This will be Luka Doncic’s first full season with the Lakers.
In 28 games with the Lakers last season, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists as he eased into the team’s system.
Doncic’s weight and conditioning was questioned by many, so the superstar responded by getting into the best shape of his life.
Doncic dominated the competition at EuroBasket and he looks ready to put the league on notice.
The Lakers made solid offseason additions, adding Jake LaRavia, DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart, who all complement Doncic’s skillset.
The Slovenian star will have all the tools needed to have a spectacular season, one that could land him his first-ever MVP award.
