The Los Angeles Lakers will hope for a greater consequence within the 2025-26 NBA season following a first-round exit within the 2025 postseason.
Evidently, the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and LeBron James shall be key to the Los Angeles Lakers‘ success subsequent season.
However together with their two superstars, the Lakers additionally want Austin Reaves to step up as a 3rd star on the roster.
The 2025-26 NBA season shall be Doncic’s first full marketing campaign with the long-lasting franchise. With Doncic trying in nice form forward of the season, it’s no shock that followers have excessive expectations for him.
Nevertheless, Doncic can solely achieve this a lot with out assist from his Lakers teammates. Conserving that in thoughts, Reaves believes his partnership with Doncic is one thing to control throughout subsequent season.
“It brings a lot chaos offensively, clearly since you acquired two guys which might be – clearly I’m not placing myself in Luka’s class as a result of he’s a top-3 participant within the NBA.
“Nevertheless it brings two guys on the 1 and a pair of, then you definately clearly have Bron too, who’re prepared passers and create chaos on protection,” Reaves stated by way of the Lakers Nation.
“So subsequently, I believe it’s gonna be powerful for groups to remain in entrance of us, and I really feel we will get attractiveness on each possession.
“After which defensively, we simply needed to lock down and simply be with it mentally each possession,” he added.
Reaves additionally mirrored on the Lakers’ protection put up the blockbuster Doncic commerce.
“Proper after the commerce, I believe for a month or two, I believe we had been a top-5 protection within the NBA. So we’ve proven that we will try this. We simply acquired to proceed to develop our schemes and the way we need to try this, be sensible with all that,” the 27-year-old said.
Did the Lakers endure a 4-1 humiliation by the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves? Sure. Did Reaves wrestle through the playoffs? Additionally, sure. However is it the tip of the world? No.
Throughout the identical interview, Reaves clapped again at impatient followers and media members for calling out the Lakers’ protection.
“All people likes to blow issues out of proportion. I believe if you develop into a very good protection, it’s not about one particular person defender guarding the ball. It’s about everyone who’s locked into rotations.
“To be sincere, there’s a lot expertise within the league. You have a look at gamers which might be first, second group All-Protection, they usually get blown by among the time, too,” Reaves continued.
He concluded: “So that you gotta be in conditions the place if that does occur, then it’s a must to be linked each single possession.”
The feedback felt like Reaves’ delicate try to defend Doncic’s critics, who imagine that the previous Dallas Mavericks star is an abysmal defender. Reaves additionally praised Jaxson Hayes as he was totally destroyed for his efficiency come playoff time.
However on the finish of the day, the easiest way to silence critics is to win the NBA Championship. Can the Lakers do it in 2026? Solely time will inform.
