The Lakers opened the 2025–26 season at home, energized by Luka Doncic’s brilliance and the promise of a fresh start. Instead, Lakers opening night ended with a 119–109 defeat after being thoroughly outplayed by Golden State. The Lakers fell victim to their all-too-familiar bad habits — sloppy turnovers, missed free throws, and another third-quarter meltdown.
It’s just one game, but it’s clear that the Lakers are far from resembling a championship contender.
Here are the five biggest lessons we learned after a revealing opening night:
1. Luka Looks Like an MVP
Luka nearly had a triple-double with 43 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists. He was clearly the best player on the floor. He was nearly perfect inside the arc — 15-for-17 on twos — and created high-percentage looks all night. Yet even an MVP-caliber performance couldn’t save the Lakers from themselves. And if Luka is going to get consideration for MVP voting, his teammates need to step up to help him start racking up wins.
When Luka scored, it often came from pure improvisation, not system execution. His brilliance only highlighted how fragile everything else looked. Nineteen turnovers and 25 percent from three won’t cut it, no matter how many step-backs he hits. If this team is going anywhere.
But he did prove that he’s talented enough to carry this team. Against lesser opponents, they might’ve escaped with the win. If Luka continues this type of play, the Lakers should be able to stay afloat until Lebron returns.
2. The Lakers Lack Chemistry
It’s hard to fake chemistry, and the Lakers tried. Players admitted it felt like they’d barely played together. Resting healthy stars in the preseason backfired badly — timing was off, rotations were late, and pick-and-roll rhythm between Ayton and the ball handlers looked uncertain all night.
There’s always going to be growing pains to start off the season. But ideally, you should get a good chunk of them out of the way during preseason. Now the Lakers have no choice but to go through them when the games count, and it may cost them a few losses.
3. The Lakers Need LeBron
JJ Redick even said it out loud — he looked down the bench mid-game and wished Lebron was on the floor.
LeBron’s absence was felt everywhere. Without him, the Lakers lacked direction when possessions stalled. Doncic handled the ball constantly but had no secondary organizer to relieve pressure or reset the tempo. LeBron’s ability to control pace, dissect zones, and demand focus has no substitute.
The franchise may be Luka’s now, but LeBron remains the team’s compass. Until he’s back — and fully healthy — the Lakers’ structure will feel incomplete.
4. Third-Quarter Collapse Is a Habit
Different season, same nightmare. Outscored 35–22 in the third quarter, the Lakers once again lost control coming out of halftime. Redick called it “a real problem.” And it’s been happening long before JJ came aboard. It seems to be more of a player issue and something they need to work on.
Golden State exposed every weakness — smaller lineups, miscommunication, and slow defensive reactions. A 16–4 run flipped the game instantly. Fixing this isn’t just about effort; it’s about leadership and preparation. Teams that consistently fold after halftime aren’t unlucky — they’re unready.
5. The Lineup Needs a Shake-Up
Without LeBron, the starting group of Luka, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura, and DeAndre Ayton lacked size, spacing, and defensive balance. Jimmy Butler bullied Vincent repeatedly, Ayton failed to capitalize inside, and the offense collapsed when Luka sat.
Marcus Smart should start. His toughness, communication, and defensive versatility are the tone-setters this team lacks. And he has more to offer offensively than Gabe Vincent in this small sample size. Starting Smart won’t fix all their issues, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Final Thoughts
The Lakers didn’t lose because Luka Doncic wasn’t great. They lost because everything around him wasn’t ready. The chemistry isn’t there, the rotations are off, and the team still hasn’t broken its worst habits.
It’s only one game, but it confirmed what the preseason hinted: this group isn’t anywhere near its ceiling. If L.A. wants to climb into contender status, urgency can’t wait until LeBron returns. It has to start now.
