 | | Lakers Getting Something frm Everybody | | by Mike Trudell | | Such is the depth of talent in the NBA, and especially in the wild Western Conference, that a team missing even one of its top three players will typically feel it in the loss column.
And yet, despite being without LeBron James (all nine games), Luka Dončić (four) and Austin Reaves (two), the Lakers have managed to start the 2025-26 season with the NBA’s 3rd-best record at 7-2.
How? | | | “I would just say our mentality,” said JJ Redick after an improbable win at Portland on Monday in which none of the aforementioned primary creators played. “You can’t win in the NBA without stepping on the floor and expecting to win, and I thought our guys had that from the start. And then, that confidence, belief, and truly connectivity in the second half was just awesome to watch. It was just blossoming.”
That continued with a come-from-behind victory over San Antonio (5-2), whom the Lakers passed in the standings, on Wednesday.
Redick and his coaching staff are due a good chunk of credit pie for instituting that mentality, demanding it, and providing the answers to the tests that are the nightly opponents. But, crucially, each and every player has responded, contributing something that’s helped produce the wins:
Luka Dončić: 40.0 points per game in five games on 50.0% FG’s and 30.5% 3’s, with 11.2 FTM per game, not to mention 11.0 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.0 steals; that’s beyond MVP-level production.
Austin Reaves: 31.1 points and 9.3 assists in seven games on 48.9% FG’s and 34.4% 3’s with 9.3 FTM per game; that’s beyond All-Star production.
Rui Hachimura: 16.7 points on 58.9% FG’s and 47.2% from 3, good for a true shooting percentage of 69.9%, 2nd only to Jaxson Hayes, impressive considering Hachimura’s often difficult shot diet.
Deandre Ayton: 17.5 points on 65.7% FG’s with 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, and some excellent screen setting, sealing, rolling and short rolling.
Marcus Smart: 10.3 points and 3.4 assists with 1.7 steals, and several key hustle plays per win; Smart’s +69 on the young season is by far No. 1 on the team, with Reaves second at +46.
Jake LaRavia: 12.1 points and 5.2 rebounds on average, with a red-hot 3-game stretch in wins at MIN (10 of 11, 27 points), at MEM (5 of 8, 13 points) and vs. MIA (10 of 13, 25 points).
Jaxson Hayes: 6.0 points and 4.5 boards in 18.3 minutes per game on 76.2% FG’s, and a team-best TS% (74.8%); Hayes ranks third on the team in raw plus/minus thus far at +26.
Gabe Vincent: Before hurting his ankle, Vincent started in consecutive wins over Minnesota (five assists) and Sacramento.
Jarred Vanderbilt: One of three players to play in all nine games, Vanderbilt has grabbed 5.2 rebounds in 19.4 minutes (9.7 per 36 minutes) and 1.2 steals (2.3 per 36); his energy and athleticism has been a key balance to LA’s skill players.
Dalton Knecht: Posted consecutive games of 16 points (vs. POR) and 15 points (at Minnesota), plus eight points and four rebounds @ POR.
Bronny James: Enjoying the best stretch of his young career, highlighted by playing crunch time minutes and making key plays in a win vs. Miami (three steals, a drive and kick for an assist to Smart for a critical 3), and strong point-of-attack defense while leading the Lakers with six assists in the win at Portland.
Nick Smith Jr.: Exploded for 25 points off the bench to lead the Lakers to the win at Portland, draining crunch-time 3’s and adding six assists.
Indeed, it’s been something from everybody.
After the most recent win, Wednesday vs. San Antonio without LeBron and Reaves, I asked Redick how the group continues to find a way.
“I think there’s a little bit of continuity with what we’re doing, and it’s also just simplifying things and being really explicit about the details of what we’re trying to get, and the timing of what we’re trying to get,” he explained. “I don’t think we executed well in preseason on the offensive end, but each game it seems like, from an execution standpoint, we’ve gotten better and better. And then the effort offense has been awesome.
“I can point to the game, in Minnesota, where that was like an ‘Ahh, OK…’ moment where we did both. High-level execution, and then a lot of 50-50 balls that we got turned into points. Defense to offense, our transition. That’s where we have to find that balance of the effort offense and the execution.”
Redick and his players now embark upon their first extended road trip of the season, a five-game, 10-day trip through Atlanta, Charlotte, OKC, New Orleans and Milwaukee. It’s a chance to the team to continue to bond together, building upon what’s been an area of strength early.
“We got a good group,” Redick concluded. “I’m excited about this group and what we could potentially be.” | | | | | |
