The Los Angeles Lakers are kicking off their first season without LeBron James in almost a decade. Yeah, you heard that right, *a decade*. For a team that’s been so defined by one player for so long, this is a seismic shift. They went out and built an almost entirely new roster to usher in the Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves era, and boy, is there a lot to unpack already.
The “No LeBron” Era Is Officially A Reality Check
Austin Reaves himself admitted he hasn’t even processed starting a season without James by his side. “I don’t know if I’ve honestly processed it yet,” he said, adding that “Starting a season without him on the team is going to be different for me. That’s kind of all I’ve ever known.” He’s got “nothing but love and respect” for James, but this is a massive adjustment for a player who’s only known playing with one of the greatest ever. Lakers legend Derek Fisher didn’t hold back on what this means, pointing out a brutal historical truth: “You think about the few organizations where LeBron has been, you tell me where their record has gotten dramatically better after he left.” It’s not a great track record, and Fisher straight up said it. He does see potential though, calling Luka and Reaves “basically an all-star backcourt” and Walker Kessler a “young developing almost all-starish type of big” on defense and rebounding. But even with that, his projection for LA is a cautious “45 to 50 wins,” and that’s only “if a lot of things are going to have to go right.” That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for a championship contender, is it?
Michael Porter Jr. Throws Cold Water On Championship Hopes
If Fisher’s warning wasn’t enough, Michael Porter Jr. piled on during a recent livestream. Despite all the roster changes, MPJ made it super clear he’s not buying the championship hype for these new-look Lakers. He kept it real, saying flat out, “Yeah, I don’t like that roster. To be a championship roster? I mean they might be solid, but I don’t see them winning no chip.” Ouch. He didn’t even want to commit to them being “solid,” which tells you everything you need to know about how the league views this team. Porter’s comments should be a massive red flag, a direct warning that this team, right now, looks like it has way more questions than answers.
The Lakers are clearly banking on Doncic and Reaves staying healthy and carrying the load, but if that plan hits a snag, it’s not looking good for them. Porter sees it, Fisher sees it, and honestly, so should everyone else. This is a critical season for the new Luka and Austin show, and their ability to prove the doubters wrong will define their early success. What do you think, can these guys pull off more than 45-50 wins, or is MPJ right on the money?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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