The LeBron James era is over. The Luka Dončić era begins in earnest. Here are the five biggest storylines to track as the Lakers open the 2026-27 season.
1. Can Dončić and Austin Reaves Share the Ball at This Volume?
For the first time in his Lakers tenure, Dončić doesn’t have to defer to anyone. Neither does Reaves. Both are high-usage players who thrive with the ball in their hands, and figuring out how their games mesh — possession by possession, not just in theory — will shape everything else about this team’s ceiling.
2. Does Walker Kessler Fix the Defense?
The Lakers gave up a massive draft-pick package to get Kessler, betting that a true rim protector solves problems that have lingered for years. Early returns on his pick-and-roll chemistry with Dončić, and how much he improves the defense on paper versus in practice, will tell us whether the trade was worth it.
3. How Fast Can a Brand-New Starting Five Gel?
Four of the five projected starters didn’t play together last season. Chemistry usually takes time to build, and the Lakers don’t have the luxury of a soft early schedule to figure things out quietly. Watch how quickly JJ Redick‘s rotations stabilize in October and November.
4. What’s Next for Bronny James?
With his father gone from the roster, Bronny enters a season where he’ll be evaluated purely on his own game for the first time. Whether he carves out a real rotation role or stays buried on the bench is one of the more human storylines to follow this year.
5. Can the Lakers Survive the Western Conference?
None of this matters if the West doesn’t cooperate. The conference remains loaded with contenders, and a Lakers team this unproven together will have to earn its playoff seeding the hard way, against opponents who’ve had continuity the Lakers simply don’t have yet.
We’ll be tracking all five storylines here all season — bookmark LakersBeat and check back after every game.