Published for Lakers fans — October 2026
By Toxlay Sports Editorial Team · Last updated October 19, 2026
The Club
The Los Angeles Lakers are basketball royalty. Founded in 1947 and playing at Crypto.com Arena in iconic purple and gold, the Lakers own 17 NBA championships — tied for the most in league history: 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010 and 2020, plus five as the Minneapolis Lakers. From Magic and Kareem to Kobe and Shaq to LeBron, the franchise has always been where the game’s biggest stars come to shine. Now, for the first time since 2018, the LakeShow belongs to someone else. It’s Luka’s team now.
Last Season (2025-26): A Playoff Run Without Luka
The Lakers went 53-29 — fourth in the West, Pacific Division champs — and authored one of the strangest playoff runs in recent memory. In April, everything fell apart: Luka Doncic tore his hamstring on April 2 against the Thunder, and Austin Reaves suffered an oblique injury down the stretch. Neither played in the first round. A 41-year-old LeBron James carried the torch instead, leading the Lakers to a six-game series win over the Houston Rockets. But without their two guards against the Oklahoma City Thunder in round two, there was no magic left: the Lakers were swept, ending 115-110 in Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena. It was LeBron’s final game as a Laker — and Luka’s injury became the great what-if of the season.
Best Players Right Now (2026-27 Roster)
Luka Doncic, 27, Guard (#77) — The face of the franchise. Led the NBA in scoring (33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists) in his first full Laker season, his second scoring title, sixth straight All-NBA First Team, and fourth in MVP voting despite missing 18 games. Signed a three-year deal to stay. This is officially his team.
Austin Reaves, 28, Guard (#15) — The breakout co-star. A career year — 23.3 points per game — earned him a four-year extension worth about $180 million. He and Luka formed the league’s highest-scoring duo (56.8 points per night), and the Lakers went 30-11 with both on the floor.
Walker Kessler, 25, Center (#16) — The summer’s biggest addition. Acquired in a sign-and-trade from Utah (four years, $130 million; two first-rounders and two swaps going out). A 7’1″ elite rim protector — opponents shoot just 50.6% within six feet of him — and maybe the best center Luka has ever played with.
Quentin Grimes, 26, Guard — Locked in as a starter after signing for four years and $60 million. Averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists with Philadelphia last season; the 3-and-D wing this roster needed.
Ziaire Williams, 25, Forward (#1) — Signed for one year and $3 million, and penciled in as the fifth starter. Length, defense and energy on the wing.
Collin Sexton, 27, Guard (#2) — Signed for two years and $19 million. Instant offense off the bench; Young Bull energy for the second unit.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, 27, Forward-Center (#54) — Four years, $52 million. A skilled, passing big who gives Redick lineup flexibility behind Kessler.
Kevon Looney, 30, Center (#5) — Signed for one year and $3.9 million. Three-time champion as a Warrior; the steady veteran presence in the frontcourt.
Matisse Thybulle, 29, Guard-Forward (#22) — One year, $3.3 million. Two-time All-Defensive selection — the perimeter stopper this team has lacked.
Jake LaRavia, 24, Forward (#3) — A young wing with an edge; was on pace for over 100 steals last season and has the early inside track at power forward minutes.
Dalton Knecht, 25, Guard-Forward (#4) — The sharpshooter the fans love — though trade rumors have swirled around him (and Jarred Vanderbilt) as the Lakers look to trim a 16-man roster.
Bronny James, 22, Guard (#9) — Third season, contract guaranteed at $2.29 million. Played 42 games last year (2.9 points), improved his three-point shooting from 28.1% to 38.6%, and is now the third-longest-tenured Laker — chasing a real rotation role off the ball next to Luka and Reaves.
Head coach: JJ Redick — Third season. He won his 100th game on March 31 against Cleveland, steered a 53-win team through Luka’s injury, and now gets to build the offense around his two stars from day one.
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Star Spotlight: Stories You Should Know
The end of the LeBron era. Eight seasons, the 2020 bubble championship, and 25.9 points, 7.9 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game across 479 regular-season games in purple and gold. In June, LeBron told the Lakers he would not return — and signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers for his 24th NBA season. Luka was honest about what he lost: “He just let me be me, and I really respect that… I had so much fun playing with him. And I think we could have made some noise in the playoffs if me and AR don’t get injured.” The franchise moved on from a king to crown a new one.
The hamstring that changed everything. April 2, 2026, against Oklahoma City: Luka tore his hamstring and never played another minute of the season. He finished fourth in MVP voting anyway, accepted the blame in October — “sometimes the best decision for my team is knowing when to leave the court” — and spent the summer getting into the best shape of his career, even organizing an offensive minicamp in Slovenia for his new teammates. The Lakers believe this is Luka’s first MVP season.
Seventeen banners and counting. No franchise history hits harder: Magic’s Showtime, Kobe’s five titles (2000-2002, 2009, 2010), Shaq’s dominance, the 2020 bubble run. The Lakers and Celtics sit tied at 17 championships apiece — and the next banner is the whole point of this rebuild. Luka in purple and gold, chasing what Kobe and Magic chased: that’s the story of this season.
This Season (2026-27): Luka’s Team, Luka’s League
Vegas set the win total at 46.5 (BetMGM) with title odds at +3500 — belief that a healthy Luka-Reaves-Kessler trio can hang near the top of the West even without LeBron. The formula is simple: the league’s best offensive engine, an elite lob-and-rim-protection center, and a swarm of shooters and defenders (Grimes, Sexton, Thybulle, LaRavia) around them. The concern is just as simple: Luka and Reaves aren’t stoppers, and Kessler can’t guard all five positions at once. If the defense holds up, 48-50 wins and a top-four seed is the target. If not, the front office is already shopping the roster’s edges — Vanderbilt and Knecht are the names in the rumors.
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Games to Watch
Wondering when the Lakers play? The Lakers schedule opens with a California war — here are the early dates to circle, and grab your Lakers tickets early for these:
- October 21 — vs Golden State Warriors (home opener, 7:00 PM PT, ESPN): Opening night at Crypto.com Arena. Luka vs. Steph. The Luka era officially begins on national TV.
- October 23 — vs LA Clippers (home, 7:00 PM PT): The first Battle of LA — and the Clippers now employ LeBron’s old running mate Rui Hachimura. Bragging rights on the line.
- October 28 — at LA Clippers (Intuit Dome): The return leg, one week later, in the Clippers’ new building. Two Battle of LAs in the first eight days.
- October 30 — at Golden State Warriors (7:00 PM PT, Prime): The NBA Cup group-play opener — and a rematch at Chase Center. Luka, Reaves and the new-look Lakers get an early statement chance.
- Mid-November — vs Boston Celtics (home): The league’s oldest rivalry, 17 banners each. Circle it when the full calendar drops.
Biggest Rivalries — The Wars
1. Boston Celtics — THE rivalry. Seventeen championships each. The 2008 and 2010 Finals. Nothing in basketball carries more history, and every meeting is a referendum on the sport’s two royal families.
2. LA Clippers — The Battle of LA. Two games in the first eight days of the season — October 23 at Crypto.com Arena, October 28 at the Intuit Dome. The city is split; the Lakers intend to keep it theirs.
3. Golden State Warriors — The California war. Luka vs. Steph on opening night, then an NBA Cup clash at Chase Center nine days later. The West’s most watchable rivalry.
4. Denver Nuggets — The recent tormentors. Denver ended the Lakers’ season in the 2023 Western Conference Finals and again in the 2024 first round. Jokić vs. the Lakers’ new frontcourt is appointment viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did LeBron James leave the Lakers?
Yes. In June 2026 LeBron told the Lakers he would not return and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers for his 24th NBA season. It is Luka Doncic's team now.
When the Lakers play the Clippers in 2026-27?
October 23 at Crypto.com Arena and October 28 at Intuit Dome — the first Battle of LA comes twice in eight days.
Who are the best Lakers players right now?
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler — the new 46.5-win-projected core under JJ Redick.
When the Lakers play the Celtics in 2026-27?
Mid-November at Crypto.com Arena. Both franchises sit on 17 championships, so every meeting is a referendum on the sport's royal families.
Show Your Colors
LakeShow — at Crypto.com Arena or watching from home, true fans wear it. Gear up with quality fan sportswear — jerseys, tees and athletic wear built for real supporters:
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Sources & official links: Los Angeles Lakers official site · Los Angeles Lakers tickets
LakeShow — the crown changed heads, but the standard never does.
