- \n
- Record: 53\u201329<\/li>\n
- Western Conference finish: Fourth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"LeBron](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/01krczbah45hz1yvw7hk.jpg\" "\\"LeBron")
<\/p>\nLeBron James and Luka Don\u010di\u0107 led the Lakers to the fourth seed in the Western Conference | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
This season was Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s first full year with the Lakers after the shocking deadline deal that sent him to L.A. from the Mavericks last season. It\u2019s Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s franchise moving forward, and he proved that this year by leading the NBA in scoring with 33.5 points per game.<\/p>\n
As a team, the Lakers went through a lot this season. James missed the first month of the season while dealing with sciatica <\/a>as Father Time appeared to come into play more than we\u2019ve seen previously with the timeless wonder. Reaves missed a month with a calf injury and, despite that, the Lakers still won 53 games\u2014their most regular-season wins since 2011\u2014and earned the fourth seed in the Western Conference. James had to get used to a new role upon his return with Don\u010di\u0107 and Reaves leading the way as scorers. The new situation brought some growing pains, but the Lakers turned into one of the NBA\u2019s hottest teams in March with a nine-game winning streak and 16 wins in 18 games.<\/p>\n
The Don\u010di\u0107, Reaves and James trio worked well, as each averaged more than 20 points per night this season. Aside from the primary scorers, Rui Hachimura had a career year shooting the ball and Luke Kennard proved to be a good addition at the trade deadline to provide even more space. L.A. had a frontcourt need, which it tapped Deandre Ayton to fill. Although he\u2019s not the player he was when he helped the Suns toward the NBA Finals, Ayton averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds along with a block per night as the Lakers\u2019 starting big man.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not a perfect roster and is forced to play in the stacked Western Conference, but this year\u2019s Lakers won the most games since James joined the franchise back in 2018 and earned home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Lakers postseason grade: B<\/strong>
![\"LeBron](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/01krd74y6d7zeyw285h9.jpg\" "\\"LeBron")
<\/p>\nLeBron James led the Lakers as Luka Don\u010di\u0107 was injured through their postseason run | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Yes, the Lakers were quickly swept by the Thunder, but L.A. deserves credit for getting out of the first round without Don\u010di\u0107 for the entirety of its postseason. Reaves started the first-round series against the Rockets on the shelf and James still led the Lakers to a commanding 3\u20130 lead before eventually eliminating Houston in six games. The Rockets were without Durant for all but one game of the first round, but even without their leading scorer, Houston still arguably had the better roster, as L.A. was without both Don\u010di\u0107 and Reaves.<\/p>\n
We saw some vintage LeBron moments<\/a> as he shined in the postseason when the Lakers needed him to, suddenly thrust into a lead role after that wasn\u2019t the case for the first time in his career this season. At age 41, James still has what it takes to be productive in the postseason. Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s absence was simply too much to overcome when pitted against the dominant Thunder.<\/p>\n
Now all eyes turn toward the offseason where James becomes an unrestricted free agent in the twilight of his career.<\/p>\n
More NBA Playoffs from <\/strong>Sports Illustrated<\/strong><\/p>\n
Listen to SI\u2019s NBA podcast,\u00a0Open Floor, below or on\u00a0Apple<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Spotify<\/a>. Watch the show on\u00a0SI\u2019s YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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