Why the Lakers Will Win the Championship

After trading for Luka Dončić back in late January, the Lakers overnight went from early playoff exits to a legitimate Finals-calibre team, aiming to get LeBron James one last ring to solidify his GOAT status. With the Lakers pushing all the way up to the third seed in the West (up from sixth before they traded away Anthony Davis), it seems like all the pieces are falling into place for them to reach their goal of winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy. This year is probably the best chance the Lakers have had to win the Finals since 2021, Today, we’re going over the key factors that will lead the Lakers to winning a championship.

The Lakers Have Two Top-5 Players in the League on the Same Team

After acquiring Luka Dončić before the trade deadline, the Lakers’ duo has been elite on the scoring side. Luka is able to draw double teams and kick the ball out to whoever is in the corner, making everyone a legit lob threat on the team. The way Luka manipulates defences and poses a threat from anywhere on the court leads to breakdowns and open shots. LeBron is also able to do this to an extent—still capable of getting a shot off from anywhere.

Luka Doncic and Lebron James are two superstars for the Lakers

The Lakers’ Role Players Are Playing Elite Basketball

The Lakers’ role players—Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Gabe Vincent—can change the game with their specialties. All of them can hit the corner three reliably and then get back on defence to lock up. These players are key pieces for a deep playoff run. All but Gabe Vincent are also lob threats for Luka and LeBron, which will be a major way the Lakers generate offense this postseason.

Rui Hachimara has been playing his role.

Austin Reaves Is Stepping Up at the Right Time

Just behind Luka and LeBron is Austin Reaves, who’s playing great basketball as a third option and will be another pillar in the Lakers’ championship push. Austin is like a mini Luka—he can get to his spots and score at will. As a third option, he’s averaging 20 points per game, the second-highest for a third option behind the Clippers’ Norman Powell. That just shows how many scoring threats the Lakers have to challenge opposing defenses this postseason.

Austin Reaves has stepped up this season

The Lakers Have (Debatably) the Easiest Path to the WCF

After finishing as the third seed, the Lakers face the Timberwolves in the first round, where they’re heavy favourites. In the second round, they’ll play either the Rockets or the Warriors—again, matchups where they’ll likely be favoured. By finishing third, they avoid their kryptonite, the Denver Nuggets, in the early rounds, and potentially avoid the Thunder as well if OKC doesn’t make the second round. If the Lakers reach the Western Conference Finals, they’ll likely face OKC—a tough matchup, but one where both teams have high-volume scorers and elite defence, so it’s not a mismatch.

It Seems Written in the Stars

This last point might sound a little sentimental, but honestly, it just wouldn’t feel right for the Lakers and LeBron to lose in the first or second rounds. LeBron wouldn’t let an opportunity like this slip by. They’ve got one of the better Lakers teams of the last few years, and letting it go to waste—especially in what’s likely LeBron’s second-to-last season at this level, would be criminal. It would also be poetic justice against the Dallas Mavericks and their GM, Nico Harrison, who’s been pushing the narrative that “defense wins championships” after shipping out Luka for AD.

If everything goes to plan, the Lakers will hang up banner number eighteen in Crypto.com Arena—Coach JJ Redick’s first season at the helm, Luka’s first season in purple and gold, and possibly LeBron’s last championship run. The blocks are all in place. All the Lakers have to do is keep up their regular season form and go all the way for Lebron.

Could we see Lebron and the Lakers lift another championship