The Los Angeles Lakers have rapidly transformed into legitimate NBA championship contenders, currently holding the league's best record at 10-2 after a six-game winning streak. This unexpected surge has defied preseason doubts, fueled by exceptional play from their star guards.
Luka Dončić has been a driving force, averaging 39.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and two steals per game. His scoring output through the first nine games of the season, 361 points, surpassed Michael Jordan's 1986-87 mark for the most points in that span in modern NBA history. Dončić's performance was particularly notable in the Lakers' recent 121-116 victory over the Detroit Pistons, a game he missed due to back tightness.
In Dončić's absence, Austin Reaves delivered a season-high 43 points against the Pistons, who possess the league's third-highest defensive rating. Reaves is averaging a strong 25.3 points on efficient shooting splits of 50.8% from the field and 41.3% from three-point range, ranking him among the league's top scorers and most efficient shooters. Dončić and Reaves together form the NBA's highest-scoring duo, averaging a combined 64.6 points per game.
The team's depth has also been a significant factor. Center Walker Kessler is consistently delivering double-doubles, averaging 14.9 points and 10.8 rebounds. In a recent 124-114 win against the Atlanta Hawks, when Reaves was sidelined, Lakers reserves stepped up, with Collin Sexton contributing 18 points and six assists, and Sandro Mamukelashvili adding 23 points and eight rebounds.
Defensively, the Lakers are showing surprising strength, ranking second in steals per game (10.8) and third in blocks per game (6.4). Kessler leads the NBA in contested shots, and even Dončić has increased his effort on defense, leading the league in recovered loose balls and ranking high in charges drawn. Their offensive rating of 121.5 is the highest in the league, complementing their improving defensive metrics.
This turnaround marks a significant departure from preseason expectations, where the Lakers were not considered among the league's elite. General Manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick have been credited for assembling and guiding a team that has surpassed all projections. The Lakers last won an NBA championship in 2020.