Lakers' Rebounding Woes Persist Despite Undefeated Start

SALT LAKE CITY — Despite a 3-0 start to the 2026-27 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers are grappling with a persistent weakness: defensive rebounding. This issue, identified as a significant concern during the preseason, has carried over into their early regular-season contests.

In their recent victory over the Utah Jazz, the Lakers were outrebounded by a margin of 21. The Jazz secured six more defensive rebounds and a commanding 15 more offensive rebounds, translating to a 34-11 advantage in second-chance points. Jazz player Ace Bailey alone recorded more offensive rebounds than the entire Lakers team.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves expressed surprise at the extent of the rebounding disparity. "Jesus Christ," Reaves said. "I didn’t know it was that bad."

Coach JJ Redick attributed the struggles to a fundamental issue. "Box out," Redick stated when asked about potential improvements. Reaves echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the need to execute this basic principle more consistently.

The Lakers' defensive rebounding rate ranked 23rd among NBA teams during the preseason. This trend has worsened in the regular season, with the team currently ranking second-to-last in defensive rebounding.

The struggles have occurred even with the presence of Walker Kessler, who played in only two preseason games. The team's difficulties on the defensive glass have been evident regardless of the lineup on the floor.

While the Lakers have compensated for these rebounding deficiencies with strong shooting to achieve their 3-0 record, the issue remains a concern for a team aiming for championship contention. Opposing teams are averaging 23 second-chance points per game compared to the Lakers' 11.3.

The team successfully addressed their turnover issues in the game against the Jazz, recording only 10 giveaways. However, the persistent rebounding weakness presents another challenge that the Lakers must resolve to avoid more significant consequences later in the season.