The Los Angeles Lakers picked up in 2025-26 right where they left off in 2024-25. They are enjoying a top-three seed in the Western Conference, and are on pace for another strong regular season. Despite that, some NBA personnel remain unconvinced of the Lakers being a real contender.
Tim Bontemps went around the NBA and delivered 30 lessons for all 30 teams. A major focus in that write-up was highlighting what was being said about each franchise. One Eastern Conference scout believed there was a clear aspect separating the Lakers from the cream of the crop in the West.