The Los Angeles Lakers are 3-0 since LeBron James returned to the lineup. Those three wins came against underwhelming competition, seamlessly writing the narratives of skepticism for all the critics. James and the Lakers will not get an opportunity to extinguish that doubt until December.
The first three wins of the 2025-26 season that featured James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves all available came against the Utah Jazz (twice), and the Los Angeles Clippers. Neither of those two teams will be viewed as reputable competition for Lakers naysayers.
Any of the numbers or results from those contests will be treated as easy wins for those who have already made their minds up about the Lakers being pretenders.