The Los Angeles Lakers‘ recent 117-135 loss to the Charlotte Hornets has cast a shadow over what is turning into a mediocre start to 2026. With a 4-4 record in 2026, the Lakers have cooled off significantly after an initial three-game winning streak, sliding to a 1-4 mark over their last five outings. Despite this recent slump, the team remains in the top five of the Western Conference as they anxiously await the return of Austin Reaves.
Reaves has been sidelined since December 12 with a calf injury that is expected to keep him out for at least two more weeks. His absence has been compounded by off-court noise, as trade rumors involving Reaves were recently ignited by comments from LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, adding another layer of tension to a locker room trying to find its footing.
Luka Doncic Stats Puts Him on Track for Lakers Immortality
While the team results have been inconsistent, Luka Doncic has been anything but. Currently leading the NBA in scoring, a feat he also achieved during his final full season in Dallas, Doncic has spent his first year in Los Angeles rewriting the franchise record books. In the 60 games since his blockbuster trade to the purple and gold, Luka has posted numbers that already rank him among the elite in Lakers history.
He currently holds the highest career scoring average in franchise history at 31.1 points per game, moving past legendary marks set by Elgin Baylor (27.4), Shaquille O’Neal (27.0), and Jerry West (27.0). His perimeter shooting has been equally transformative, as he leads the team with 3.5 three-pointers per game, a significant jump over the 2.2 average held by both D’Angelo Russell and LeBron James.
He’s also third in assists, averaging 8.2 per game. Only Magic Johnson surpasses him with an average of 11.2 assists per game, and LeBron James trails behind with an average of 2.0. At just 26 years old, Doncic is only now entering the traditional physical prime of his career, despite having played at an MVP level since his second year in the league.
However, the history of the Lakers is built on hardware, not just box scores. To truly cement his legacy alongside five-time champions like Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or three-time winner Shaquille O’Neal, Luka will eventually need to translate these historic averages into banners hanging from the rafters. The statistical foundation is arguably the greatest the city has ever seen, but the pressure to deliver a title is the unique burden of being the face of this specific franchise.
LeBron James Lakers Legacy
LeBron James’ basketball resume is beyond reproach; he is the definitive icon of the Cleveland Cavaliers and a top-two figure in Miami Heat history thanks to his two titles in four seasons. However, his chapter in Los Angeles is viewed through a different lens. If LeBron’s Lakers tenure concludes with only the 2020 championship, he likely sits in the bottom half of the franchise’s top ten list, trailing icons like Magic, Kobe, Kareem, and Shaq, as well as Jerry West and James Worthy.
Even at 41, LeBron remains a statistical marvel, defying his age as the league’s elder statesman with averages of 22.7 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.8 rebounds this season. Yet, there is a growing sense that the torch has already been passed.The debate in Los Angeles is no longer about whether LeBron can still lead, it is about how quickly Luka can surpass what James has built in Hollywood.
If Doncic can secure even two championships during his prime years in LA, his statistical superiority would likely vault him past LeBron in the all-time Lakers hierarchy. While James continues to fight against the clock in his record-breaking 23rd season, the future of the franchise clearly belongs to the Slovenian star.
