Doncic’s debut, LeBron’s recovery, and a Vegas twist
ESPN projects the Los Angeles Lakers to finish sixth in the West with 46 wins for 2025–26. LeBron James will miss time with sciatica, while Luka Doncic gears up for his first Lakers opener versus Golden State.
Vegas set the bar at 48.5, but ESPN’s model says the depth’s still thin—apparently, even spreadsheets think the bench forgot its playbook.
