LeBron James Reveals Crucial Reason Lakers May Falter This Season.

LeBron James Reveals Crucial Reason Lakers May Falter This Season

 

 

Los Angeles — In a candid assessment of the 2025‑26 NBA season, LeBron James has pinpointed what he believes is the single most important factor that could determine whether the Los Angeles Lakers succeed or stumble this year — health and continuity. The Lakers star, speaking to reporters ahead of the NBA All‑Star break, made it clear that the team’s ability to stay physically healthy is what could ultimately decide its fate.

 

“Our success is going to come down to obviously our health,” James said bluntly when asked about what the Lakers need to do to make a deep playoff run. “I can’t state it any more clear.”

 

Despite a roster featuring James — now in his 23rd NBA season — as well as fellow stars like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have struggled this season to build consistency. James emphasized that while the Lakers have “looked very good” in stretches, there have also been times when their play has been inconsistent at best — even “disgusting,” as he put it — when key players were sidelined.

 

The Lakers, currently hovering around a competitive but fragile position in the Western Conference standings, have encountered a laundry list of injuries. James himself has dealt with missed games this season, while Dončić, Reaves and others have also spent significant time on the sidelines. When the team’s core has been healthy and sharing the floor, the Lakers have shown flashes of potential — even posting a solid record in the few games where all three stars were available — but those moments have been too rare to establish a rhythm.

 

“What’s most important is if we can get healthy — how many minutes we can be on the floor, how much chemistry we can build,” James explained. “You would hope that you can have the regular season and kind of build that cohesiveness, and things of that nature.”

 

James’ remarks reflect a broader reality confronting the Lakers this season: injuries have robbed the team of the opportunity to consistently develop on‑court chemistry and cohesion. When available, the trio of James, Dončić and Reaves has shown promise. In games where those stars have played together, the Lakers posted a 7‑3 record, offering a glimpse into what the team could become if its roster remains intact.

 

But outside of those glimpses, Los Angeles has been vulnerable — particularly on defense and in terms of consistency, ranking outside the league’s top teams in key efficiency metrics. Add in the physical toll on veteran players like James — now 41 and managing workload — and the Lakers’ path forward looks increasingly contingent on staying healthy rather than purely outperforming opponents.

 

Looking ahead, James has not shied away from acknowledging the challenge. While he stopped short of declaring failure, it was clear that without a sustained run of good health, the Lakers could struggle to live up to their championship aspirations this season.