The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the most entertaining teams to watch to start the 2025-26 season. Even though the team has been without NBA legend LeBron James through their first 12 contests of the season, they've managed to pull out a 10-4 record, with their most recent win being a 119-95 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

However, that doesn't mean the Lakers haven't had hiccups along the way, such as the two blowout losses they suffered on their five-game road trip. Losing to both the Atlanta Hawks and the Oklahoma City Thunder, it seems as though the loss to the reigning champions stung the most, as Lakers center Deandre Ayton revealed what it did to the team.

Ayton Reveals Impact From OKC Loss

"I was telling Kleber and Vando...that OKC game woke us up. Coming in with different spirits and understanding like forget the back-to-back. You know what I'm saying? This is Laker basketball. We're trying to win a game," Ayton said after the team's win over the Bucks.

Looking back on that Thunder game, it's hard to realize that it was the same Lakers team that's been lighting up box scores all season. They scored a season low 92 points, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves being held to 19 and 13 points, respectively.

First Things First (@FTFonFS1) on X “The Thunder are just running through the league… The depth, it’s just incredible what they’re doing.” @Chris_Broussard breaks down what he learned from OKC blowing out the Lakers:

In terms of the game as a whole, the Lakers had 20 turnovers and converted just 19 of their 28 attempts from the free-throw line. Given the stellar offensive seasons both Reaves and Doncic have been having, it was crazy to see them held to such a little impact, but it seems as though that's more on Oklahoma City than on the Lakers.

Regardless, it seems to have lit a fire under the Lakers, who have rattled off two straight wins since that game, scoring 118 or more points in both games and holding the Bucks under 100 points despite their hot start to the year.

Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) on X LeBron’s role upon returning to the Lakers from injury won’t change the fact that the Thunder are still the team to beat in the NBA 😳 John Wall points out how LeBron’s playmaking can be the key to how he fits in Los Angeles — but OKC was also shorthanded last night, and they

With LeBron James working his way back from injury as he practices with the team's G League affiliate, a return is on the horizon for the all-time great as he looks to make his record-setting debut for his 23rd season. Adding James will be a help to the Lakers for sure, but if they can continue to keep this hunger and motivation, the sky is the limit.

The Lakers return to action on Tuesday against the Utah Jazz, with a chance that James makes his debut, and this Los Angeles squad will look to take advantage of that momentum.