James Worthy Reveals How Lakers Should Build Around Luka Doncic

The Los Angeles Lakers finished the 2025-26 season 53-29 and earned the fourth seed in the Western Conference, but the regular season success only made the playoff collapse sting worse.

Luka Doncic led the NBA in scoring at 33.5 points per game while adding 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists, earning his sixth All-NBA First Team selection.

Then a Grade 2 hamstring injury on April 2 ended his season.

Without Doncic, the Lakers were swept 4-0 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals.

It marked the second straight year the team fell short after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the 2024-25 first round. Back-to-back early exits have made one thing very clear.

The roster around Doncic is not good enough to hang with the best teams in the West, and the front office knows it.

Lakers legend James Worthy sat down with Kevin O'Connor on The Kevin O'Connor Show and broke down what the front office should prioritize this summer.

He pointed to three things.

"Shooters, particularly those who can hit the three consistently," Worthy said.

He also wants defenders who can take real pressure off Doncic rather than just trying to hide him on that end.

And the third piece is a big man who can protect the paint and also be a lob threat, someone who can finish at the rim and make teams pay for collapsing on Doncic drives.

Worthy praised Austin Reaves as a player Doncic needs next to him for his ability to create and play off the ball. 

Rob Pelinka has already said the roster will be built around what Doncic needs, and the level Doncic played at this year proved he is worth every bit of that commitment.

The blueprint already exists in the 2024 Dallas Mavericks, who reached the NBA Finals with Kyrie Irving handling playmaking, P.J. Washington stretching the floor and Daniel Gafford finishing lobs.

The Lakers are projected to have around $48 million in cap space.

Robert Williams III checks both boxes as a lob threat and rim protector, and at a projected cost around $12-13 million he would leave plenty of room for other moves.

Peyton Watson had a breakout year in Denver and would bring the two-way wing play Worthy described, though he is a restricted free agent.

Luguentz Dort is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and could take pressure off Doncic if the Thunder decline his team option.

Andrew Wiggins shot 41 percent from three this past season and fits the 3-and-D mold.

The Lakers have the money, the No. 25 pick and the motivation to reshape this roster.

As the next era of Los Angeles Lakers basketball takes shape, Worthy's blueprint gives the front office a clear plan for how to build around Doncic heading into 2026-27.