The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a harsh end to the 2025-26 season in a four-game sweep against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals and now is the time for the team to look back on the season, both in what went right and what went wrong, and reflect on how to move forward.

Considering how the circumstances of the playoffs unfolded, losing Austin Reaves until midway through the opening round and Luka Doncic for the entirety of the playoffs due to injury, the lakers even making it past the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs seemed miraculous. 

Playing the Thunder was always going to be difficult even if the Lakers were at full strength, but despite the best efforts from LeBron James, Los Angeles was ultimately no match for the defending champions with the state of their depleted roster.

It was a disappointing season not only because of the sweep given the circumstances, but because of the promise that the team showed throughout the season.

The Lakers rocketed to a 16-4 start to the season and with Doncic playing like an early MVP candidate and Austin Reaves breaking out as an elite guard, the Lakers had all the makings of a championship team. 

Considering that hot start and the way that the Lakers finished the regular season before Doncic's and Reaves' respective injuries, where the team looked like they were filing on all cylinders with Doncic, Reaves and James all clicking in their roles, their entry into the playoffs was full of promise. 

That's what's made the end of the season sting that much more. 

“In terms of the season, a lot to be proud of… But certainly nothing that we’re satisfied about. This is a market with championship expectations," Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said (via Lakers). 

Pelinka touched on another essential aspect of the responsibilities that comes with representing the Lakers. As one of the most historic franchises in the NBA and playing in a city like Los Angeles with such a strong championship history, there's a certain level of expectation around the team.

Those expectations are compounded even more with Doncic on the roster. With the unexpected addition of the Slovenian star to the team through the now-infamous trade between the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers have added yet-another franchise star that provides continuity now that James' career is nearing it's end.

Having a player like Doncic on the roster, there is even more pressure for the Lakers to win while they can. That certainly wasn't the case this season and with a number of players potentially up for free agency this offseason, the Lakers could look completely different next season, but the pressure to win will still be the same.