The Lakers’ championship hopes will depend on Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler answering three very different challenges.
The Los Angeles Lakers reshaped their roster around Luka Dončić this offseason, but their success will require more than another dominant season from their franchise player.
Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler form the Lakers’ three most important players entering the 2026-27 season. Their responsibilities differ, but each addresses something L.A. cannot easily replace.
Here is how they rank based on their importance to the Lakers’ championship hopes.
Apr 6, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard AustinReaves(15) and guardLukaDoncic (77) celebrate after scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images3. Walker Kessler
Kessler arrives with enormous expectations after the Lakers sacrificed two unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps to acquire him from the Utah Jazz.
That price reflected how badly L.A. needed a legitimate defensive anchor.
The 7-footer gives Dončić an ideal pick-and-roll partner who can finish above the rim without requiring designed touches. More importantly, he provides the rim protection the Lakers lacked last season.
Kessler’s availability will be critical after injuries limited him to five games last season. L.A. has Kevon Looney behind him, but Looney is better suited for a limited role at this stage of his career. The Lakers do not have another center who can match Kessler’s combination of size, shot-blocking and vertical athleticism.
If Kessler remains healthy, he can transform L.A.’s defense. If he misses extended time, one of the roster’s biggest weaknesses will immediately resurface.
2. Austin Reaves
Reaves earned his four-year, $185 million contract by becoming much more than a complementary player.
He averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds last season, establishing himself as a legitimate secondary creator. With LeBron James gone, Reaves must prove he can maintain that production while assuming greater leadership responsibilities.
The Lakers will need him to punish defenses that load up against Dončić. Reaves can initiate the offense, attack mismatches and create efficient scoring opportunities without dominating the ball.
His defense also matters. A Dončić-Reaves backcourt could be targeted by quicker guards, placing pressure on Reaves to compete consistently at the point of attack.
1. Luka Dončić
There was never any real debate over the top spot.
This is Dončić’s team, and the Lakers’ ceiling will rise or fall with him. After a hamstring injury disrupted the end of last season, he enters 2026-27 healthy and surrounded by a roster constructed to complement his strengths.
L.A. added shooting, athleticism and a high-level pick-and-roll center. Dončić now must turn those pieces into a cohesive offense while setting the standard for the franchise’s post-James era.
A healthy Dončić gives the Lakers a chance against anyone. For L.A. to become a genuine contender, however, its three most important players must remain available and deliver together.
