Derek Fisher believes Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler can prevent the Lakers from suffering the usual post-LeBron James collapse.
The Los Angeles Lakers are entering unfamiliar territory after LeBron James’ departure, but Derek Fisher does not expect his former team to collapse without the four-time NBA champion.
Fisher, who won five championships during his playing career with the Lakers, believes Los Angeles remains capable of winning between 45 and 50 games because it already has a franchise cornerstone in Luka Dončić.
“You think about the few organizations where LeBron has been, you tell me where their record has gotten dramatically better after he left,” Fisher said on 97.1 The Fan LA. “So it’s not going to fall off that much because Luka is there.”
That separates the Lakers from the other franchises James left during his career.
Dončić Changes the Equation
Cleveland won 61 games during James’ final season before his first departure but fell to 19 victories the following year. Miami dropped from 54 wins to 37 after James returned to Cleveland in 2014. The Cavaliers later went from four consecutive NBA Finals appearances to another 19-win season after he joined the Lakers.
Los Angeles should not experience that type of decline because the organization did not have to begin searching for its next superstar. Dončić was already in place before James left for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Lakers can now build their entire offense around Dončić, who is still in his prime and capable of carrying one of the NBA’s most productive scoring attacks. Austin Reaves also gives him an established second creator after averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds last season.
Mar 19, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard AustinReaves(15) hugs Los Angeles Lakers guardLukaDoncic (77) after 60 point game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Isabella Frias-Imagn Images“I think Luka and Austin Reaves are basically an All-Star backcourt that you can roll out every night,” Fisher said.
Los Angeles reinforced its commitment to Reaves by signing him to a four-year, $185 million extension.
Lakers Still Have Work Ahead
Fisher also pointed toward Walker Kessler as a reason for optimism, describing the young center as an “almost All-Star-ish type of big” because of his defense and rebounding.
Kessler gives Dončić the type of rim-running center he has historically elevated while addressing one of the Lakers’ most persistent defensive problems. Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili provide additional support around the team’s new core.
Feb 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Los AngelesLakersguard Luka Doncic (77) shoots against Utah Jazz centerWalkerKessler(24) during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn ImagesFisher’s prediction is still dependent on several things going right. The Lakers must stay healthy, establish a dependable wing rotation and prove that a Dončić-Reaves backcourt can survive defensively against championship-level opponents.
Replacing everything James provided will not happen through one player. Los Angeles will need its deeper rotation and younger core to collectively compensate for his scoring, passing and leadership.
However, the Lakers are not beginning the post-James era without direction. They already have their next offensive engine, an emerging co-star and a defensive anchor.
That foundation gives Fisher a legitimate reason to believe Los Angeles can remain firmly in the Western Conference playoff race.
