Gilbert Arenas questioned the Lakers’ revamped roster but credited Luka Doncic with a Chris Paul-like ability to elevate his supporting cast.
Gilbert Arenas is skeptical of the Los Angeles Lakers’ new roster, but his assessment of Luka Doncic leaves room for a more encouraging interpretation.
The former NBA guard compared Doncic’s ability to elevate teammates to Chris Paul’s, arguing that the right supporting players can allow an elite creator to make a team work.
“You just need to give them enough, and with the perfect pieces for their game, they can make it work,” Arenas said on Gil’s Arena.
His comments came during a broader critique of the Lakers’ offseason. Arenas joked that the team’s ticket prices should fall, making his doubts about the revamped group clear.
But the Paul comparison raises a useful question: How much should a roster be judged by individual reputations, and how much by the jobs its players can perform together?
The comparison centers on creating advantages
Doncic and Paul have different games, but both can force defenders into difficult choices.
An effective screen can require a second defender to help. A patient dribble can draw a big man away from the basket. A pass delivered at the right moment can turn a teammate’s ordinary possession into an uncontested attempt.
Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guardLukaDoncic(77) stands on the court during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn ImagesThat is the value of an elite offensive organizer. He can reduce how often other players must manufacture difficult shots themselves.
For the Lakers, the practical question is whether their supporting players can finish those possessions.
A shooter must convert enough open attempts to keep defenders attached. A rolling big must catch the ball and finish. A secondary ballhandler must recognize when the defense has shifted and attack before it recovers.
Those responsibilities sound straightforward, but they determine whether an offense sustains its advantages or repeatedly asks its star to start over.
Arenas’ comparison is strongest when viewed through that lens. Doncic can improve the opportunities available to teammates. The teammates still have to capitalize.
Fit must hold up on both ends
The Lakers’ approach deserves evaluation beyond whether every addition qualifies as a major name.
Walker Kessler offers a potential screening and finishing partner. Austin Reaves gives the offense another player who can handle the ball and punish defensive attention directed toward Doncic.
Whether those combinations succeed will depend on execution, availability and the lineups surrounding them.
Offensive compatibility also cannot settle every concern. The Lakers must defend well enough to keep their scoring from becoming a nightly rescue operation.
They need reliable perimeter containment, timely help and possessions that end with a defensive rebound. Otherwise, an efficient offense can still find itself chasing the game.
That is where training camp and the early schedule will provide a clearer picture than offseason arguments.
Arenas’ skepticism sets a low expectation for the supporting cast. His comparison also acknowledges why Doncic makes that expectation difficult to measure.
The Lakers have an offensive centerpiece capable of creating good opportunities. Their next task is proving they have enough players who can finish them and defend the other end.
