The Los Angeles Lakers are not internally alarmed by external criticism of a Luka Doncic–Austin Reaves backcourt defensively, according to reporting from Dan Woike of The Athletic. The organization’s view hinges on roster construction around the pairing rather than questioning its viability in high-leverage minutes.
“Provided the Lakers address other needs on the wing and at the rim, defensive concerns about a Doncic-and-Reaves pairing are overstated, one team source said,” Woike reported. “Reaves was also one of the most important voices inside the Lakers’ locker room a season ago, his leadership developing year over year.”
The Lakers finished the 2025-26 regular season 53–29, placing fourth in the Western Conference and entering the playoffs as one of the league’s most efficient half-court offenses. Doncic led the team at 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game across 64 starts, while also posting 1.6 steals per game. He shot 47.6% from the field and 36.6% from three on 10.8 attempts per game, anchoring a high-usage offensive role with a 4.0 turnover average.
Reaves operated as a secondary creator, averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds across 51 games. He shot 49.0% from the field and 36.0% from three, while maintaining 87.1% at the free-throw line on 7.3 attempts per game. His combination of on-ball creation and off-ball scoring gives Los Angeles another perimeter engine alongside Doncic.
LeBron James, still producing 20.9 points and 7.2 assists at age 41, has taken on secondary defensive assignments in key stretches. Marcus Smart provides point-of-attack resistance, averaging 1.4 steals per game while logging 28.5 minutes across 62 appearances. Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura have also been used in wing-heavy defensive groupings designed to stabilize switching schemes.
Deandre Ayton’s rim protection has been another structural element, with the center averaging 1.0 blocks and 8.0 rebounds per game while playing 27.2 minutes nightly. The Lakers ranked fourth in the Western Conference standings despite lineup volatility, relying heavily on offensive spacing driven by Doncic’s usage and Reaves’ shot creation.
The backcourt pairing has also been tested in high-volume offensive environments. Doncic’s 8.3 assists per game have consistently generated perimeter looks for Reaves, who has functioned as both catch-and-shoot threat and secondary initiator. The Lakers’ offense has leaned on staggered creation rather than traditional defensive-first guard combinations.
