How Has Luka Doncic Carried the LeBron-Less Lakers?

Fifteen games into the 2025-26 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers have shocked fans and done something unthinkable: they’ve thrived with LeBron James playing just one game so far.

They were expected by many to sit in the middle of the Western Conference standings; however, the Lakers instead find themselves in fourth place thanks to elite guard play, an improved defensive structure, and a new team identity that has formed faster than anyone could have imagined.

The biggest question now is whether this place can remain sustainable once the season gets tougher, or now that LeBron has returned.

Luka Doncic 2.0 Could Be An MVP Contender

Any explanation for the Lakers’ early surge has to begin with one major theme, and that is “a historic season-opening heater”, fueled by the improved conditioning, sharper decision-making, and a balanced offensive approach by none other than Luka Doncic himself.

Doncic ranks near the top of the league in categories such as true shooting percentage, points created per game via assist, and points scored on drives to the basket, all while limiting his turnover totals.

He’s not just scoring at a high clip, but he’s orchestrating the team as a whole. Doncic has elevated the play of his teammates, stabilized lineups, and turned Los Angeles into one of the NBA’s most efficient half-court offenses.

And to think, he’s done almost all of it without LeBron beside him. This is a reality that many believed would, unfortunately, expose the roster early. Instead, however, it’s just revealed how high the Lakers’ ceiling really is.

A New Identity Without LeBron

According to NGSC Sports, JJ Redick spent the offseason preparing for stretches without LeBron as opposed to ignoring the possibility of them, and it has paid off.  Redick’s system now revolves around things like motion principles, pace variations, and higher defensive commitment, rather than promoting an isolation-heavy offense like they did in previous years.

The result? A team that looks competitive, connected, and calm under pressure.

Role players like Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart have embraced their expanded roles. And a player like Austin Reaves has developed into a great No. 2 option behind Luka. Without LeBron dominating possessions, the offense has evolved into a more read-and-react structure.

Redick summed this sentiment up best when he told reporters that the success stems from “trusting our structure instead of the moment.”

Through 14 games, that structure worked. Now, with LeBron back, the Lakers will try to maintain that momentum.