Home / Sports / Lakers: Championship or Bust?
Lakers: Championship or Bust?
14 Aug
Summary
- Perkins questions Lakers' defensive liabilities with Dončić and Reaves.
- Oddsmakers favor other teams for the 2027 championship.
- Lakers aim for a championship despite defensive concerns.
Kendrick Perkins believes the Los Angeles Lakers should target a championship in the 2026-27 season, even with reservations about the team's construction around Luka Dončić. Perkins acknowledged Dončić's significant offensive talent, suggesting the Lakers possess enough firepower for regular-season success. However, he ranked them behind other Western Conference contenders like Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver, and Minnesota.
Previously, Perkins expressed strong criticism regarding the Lakers' decision to build around Dončić and Austin Reaves, citing both as defensive liabilities. He suggested that playoff opponents might actively target the Lakers due to these weaknesses. Despite these concerns, Perkins maintains that the Lakers franchise cannot lower its expectations, stating, "The middle of the pack doesn't mean nothing to the Laker fan base. It's championship or bust."
Oddsmaker sentiment appears to align more with Perkins' skepticism than his optimism. FanDuel currently lists the Lakers at +5500 to win the 2027 NBA championship, placing them behind 17 other teams. This outlook contrasts with Dončić's stated excitement following the team's $12.5 billion sale, where he expressed a desire to "bring a championship to LA."
