The Los Angeles Lakers have undergone significant changes to their roster this summer, prompting discussions about the team's potential for the upcoming NBA season. While many analysts have raised concerns about the team's defensive capabilities, Lakers insider Jovan Buha has identified injuries as his primary worry when assessing the team's prospects on his show, Buha’s Block.
Buha expressed, "My biggest worry is health. Looking at Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler, that has not been the most durable trio over the past two or three years. So that would be my biggest concern. Just can the Lakers get ideally 70-ish games out of each of those three guys? 65-plus games out of each of those three guys?" He believes that if the key players can maintain their health, the Lakers could contend for home-court advantage and achieve over 50 wins this season.
Injuries have plagued the Lakers in the past, affecting their performance during the 2025-26 season. Luka Doncic, who suffered a grade 2 left hamstring strain on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, missed the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs. Last season, Doncic played only 64 games, a drop from 50 games the previous year, raising concerns about his durability. Despite these setbacks, Doncic had an impressive season, averaging 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, making it crucial for him to stay healthy moving forward.
Austin Reaves also faced injury challenges last season, suffering a grade 2 left oblique strain on the same day as Doncic, although he managed to return for the playoffs. Earlier in the season, he missed a significant stretch due to a grade 2 left calf strain, ultimately playing just 51 games. With LeBron James now with the Philadelphia 76ers, Reaves has stepped into the role of the Lakers' second option. His absence for an extended period could severely hinder the team's performance, especially given his average of 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game last season.
Walker Kessler, another key addition to the Lakers' roster, also raises concerns regarding health. The Lakers pursued Kessler aggressively this offseason, trading two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to the Utah Jazz to secure him. They also signed him to a lucrative four-year, $130 million deal as part of a sign-and-trade agreement. Kessler's potential as a defensive anchor is vital for the Lakers, but he only played five games last season due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder, which required season-ending surgery. Although Kessler has reported that his shoulder feels better than ever, his previous injury history, including playing just 58 games in the 2024-25 season, raises further concerns for the Lakers.
If Doncic, Reaves, and Kessler can only manage to play around 50 games each, the Lakers could face significant challenges, with ESPN insiders projecting them as potentially one of the most disappointing teams next season. However, if they can each approach closer to 70 games, as Buha suggests, the team could very well secure around 50 wins and remain competitive in the league.
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