2024-25 was a tale of two NBA future odds seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers. First was the portion of the campaign without Luka Doncic. Los Angeles was mired in mediocrity and red ink. Fans and gamblers were tuning out, and a move needed to be made. Halfway through the season, the Lakers acquired Doncic in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks. However, once Doncic arrived, the Lakers became one of the top teams in the NBA and gained the #3 seed in the Western Conference for the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
2025-26 Los Angeles Lakers
| NBA Championship Odds: | +1800 |
|---|---|
| Western Conference Championship Odds: | +1000 |
| Win Total: | 48.5 |
Los Angeles Lakers Key Players and Coach
JJ Redick had a decent offshore betting debut as the rookie head coach in 2024-25. Previously, Redick hosted a podcast and served as an ESPN NBA analyst. Redick had a better-than-expected first season, leading the Lakers to their best record since 2020.
F LeBron James is a four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA Finals MVP, four-time NBA MVP, and 21-time NBA All-Star, including this past year. Overall, in 2025, James averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per contest.
PG Luka Doncic is a 5-time NBA All-Star. He has averaged over 30 points per game in two of the past three seasons and in three of his four playoff campaigns for Dallas. Last season, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game.
Lakers Team Overview
In sum, it was a relatively mixed bag summer for the Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason moves. Perhaps the most important move made was the impending sale of the team from the Buss family to minority partner Mark Walter. In addition to the Lakers, Walter is the CEO of TWG Global, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and other sports properties.
In sum, Los Angeles’s NBA metrics were 17th for scoring offense, 9th for field goal percentage, 14th for 3-point field goal percentage, 13th for free throw percentage, and 26th for offensive rebounding. On defense, the Lakers’ metrics were 11th for scoring defense, 10th for field goal percentage permitted, 10th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 10th for defensive rebounding.
Overall, the Los Angeles Lakers’ final regular season record was 50-32 straight up, 45-35-2 against the spread, and 41-41 over/under the NBA odds total. Los Angeles was third in the Western Conference playoff standings, 18 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. But in the end, the Lakers were exposed as not being serious championship contenders. The Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Lakers 4-1 in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Key additions: Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia
Key subtractions: Dorian Finney-Smith, Jordan Goodwin, Shake Milton
The Lakers are an interesting contrast to their crosstown rivals’ offseason. Building around 26-year-old Doncic, the Lakers added LaRavia, 23. In turn, he is the youngest unrestricted free agent to change teams for more than the minimum. Additionally, there is Ayton, who recently turned 27. Smart, 31, is the Lakers’ oldest newcomer. The Lakers’ additions weren’t as effective last season as the Clippers. But the new Lakers stand a better chance of being long-term contributors.
The biggest question about the Lakers’ offseason is what that approach means for 40-year-old superstar LeBron James. However, James has little leverage after exercising his player option. Instead, it’s more important for the Lakers to persuade Doncic to sign an extension when he becomes eligible this weekend.