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🚨 Lakers’ Season Opener Shocker: Can Depth Save LeBron and Dončić?

The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off the 2025-26 NBA season on Tuesday, Oct. 21, hosting the Golden State Warriors in a matchup that already has the Western Conference buzzing. Expectations are high: LeBron James and Luka Dončić headline a roster designed to contend, but as history has shown, talent at the top is never enough. This season, the real story might be in the shadows of the stars.

After finishing third in the Western Conference last year, the Lakers made the playoffs following Dončić’s midseason arrival on Feb. 2, only to stumble out in the first round with three straight losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves. That early exit left fans and analysts questioning whether the team’s depth can withstand the grind of a long playoff run. The spotlight now shifts to the supporting cast: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton are starters, but it’s the underrated names that could swing the season.

Enter Marcus Smart. The veteran guard, known for his tenacity on defense, could become the Lakers’ secret weapon. A three-time All-Defensive player and former Defensive Player of the Year (2021-22), Smart’s ability to disrupt opponents at the point of attack is undeniable—when healthy. That health, however, has been inconsistent. A lingering finger injury dating back to December 2024 has hampered his preparation, raising questions about how much impact he can deliver in crunch time.

Smart’s last season was a modest sample, split between the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards. In just 34 games, with seven starts, he averaged nine points, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 rebounds over 20 minutes. Numbers may not leap off the page, but Smart’s defensive presence, court vision, and leadership could be exactly what the Lakers need to complement the star duo. If he can stay on the floor, he has the potential to swing momentum in critical stretches.

The Lakers’ challenge is clear: integrate depth with star power to make a meaningful run in a punishing Western Conference. With Dončić and LeBron anchoring the attack, the question isn’t whether they can dominate—it’s whether the supporting cast can prevent collapse in high-pressure moments. The opener against the Warriors already hints at both promise and vulnerability. The fast-paced game saw flashes of brilliance from the duo, but also moments where defensive lapses and turnovers reminded everyone that the season will be a test of cohesion, not just talent.

As the Lakers move forward, fans will be watching not just the stars, but the overlooked contributors—the Marcus Smarts, the Rui Hachimuras, the Austin Reaveses—whose performances could define the difference between first-round exits and championship contention. With a Western Conference stacked with hungry teams, one misstep could derail the season entirely, but one breakout performance from an underrated player could flip the narrative in an instant.

This season opener may have been just one game, but it set the tone: LeBron and Dončić can carry the Lakers, but only if the supporting cast rises to the occasion. And the question now is impossible to ignore—who will step up when it truly matters?