Lakers Struggle Amid Mid-Season Slump Despite Luka Doncic and LeBron James

The Los Angeles Lakers have hit a rough patch after a strong start to the 2025-26 NBA season. Following an epic opening stretch, the team has lost four of its last six games, highlighting both defensive and offensive struggles. While the spotlight often falls on defense, the Lakers’ recent slump has also exposed issues in offensive organization and execution.

Head coach JJ Redick addressed the team’s struggles, offering insight into the challenges and admitting that solutions have been elusive.

Offensive Disarray Despite Superstar Duo

With Luka Doncic and LeBron James sharing the floor, expectations for a high-functioning offense were high. However, the Lakers’ offense has frequently lacked rhythm and structure, with turnovers and miscommunications becoming increasingly common.

Redick shared his frustration in a candid media session:

“Not at all, I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know what else to do. I do a lot of joysticking over there on the sideline. Yesterday I said, ‘Hey, let’s run Away Toss. You bring it up the left side. I want so and so in it.’”

He went on to describe a recurring issue:

“This was after a dead ball. It wasn’t like I was calling it on the fly. And we bring it up that side, and the person I want in the Away Toss isn’t over there. That’s happening so consistently right now. I chalk it up to the holidays.”

This candid admission shows that even with superstars on the floor, the team is struggling with execution and timing, rather than just talent gaps.

Roster Imbalance Contributing to Struggles

Redick’s frustration also points to a deeper issue: roster imbalance. While Doncic and James are elite, the Lakers lack consistent secondary scoring and reliable role players.

Key challenges this season include:

• Inconsistent bench scoring – Players like Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht have shown flashes of productivity but are not consistently reliable.

• Injuries and rotation issues – Absences of key contributors like Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent have forced lineup adjustments, affecting chemistry.

• Defensive lapses – While the offense has been the focus, defensive struggles compound the team’s challenges, particularly in transition situations.

Without addressing these roster imbalances, Redick’s team faces an uphill battle in competing against top-tier Western Conference opponents.

Star Power Isn’t Enough

Even with Luka Doncic and LeBron James, basketball remains a team sport. Both superstars are capable of carrying an offense, but they rely on spacing, movement, and role player contributions to maximize effectiveness.

• Doncic has been managing high usage rates but has sometimes struggled to get clean looks due to defensive pressure and teammate misalignments.

• LeBron James continues to orchestrate the offense but has been forced into situations where he has to compensate for turnovers or missed rotations from the supporting cast.

Redick emphasized that while star performances are important, the Lakers’ overall execution and cohesion must improve to turn their season around.

Coaching Challenges and Solutions

Redick admitted that even he doesn’t have a clear fix for the Lakers’ offensive struggles. He highlighted the complexity of implementing plays like Away Toss, noting that misalignments and role confusion often derail execution:

“We bring it up that side, and the person I want in the Away Toss isn’t over there. That’s happening so consistently right now.”

Redick also suggested that some of the issues might be temporary, attributing part of the inconsistency to the holiday schedule and team fatigue. Nonetheless, the underlying problem of team cohesion and roster depth will require long-term adjustments.

Recent Performance Trends

The Lakers’ slump is part of a broader pattern:

• Four losses in the last six games indicate an inability to maintain early-season momentum.

• Turnover issues have hindered offensive efficiency.

• Inconsistent bench contributions force Doncic and James to shoulder a disproportionate load.

Players like Jake LaRavia and Jaxson Hayes have delivered solid performances in recent games, but the team continues to rely heavily on its stars for consistent production.

Path Forward for the Lakers

To address these challenges, the Lakers must focus on:

1. Improving bench depth and scoring – Developing consistent secondary options to support Doncic and James.

2. Reducing turnovers – Emphasizing communication, spacing, and execution in half-court and transition settings.

3. Injury management – Ensuring key players like Hachimura and Vincent are available for critical stretches.

4. Roster adjustments – Evaluating trade or acquisition opportunities to strengthen weak spots before the trade deadline.

Without significant adjustments, the Lakers risk falling behind Western Conference contenders despite having two of the league’s top players on their roster.

Coaching Insights from JJ Redick

Redick’s transparency about the team’s struggles reflects both frustration and self-awareness. His acknowledgment that there is no quick fix highlights the difficulty of balancing superstar talent with role-player limitations.

“I do a lot of joysticking over there on the sideline… This was after a dead ball. It wasn’t like I was calling it on the fly… I chalk it up to the holidays.”

While fans may be eager for immediate solutions, Redick’s comments suggest that improvements will likely be incremental, focusing on communication, alignment, and execution rather than wholesale changes.

Conclusion

The Los Angeles Lakers’ mid-season slump illustrates that even teams with elite stars like Luka Doncic and LeBron James can face challenges when roster depth and execution falter. Offensive disorganization, turnovers, and misaligned rotations have contributed to four losses in six games, despite the team’s talent.

Head coach JJ Redick has been candid about the difficulty of addressing these issues, pointing to temporary factors like the holidays while acknowledging deeper challenges like roster imbalance and inconsistent bench play.

For the Lakers, the path forward requires a combination of:

• Enhanced bench performance

• Refined offensive execution

• Strategic roster moves

• Star-level consistency from Doncic and James

If they can address these areas, the Lakers have a chance to regain their early-season rhythm and contend for the playoffs in the Western Conference. Until then, fans will need to watch as the team works through mid-season growing pains.