{"id":141270,"date":"2026-01-18T07:07:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T07:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270"},"modified":"2026-01-18T07:07:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T07:07:40","slug":"update-nba-analyst-kendrick-perkins-believes-the-los-angeles-lakers-recent-struggles-stem-from-a-lack-of-teamwork-claiming-the-team-has-leaned-too-heavily-toward-selfish-play-according-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270","title":{"rendered":"Update: NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 recent struggles stem from a lack of teamwork, claiming the team has leaned too heavily toward selfish play. According to Perkins, individual agendas have disrupted the Lakers\u2019 chemistry and consistency on the court. He argues that without a renewed focus on collective effort and accountability, the issues will continue to surface"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Lakers\u2019 Struggles Without Austin Reaves Expose Deeper Chemistry Issues, Says Kendrick Perkins<\/h2>\n

\"Kendrick<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Lakers<\/strong> continue to slide during Austin Reaves\u2019 absence<\/strong>, and the warning signs are becoming impossible to ignore. Despite elite-level performances from LeBron James and Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/strong>, Los Angeles has dropped four of its last five games<\/strong>, revealing structural problems that go far beyond injuries or bad shooting nights.<\/p>\n

Losses to the Sacramento Kings<\/strong> and Charlotte Hornets<\/strong> \u2014 teams well outside the championship conversation \u2014 made one thing painfully clear: on the right night, any opponent can beat the Lakers<\/strong>. That reality has intensified scrutiny around a roster that once appeared poised to compete near the top of the Western Conference.<\/p>\n

According to former NBA champion and analyst Kendrick Perkins<\/strong>, the Lakers\u2019 biggest issue isn\u2019t talent \u2014 it\u2019s chemistry.<\/p>\n

Kendrick Perkins: \u201cThat\u2019s Not a Team\u201d<\/h3>\n

Appearing on NBA Today<\/em>, Perkins delivered a blunt assessment of what he sees when watching the Lakers play.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a bunch of individuals,\u201d Perkins said. \u201cThat\u2019s showing up to work, do your job, everybody go their own way, and that\u2019s how they perform on the floor. When you have defensive teams with defensive individuals that look the way that they\u2019ve looked \u2014 not on the same page \u2014 then they definitely don\u2019t have the chemistry off the floor.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Perkins\u2019 criticism strikes at the core of the Lakers\u2019 identity. While James and Don\u010di\u0107 continue to produce jaw-dropping stat lines<\/strong>, Perkins argues that elite individual play does not automatically translate into wins \u2014 especially at the championship level.<\/p>\n

In his view, the Lakers resemble a collection of stars rather than a unified unit, and that disconnect is most visible on the defensive end.<\/p>\n

Defense Reveals the Chemistry Problem<\/h3>\n

\"Kendrick<\/p>\n

The Lakers\u2019 defense has been alarmingly inconsistent. Missed rotations, late closeouts, and poor communication have allowed opponents to feast on open three-pointers and easy baskets in the paint<\/strong>. Perkins believes this isn\u2019t just a schematic failure \u2014 it\u2019s a sign of a team that isn\u2019t fully connected.<\/p>\n

Great defensive teams operate on trust and anticipation. They rotate instinctively, cover for one another, and sacrifice individual recognition for team success. According to Perkins, the Lakers simply aren\u2019t there yet.<\/p>\n

James and Don\u010di\u0107 can dominate offensively, but defense requires synchronization \u2014 and that synchronization has been missing.<\/p>\n

Perkins Questions Lakers\u2019 Off-Court Bond<\/h3>\n

Perhaps the most striking part of Perkins\u2019 critique had nothing to do with on-court execution. Instead, he questioned whether the Lakers are actually building relationships away from the court<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDid you just have the audacity to call the Lakers a team?\u201d Perkins said. \u201cThat\u2019s not a team, that\u2019s a bunch of individuals. I\u2019m willing to bet everything that I have that it\u2019s not a group chat with the Lakers. If it is, ain\u2019t nobody saying nothing. I\u2019m willing to bet it\u2019s no team dinners on the road.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While said partly in jest, the message was serious. Perkins emphasized that championship teams grow closer during off nights<\/strong>, using shared experiences \u2014 team dinners, constant communication, informal bonding \u2014 to build trust that later shows up in critical moments.<\/p>\n

Chemistry doesn\u2019t magically appear during fourth quarters. It\u2019s built in locker rooms, on flights, and during downtime.<\/p>\n

Expectations Rising, Results Falling<\/h3>\n

\"\u201cLakers<\/p>\n

The Lakers\u2019 struggles are magnified by the expectations they created earlier in the season. A strong start raised hopes that Los Angeles could remain in the upper echelon of the Western Conference<\/strong>, but recent performances suggest otherwise.<\/p>\n

As the losses pile up, the gap between the Lakers and the conference\u2019s elite teams continues to widen. Every defeat brings intensified scrutiny \u2014 something no franchise experiences quite like the Lakers.<\/p>\n

When you combine star power, national exposure, and championship aspirations, every flaw is placed under a microscope.<\/p>\n

Austin Reaves\u2019 Return Will Help \u2014 But It Won\u2019t Fix Everything<\/h3>\n

At some point soon, Austin Reaves is expected to return<\/strong>, restoring a crucial piece of the Lakers\u2019 offensive balance. Reaves provides secondary playmaking, spacing, and a connective presence that the lineup has sorely missed.<\/p>\n

On paper, a LeBron\u2013Luka\u2013Reaves trio<\/strong> has the potential to be one of the most dangerous combinations in the league. However, even with Reaves back, the Lakers\u2019 biggest problems remain unresolved.<\/p>\n

Defense and chemistry cannot be solved by one player alone.<\/p>\n

Can the Trade Deadline Save the Lakers?<\/h3>\n

As the trade deadline approaches, the question becomes whether the Lakers can realistically improve their situation.<\/p>\n

Theoretically, adding a defensive-minded role player or a versatile wing could help address some issues. However, the Lakers\u2019 limited trade assets<\/strong> significantly restrict their options. Reports suggest the front office is reluctant to sacrifice future flexibility for marginal short-term upgrades.<\/p>\n

That means the current roster is likely to remain largely intact \u2014 both for the rest of the season and heading into the playoffs.<\/p>\n

The Burden Falls on the Locker Room<\/h3>\n

With no major reinforcements expected, the responsibility shifts back to the players already wearing purple and gold. The Lakers\u2019 fate will be decided not by transactions, but by effort, communication, and willingness to sacrifice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Kendrick Perkins\u2019 words may sting, but they highlight a truth the Lakers must confront: talent alone is not enough.<\/p>\n

If Los Angeles wants to contend, they must prove Perkins wrong \u2014 by becoming a team in every sense of the word. Chemistry, hustle, and defensive commitment will ultimately determine whether this season ends in disappointment or redemption.<\/p>\n

Because in the NBA, championships aren\u2019t won by individuals \u2014 they\u2019re won by teams.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lakers\u2019 Struggles Without Austin Reaves Expose Deeper Chemistry Issues, Says Kendrick Perkins The Los Angeles Lakers continue to slide during Austin Reaves\u2019 absence, and the warning signs… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":141271,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-141270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\nUpdate: NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 recent struggles stem from a lack of teamwork, claiming the team has leaned too heavily toward selfish play. According to Perkins, individual agendas have disrupted the Lakers\u2019 chemistry and consistency on the court. He argues that without a renewed focus on collective effort and accountability, the issues will continue to surface - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Update: NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 recent struggles stem from a lack of teamwork, claiming the team has leaned too heavily toward selfish play. According to Perkins, individual agendas have disrupted the Lakers\u2019 chemistry and consistency on the court. He argues that without a renewed focus on collective effort and accountability, the issues will continue to surface - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Lakers\u2019 Struggles Without Austin Reaves Expose Deeper Chemistry Issues, Says Kendrick Perkins The Los Angeles Lakers continue to slide during Austin Reaves\u2019 absence, and the warning signs...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-18T07:07:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-39.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MsThao\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MsThao\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270\",\"name\":\"Update: NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 recent struggles stem from a lack of teamwork, claiming the team has leaned too heavily toward selfish play. According to Perkins, individual agendas have disrupted the Lakers\u2019 chemistry and consistency on the court. He argues that without a renewed focus on collective effort and accountability, the issues will continue to surface - NEWS USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-39.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-18T07:07:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-18T07:07:40+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-39.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-39.png\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Update: NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 recent struggles stem from a lack of teamwork, claiming the team has leaned too heavily toward selfish play. According to Perkins, individual agendas have disrupted the Lakers\u2019 chemistry and consistency on the court. He argues that without a renewed focus on collective effort and accountability, the issues will continue to surface\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"NEWS USA\",\"description\":\"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731\",\"name\":\"MsThao\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MsThao\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=3\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Update: NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 recent struggles stem from a lack of teamwork, claiming the team has leaned too heavily toward selfish play. According to Perkins, individual agendas have disrupted the Lakers\u2019 chemistry and consistency on the court. He argues that without a renewed focus on collective effort and accountability, the issues will continue to surface - NEWS USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Update: NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 recent struggles stem from a lack of teamwork, claiming the team has leaned too heavily toward selfish play. According to Perkins, individual agendas have disrupted the Lakers\u2019 chemistry and consistency on the court. He argues that without a renewed focus on collective effort and accountability, the issues will continue to surface - NEWS USA","og_description":"Lakers\u2019 Struggles Without Austin Reaves Expose Deeper Chemistry Issues, Says Kendrick Perkins The Los Angeles Lakers continue to slide during Austin Reaves\u2019 absence, and the warning signs...","og_url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270","og_site_name":"NEWS USA","article_published_time":"2026-01-18T07:07:40+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-39.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"MsThao","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MsThao","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270","name":"Update: NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 recent struggles stem from a lack of teamwork, claiming the team has leaned too heavily toward selfish play. According to Perkins, individual agendas have disrupted the Lakers\u2019 chemistry and consistency on the court. He argues that without a renewed focus on collective effort and accountability, the issues will continue to surface - NEWS USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-39.png","datePublished":"2026-01-18T07:07:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-18T07:07:40+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-39.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-39.png","width":1080,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141270#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Update: NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 recent struggles stem from a lack of teamwork, claiming the team has leaned too heavily toward selfish play. According to Perkins, individual agendas have disrupted the Lakers\u2019 chemistry and consistency on the court. He argues that without a renewed focus on collective effort and accountability, the issues will continue to surface"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/","name":"NEWS USA","description":"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731","name":"MsThao","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MsThao"},"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=3"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=141270"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":141272,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141270\/revisions\/141272"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/141271"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=141270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=141270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=141270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}