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2025-26 Los Angeles Lakers Predictions and Odds to Win NBA Finals

by Spencer Toth - 10/6/2025

Los Angeles Lakers predictions Luka Doncic

As long as LeBron James remains on the Lakers roster, an NBA championship will be the primary target every season. Los Angeles has a star-studded roster featuring the greatest player of all time alongside a future Hall of Famer in Luka Doncic. The Lakers have a strong roster that can contend on both ends of the court, but navigating a competitive Western Conference will be no easy task. Can LeBron and Luka reach their lofty expectations, or will the Lakers fall short in what could be LeBron’s final season?

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Los Angeles Lakers Offseason Recap

The Los Angeles Lakers had a very productive offseason as they looked to strengthen their squad alongside LeBron and Luka. They didn’t have any assets to trade this offseason, but they did manage to lure both Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton to L.A. in free agency. 

Smart is a former DPOY who still has plenty to offer at 31 years old. His tenacious approach to on-ball defending has been criticized over the years, but there is no denying its effectiveness. He harasses the league’s best guards on a nightly basis, which is exactly what the Lakers need in Los Angeles. Doncic’s defense is improving, but still needs work, and Smart is the perfect player to offset that weakness. His PPG dropped into single figures last season, but his 35% clip from behind the arc will still come in handy. 

It was no secret that the Lakers were in the market for a big man this offseason. They failed to replace Anthony Davis after their deadline day deal for Mark Williams fell through, but they found what they needed in Deandre Ayton. The former first overall pick is a center with a style rarely seen in the modern game. Ayton can’t hit a shot outside 10 feet, but that is not why he was brought to Los Angeles. The Lakers have no shortage of shooters to score, but they will need Ayton to rebound and defend the paint this season. He has averaged 10+ rebounds per game every season of his career and is just now entering his prime. Ayton is capable of consistently playing 30 minutes a night of two-way basketball and is the perfect addition to their roster. 

Los Angeles lost a few players in the offseason, but no one will be truly missed, given their recent signings. Dorian Finney-Smith went to Houston, while veterans Shake Milton and Markieff Morris remain unsigned and could always rejoin the Lakers down the road. Finney-Smith was a lethal shooter when left open, but his lack of playmaking abilities and low usage made him expendable. 

Los Angeles Lakers Season Expectations

It doesn’t matter that the Western Conference is brimming with contenders; the Los Angeles Lakers will be expected to win the NBA Finals. LeBron James is the first player in NBA history to play 23 seasons, and he is still incredibly dangerous at 40 years old. While LeBron is not as effective as he was in his prime, his ability to make everyone on the court better often goes unnoticed. LeBron has turned into an elite facilitator as his physical attributes deteriorate, and his partnership with Doncic will only blossom further this year. Managing two superstars on one roster can come with its own challenges, but this duo is truly something special. 

While LeBron’s play will have a big impact on this team's trajectory, their title aspirations hinge on the play from Doncic. Doncic already single-handedly carried the Mavericks to the Finals before, and bringing these Lakers teammates should theoretically be an easier task. His usage dipped slightly since joining the Lakers, and a slow start in the iconic uniform saw his PPG dip slightly from years prior. However, a fresh, slimmer Doncic heading into his first full season with the Lakers will be a different player. He can create his own offense from anywhere on the court, and averages nearly a triple-double with his other on-court contributions. He crashes the glass, is always looking for an assist, and can hit miraculous shots when needed. Doncic’s ceiling is higher than anyone else’s in the NBA, and the Lakers' championship dreams will be decided by Doncic. 

Los Angeles Lakers Schedule Breakdown

The Lakers kick things off the 2025-26 season with a pair of home games against the Warriors and Timberwolves. They then hit the road for 10 of their next 14 away from home. The highlight for the Lakers will be the fact that they get to spend the holiday period at home, with no road games between December 23rd and January 5th. However, three road trips of six or more games coming in the second half of the year will test this team’s depth with a possible playoff spot on the line. 

Los Angeles Lakers Odds

The Los Angeles Lakers have a win total of 49.5, with -700 odds to make the playoffs. They secured 50 wins for the first time since their 2020 championship last season, and the odds expect them to come very close to that total again. In the playoffs, Los Angeles has the fifth-best NBA Finals odds (+1400) and the third-best odds to win the Western Conference (+850). Their offensive duo, combined with their mainstream popularity, makes these odds justifiable, as this team is expected to make a deep playoff run. In the NBA Cup, the Lakers have a winnable group featuring the Clippers, Grizzlies, Mavericks, and Pelicans. Their +170 odds to win the group are the shortest of the five teams, and they have +2000 odds to win the NBA Cup. 

2025-26 Los Angeles Lakers Season Predictions and Best Bets

The consensus surrounding the Lakers is that they will be an above-average team in the regular season before stepping it up a notch in the playoffs. While that certainly seems plausible, the best way to bet on the Lakers is to do the opposite. The Lakers' playoff odds are far too inflated for a team with injury concerns and defensive issues, and we will instead attack them in the regular season and the NBA Cup. The Lakers' additional depth makes 50+ wins well within reach, and that is the first preseason bet to make. Despite injuries and midseason trades, Los Angeles secured 50 wins last year and will do so again this year. The +280 odds on 55+ wins are certainly tempting, but we will stick with 50+ at -110 as there aren’t many easy games in the West. 

The best way to attack the Lakers this season is in the NBA Cup. They shouldn’t have any issues winning their group at +170, and we will shoot for the stars at +2000 for the Lakers to take home a second NBA Cup. LeBron and company already know what it takes to win this competition, and these odds are far more tempting than their NBA Finals odds. Take Los Angeles to find early-season success with their current squad, and you can always add on a Lakers championship down the road. Even a hot start from the Lakers won’t see their +1400 championship odds drop much lower, but their NBA Cup odds will plummet once the public tunes into that tournament.

Pick: Los Angeles Lakers Over 49.5 Wins -110

Pick: Los Angeles Lakers to Win NBA Cup West Group B +170

Top Pick: Los Angeles Lakers to Win the NBA Cup +2000

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