ESPN insiders predict Lakers could take a tumble in 2025-26 season

Published by

Jesse Cinquini

August 25, 2025 9:56 am

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

NBA insiders over at ESPN voted on a number of the biggest questions heading into the 2025-26 campaign, and one of the questions was which team will take a tumble. Perhaps surprisingly to some, the insiders predicted that the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most likely teams to take a tumble in the coming season.

Only the Milwaukee Bucks — who are facing a lot of uncertainty regarding big man Giannis Antetokounmpo — ended up with more points in the voting.

Milwaukee Bucks: 41 points

Los Angeles Lakers: 32 points

It’s possible that question marks about forward LeBron James’ future in Los Angeles hang over the Lakers like a cloud in the 2025-26 season. James is arguably the greatest player of all time and on the other side of 40, so it should be surmised that what he will do with his NBA career following the coming season will be a hot topic for the foreseeable future.

Uncertainty about James’ long-term future in Los Angeles could cause some turmoil among the team, too. It’s possible rumors of James wanting out circulate in the coming months, and the Lakers end up not being totally committed to winning in the here and now.

There’s also a possibility that the Lakers’ offseason additions don’t age well. If guard Marcus Smart still looks like he’s lost a step or two defensively compared to his time playing for the Boston Celtics and big man Deandre Ayton continues to leave a lot to be desired with his effort level, it’s hard to imagine the Lakers will be able to take that next step in the West.

The Lakers play under a microscope with how iconic the franchise is, and if the team deals with plenty of turmoil and underperforms, it will be the talk of the town in Los Angeles for all the wrong reasons.

While the results from the NBA insiders polled don’t paint an encouraging picture for the Lakers’ 2025-26 season, Los Angeles could still be in store for a campaign that is highly successful with Luka Doncic and James on the roster.

Time will tell if the prediction from the ESPN insiders ends up coming true.

Jesse Cinquini

Jesse is a sports journalist with extensive experience covering the NBA. He has worked as a staff writer covering the Lakers’ dreaded rivals, the Boston Celtics, for SB Nation. He has also covered the New York Knicks for The Knicks Wall.