If you looked at the standings ten minutes ago, you probably saw a number that felt a little... off. 24-15. That is the current lakers record this season as of January 17, 2026. It’s good. It’s solid. But for a team that completely detonated their roster to pair Luka Dončić with an aging LeBron James, "solid" isn't exactly the word the front office was looking for when they hit the "win-now" button last February.
Honestly, the vibe in L.A. is kinda weird right now. One night they look like the undisputed kings of the Western Conference, and the next, they’re getting blown out by the Charlotte Hornets at home. Yes, that actually happened on Thursday. A 135-117 loss to a sub-.500 team. It’s enough to make any fan lose their mind, but if you look closer at the context, this record is actually a miracle of survival.
The Reality of the Lakers Record This Season
You've got to understand the math here. The Lakers are currently sitting 5th in the West. They’re 9.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are basically playing a different sport at 35-7. But look at the cluster they're in. They are essentially tied with the Houston Rockets and just a sliver ahead of the Phoenix Suns.
Every single game feels like a playoff seed shifting in real-time.
One thing people keep ignoring is the road vs. home split. Most teams crumble on the road. Not this group. They’ve actually been better away from Crypto.com Arena, sporting a 13-7 road record compared to a shaky 11-8 at home. It makes no sense. Usually, the "Purple and Gold" energy carries them at home, but this year, they seem to focus better when the crowd is actively rooting for them to fail.
Why the stats are lying to you
If you check the advanced metrics on Basketball-Reference, the Lakers have a Net Rating of -0.4. That’s... bad. It basically means they’re being outscored on average over the course of the season, yet they have nine more wins than losses.
How?
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Luka Dončić. That's how.
Luka is currently averaging 33.6 points, 8.7 assists, and 7.7 rebounds. He is the ultimate "get out of jail free" card. When the game slows down in the fourth quarter, the Lakers' offensive rating jumps to elite levels because they just give him the ball and move out of the way. But you can't live like that forever. The defense is ranked 26th in the league. You read that right. 26th. JJ Redick has his work cut out for him because you simply cannot win a championship giving up 116.9 points per night.
The Injury Bug is More Like a Plague
We have to talk about the "Out" list. It’s getting long. As of today’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, the lakers record this season has to contend with a massive hole in the lineup.
- Luka Dončić: Out (Groin strain).
- Austin Reaves: Out (Calf strain, expected back late January).
- Jaxson Hayes: Questionable (Hamstring).
- Deandre Ayton: Questionable (Knee).
Losing Luka for even a few games is a death sentence for the current offensive scheme. Without him, the burden falls back onto LeBron James, who is 41 years old. Let that sink in. LeBron is still putting up 20/5/5, but asking him to carry the usage rate of a 25-year-old superstar in January is how seasons end prematurely.
Then there’s the Deandre Ayton factor. Since coming over, he’s been the defensive anchor they desperately needed after the Anthony Davis trade. When he’s off the floor, the paint is basically an open-door policy. If his knee soreness turns into a multi-week absence, that 5th seed is going to evaporate faster than a puddle in the Valley.
The JJ Redick Experiment
Redick’s extension before the season was a massive vote of confidence from Rob Pelinka. He’s a "players' coach" in the sense that he understands the modern game's spacing, but his reliance on high-volume threes has been a double-edged sword. The Lakers are 7th in Offensive Rating but can’t stop a nosebleed on the other end.
There's a growing sentiment among scouts that the Lakers are "paper tigers." They have the star power, but the depth—guys like Jake LaRavia and Kobe Bufkin—just isn't seasoned enough yet to hold the fort when the big names sit.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Standings
People see 24-15 and think the Lakers are underperforming. They aren't. Given that they've integrated a new superstar (Luka) and a new starting center (Ayton) while dealing with a rotating door of injuries to Austin Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt, being nine games over .500 is actually impressive.
The Western Conference is a bloodbath this year. The Spurs are actually good again. The Nuggets are still the Nuggets. To be in the top five while your defense is statistically bottom-five is a testament to raw, unadulterated talent.
Basically, the Lakers are playing a dangerous game of "we'll just outscore you." It works against the Memphis Grizzlies (who they beat twice in January). It does not work against the Milwaukee Bucks or the Sacramento Kings, both of whom have handed the Lakers losses in the last ten days.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half
If you're betting on or following this team, keep your eyes on the defensive rotations. The record is a byproduct of Luka’s brilliance, but the sustainability of that record depends on Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt finding a way to fix the perimeter defense.
Watch these specific factors moving forward:
- The 3rd Quarter Slump: The Lakers have one of the worst 3rd quarter point differentials in the league. If they don't fix their halftime adjustments, expect more blown leads.
- LeBron's Minutes: If he stays over 33 minutes a night while Luka is out, he’ll be gassed by the All-Star break.
- Trade Deadline: Keep an eye on February. Pelinka is notorious for making a move when the defense looks this shaky.
The Lakers travel to Portland tonight. No Luka. No Reaves. It’s a gut-check game. If they drop this one, the conversation around the lakers record this season is going to shift from "contender" to "play-in tournament candidate" very quickly.
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To keep track of the volatility, monitor the injury reports at least two hours before tip-off. The spread often moves 3-4 points the second Luka or LeBron is officially ruled in or out, which tells you everything you need to know about where the true value of this roster lies. Check the Western Conference standings daily; with the Suns and Rockets breathing down their necks, a two-game losing streak could drop them to 8th by Monday.