Data snapshot: September 12, 2026. The roster and schedule modules will be reviewed after every transaction and at least once each week during the season.
The Los Angeles Lakers enter 2026-27 with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves at the center of the offense, a substantially reshaped supporting cast and one of the NBA’s most demanding national schedules. This page tracks the current Lakers roster, NBA Trending’s projected depth chart, the numbers that define the team’s outlook, major schedule dates and every meaningful roster change in one continuously updated guide.
Lakers at a glance
| Item | 2026-27 snapshot |
|---|---|
| Head coach | JJ Redick |
| 2025-26 record | 53-29, fourth in the Western Conference |
| 2025-26 scoring | 116.3 points per game, 11th in the NBA |
| 2025-26 rebounding | 41.0 rebounds per game, 27th in the NBA |
| 2025-26 assists | 25.9 assists per game, 17th in the NBA |
| 2025-26 opponent scoring | 114.6 points per game, 11th in the NBA |
| 2026-27 opener | Oct. 21 vs. Golden State |
| Christmas Day | Dec. 25 vs. Philadelphia |
| National television games | 34 |
The baseline tells a useful story. Los Angeles scored at an above-average level last season, but its low rebounding rank created additional possessions for opponents and reduced the margin for error when shots stopped falling. The offseason roster construction therefore matters most at the point where size, defensive versatility and possession control meet.
Current Los Angeles Lakers roster
The following roster reflects the NBA’s official Lakers team page as of the data-snapshot date.
| Player | No. | Position | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur Kaluma | — | Forward | 24 |
| Adou Thiero | 1 | Guard/forward | 22 |
| Ziaire Williams | 1 | Forward | 24 |
| Collin Sexton | 2 | Guard | 27 |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | 2 | Forward | 27 |
| Dalton Knecht | 4 | Forward | 25 |
| Quentin Grimes | 5 | Guard | 26 |
| Jaden Hardy | 7 | Guard | 24 |
| Bronny James | 9 | Guard | 21 |
| Jake LaRavia | 12 | Forward | 24 |
| Walker Kessler | 14 | Center | 24 |
| Austin Reaves | 15 | Guard | 28 |
| Chris Manon | 30 | Guard | 24 |
| AK Okereke | 31 | Forward | 23 |
| Cameron Carr | 43 | Guard | 21 |
| Sandro Mamukelashvili | 54 | Forward/center | 27 |
| Kevon Looney | 55 | Forward/center | 30 |
| Luka Doncic | 77 | Guard/forward | 27 |
Roster designations can change before opening night. Two-way assignments, camp contracts and final roster cuts should be treated separately from guaranteed rotation roles.
Projected Lakers depth chart
This is an NBA Trending editorial projection, not an official team depth chart. It reflects positional fit and the current roster rather than a claim about a lineup already chosen by JJ Redick.
| Role | First unit | Second unit | Additional depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary ball handler | Luka Doncic | Collin Sexton | Jaden Hardy |
| Off guard | Austin Reaves | Quentin Grimes | Bronny James |
| Wing | Ziaire Williams | Dalton Knecht | Adou Thiero |
| Forward | Jarred Vanderbilt | Jake LaRavia | Arthur Kaluma / AK Okereke |
| Center | Walker Kessler | Kevon Looney | Sandro Mamukelashvili |
The labels matter less than the combinations. Doncic and Reaves can both initiate offense, allowing Los Angeles to stagger its strongest creators. Grimes offers a cleaner defense-and-shooting fit beside either one, while Sexton and Hardy give the second unit more direct scoring pressure.
The frontcourt question is whether Kessler, Vanderbilt and Looney can repair the possession problem without shrinking the floor around Doncic. Kessler provides rim protection and vertical size. Vanderbilt supplies switchable defense. Looney adds screening, positioning and rebounding experience. The trade-off is spacing: Redick will need enough shooting in each combination to keep the lane open.
The data question that could define the Lakers
Los Angeles finished 27th in rebounds per game last season. Raw rebounds are not a complete measure of team quality, but a bottom-four result is too large to ignore. It affects transition defense, second-chance points and how often the offense receives another opportunity after a miss.
That makes frontcourt lineup data a priority for this page once games begin. NBA Trending will track:
- defensive rebound percentage with Kessler on and off the floor;
- opponent second-chance points;
- the Doncic-Reaves lineups’ offensive and defensive ratings;
- three-point volume when two non-shooting frontcourt players share the court;
- closing-lineup net rating in games within five points during the final five minutes;
- availability and minutes lost to injury.
Those measurements will show whether the Lakers have solved last season’s structural weakness or merely changed the names involved.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves set the offensive ceiling
Doncic led the NBA in scoring in 2025-26 at 33.5 points per game and earned All-NBA First Team honors. The Lakers’ official reporting also identified Doncic and Reaves as the league’s highest-scoring duo last season, combining for 56.8 points per game.
The central offensive question is therefore not whether Los Angeles has enough creation at the top. It is how efficiently the rest of the roster complements that creation. Shooting around Doncic forces defenses to pay for help. Screening and rim running create simple finishes. A reliable secondary unit prevents every non-Doncic minute from becoming a survival exercise.
Reaves is especially important because he connects those structures. He can score, initiate a possession or work away from the ball, which lets Redick vary who starts an action without removing a credible threat.
Major 2026 offseason changes
The Lakers’ official transaction announcements show a roster built around new perimeter options and a deeper frontcourt. Among the players listed on the official roster snapshot are Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy, Walker Kessler, Ziaire Williams and Kevon Looney. The organization also added Eric Amsler as an assistant general manager, expanding a front office already planning around the draft, development and the restrictions created by the modern salary-cap system.
For a closer look at that front-office move, read NBA Trending’s report on the Lakers hiring Eric Amsler. The wider financial context is covered in our analysis of 2026 NBA franchise values and what the reported Lakers transaction means.
Key dates on the 2026-27 Lakers schedule
Los Angeles opens the regular season at home against Golden State on Oct. 21. The Lakers host Philadelphia on Christmas Day, compete in NBA Cup West Group C and close the regular season at home against Phoenix on April 11.
The schedule currently contains 80 confirmed regular-season games because two December dates depend on NBA Cup results. The Lakers are scheduled for 34 national television appearances: 10 on Prime Video, eight on NBC or Peacock, eight on ESPN, five on ABC and three on Peacock-only broadcasts.
One pressure point arrives from Jan. 28 through Feb. 8, when the Lakers face their longest road trip of the season. The 12-day stretch includes visits to the defending champion New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics. Travel, opponent quality and accumulated workload make that trip a useful test of the roster’s depth.
See NBA Trending’s complete 2026-27 NBA key-dates guide for the league-wide calendar, including the trade deadline, All-Star break and play-in tournament.
What NBA Trending will update here
This hub is designed to change with the team. Updates will include:
- official transactions and final roster cuts;
- confirmed injuries and return timelines;
- rotation and starting-lineup changes;
- monthly performance trends;
- trade-deadline and salary-cap implications;
- draft-pick changes supported by reliable transaction records;
- links to every significant Lakers report and analysis on NBA Trending.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the key players on the 2026-27 Lakers?
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are the primary offensive creators. Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt and Kevon Looney form the core of a frontcourt expected to improve the team’s defense and rebounding, while Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes and Jaden Hardy add backcourt depth.
Who is the Lakers head coach?
JJ Redick is the Lakers’ head coach for the 2026-27 season.
When does the Lakers season start?
The Lakers open the 2026-27 regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 21, against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
Who do the Lakers play on Christmas Day 2026?
The Lakers host the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 25, 2026. It will be the franchise’s 28th consecutive Christmas Day appearance.
Is this an official Lakers depth chart?
No. The depth chart is NBA Trending’s editorial projection based on the current official roster and positional fit. It will be updated when the Lakers establish their regular rotation.