It's 2026, and if you told a Lakers fan three years ago that the Crypto.com Arena would be rocking to the rhythm of a Slovenian superstar and a kid from Wake Forest, they’d have probably asked for whatever you were drinking. But here we are. The starting 5 for the Lakers has undergone a radical transformation that feels like a fever dream, yet the win-loss column doesn't lie.
Coach JJ Redick is finally doing things his way.
Gone are the days of the "wait and see" rotations. We are currently watching a 24-14 team that is stubbornly clinging to the 5th seed in a Western Conference that feels like a nightly cage match. The vibe has changed. It's less about "let's hope LeBron saves us" and more about a calculated, high-octane offensive system that actually uses the talent on the floor.
The Luka Factor and a New Backcourt Reality
Let’s be honest: the trade that brought Luka Dončić to Los Angeles changed the gravity of the entire NBA.
When you have a guy averaging 33.4 points and nearly 9 assists, the starting 5 for the Lakers basically becomes "Luka and the Funky Bunch." He’s the sun. Everyone else is just trying not to get burned while staying in their respective orbits. Austin Reaves has surprisingly thrived in this new world, putting up a career-high 26.6 points per game before a calf strain slowed him down recently. People thought they’d clash. They haven't. Reaves is basically playing the "super-role-player" role, cutting to the rim and knocking down 36% of his threes while Luka draws three defenders at the logo.
But things got weird in January.
With the defense sliding toward the bottom of the league—ranking 24th in defensive rating as of mid-month—Redick pulled the trigger on a move that had half of Twitter calling for his head. He benched Rui Hachimura.
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The Jake LaRavia Experiment
Enter Jake LaRavia.
Starting LaRavia over Hachimura was a "polarizing" choice, to put it mildly. Rui had started nearly every game he played for Redick, and with his free agency looming, moving him to the second unit felt like a slap in the face. But look at the results from the January 13th win over Atlanta. LaRavia didn't just play; he tormented Jalen Johnson. He’s 6'7", he’s 235 pounds, and he actually moves his feet on the perimeter.
The starting 5 for the Lakers needed a "glue guy" who didn't need the ball to be effective.
LaRavia fits that. He’s happy to stand in the corner, hit the occasional 3, and then sprint back to make sure the opponent doesn't get an easy layup. In that Hawks game, he finished with 13 points, but his impact was mostly felt in the way the Lakers finally looked like they knew how to rotate on defense. It’s a trade-off. You lose Rui’s individual scoring punch, but you gain a coherent defensive scheme.
LeBron at 41: The Ultimate Adjustment
We have to talk about the 41-year-old in the room.
LeBron James is currently averaging about 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. For anyone else, those are All-Star numbers. For LeBron, it’s "slowing down." Honestly, though? This is the most efficient version of King James we’ve seen in years because he doesn't have to carry the rock for 40 minutes. He’s playing more of a "Mid-Paint Point Forward" role. He’s screening for Luka. He’s picking his spots.
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When the starting 5 for the Lakers takes the floor, LeBron is often the third or even fourth option on some possessions.
It’s wild to watch.
The injury report has been relatively kind to him this season, outside of some sciatica issues earlier in the year. He’s played 21 games so far, and he’s still shooting over 51% from the field. Having Marcus Smart in the mix—who often slides into the starting guard spot when Reaves is out—gives LeBron another veteran brain to work with. Smart isn't the defender he was in Boston, but he still knows where to be, and he’s much better at organizing the defense than the younger guys on the roster.
The Deandre Ayton Question
Then there’s Deandre Ayton.
The Lakers swapped out the Jaxson Hayes/Christian Wood experiment for Ayton, and it’s been... a journey. He’s averaging a double-double (roughly 13 points and 13 rebounds lately), but the fan base is still split. Sometimes he looks like a dominant rim protector who can finish anything around the basket. Other times, he's a bit of a ghost.
With the news that Jaxson Hayes is dealing with a left hamstring injury and had an MRI recently, the pressure on Ayton has doubled. There is basically zero depth behind him right now. If Ayton gets into foul trouble or has an "off" night, the Lakers' interior defense evaporates. This is why you’re hearing those Rich Paul rumors about trading Reaves for someone like Jaren Jackson Jr.
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It sounds crazy to trade Austin, but the starting 5 for the Lakers is desperate for a true defensive anchor.
Current Projected Rotation (January 2026)
- Point Guard: Luka Dončić (The Engine)
- Shooting Guard: Marcus Smart (The Enforcer - filling in for Reaves)
- Small Forward: LeBron James (The Veteran)
- Power Forward: Jake LaRavia (The Glue)
- Center: Deandre Ayton (The Anchor)
What This Means for the Playoffs
This isn't a perfect team.
The defense is still a major concern, and the bench is thin, especially with Hachimura adjusting to his new role and the rookie Dalton Knecht still finding his rhythm. But the Lakers are 24-14. They are winning games they used to lose because Luka and LeBron can manipulate a defense better than almost any duo in history.
If you're watching the starting 5 for the Lakers right now, you're seeing a team in transition. They are moving away from the "all-star name" philosophy and toward a "fit" philosophy. Putting LaRavia in the lineup was the first real sign that JJ Redick is willing to hurt feelings to win games.
Next Steps for the Lakers:
- Monitor the trade market for a backup big man before the February deadline.
- Manage LeBron’s minutes during this heavy January road stretch.
- Integrate Rui Hachimura into a "Sixth Man of the Year" type role to bolster the bench scoring.
- Decide if Jake LaRavia’s defensive upside is worth keeping him in the starting rotation long-term.
The Lakers have the star power. Now they just need the discipline to keep this new-look starting 5 firing on both ends of the floor.