The Los Angeles Lakers have not had a great run in December. The team’s biggest issue has been injuries, which have made it hard for them to play well. In the last month of 2025, LA had a 5-7 record. It was a tough stretch of games, and they also lost the final game of the year, ending on a bad note.
There’s a lot of expectation for the Purple & Gold to be title contenders. With a 20-11 record, they are still in the running for the playoffs as the fifth-best club in the Western Conference. But the team’s recent inconsistent play has drawn scathing criticism.
The latest personality to give a harsh verdict for LA is former NBA player Nick Young. The 2018 champion had a candid take on the Lakers’ current state.
“The Lakers are like the best of the a** teams in the league right now,” Young said.
“[When the Lakers] play the teams that you think is going to be a good challenge for them, they’re not on that level… I hate to get back on the road thing, but they do need to figure that part out. That’s what separates the Lakers now from Houston.”
"The Lakers are like the best of the a$$ teams right now."
SwaggyP & the crew roast the current state of the Los Angeles Lakers 🤣😭 pic.twitter.com/W7gTX6U0w8
— Gil’s Arena (@GilsArenaShow) January 2, 2026
Young said that the Houston Rockets players know their role. He also pointed out that LA needs to have a conversation with LeBron James about his role with the team.
Luka Doncic has “learned a lot” in playing alongside LeBron James with the Lakers
LeBron James and Luka Doncic have dispelled the myth that they couldn’t play well together. The fit is dubious because the two celebrities play basketball in comparable ways. But things have been going well so far, as they’ve developed an outstanding chemistry on the floor.
After their 128-106 loss to the Detroit Pistons, Doncic revealed that he’s learned a lot from the four-time champion.
“I’ve learned a lot. He’s an incredible player,” Doncic said. “He’s been playing for so many years. It’s incredible. I’ve learned a lot from him.”
They both play the same style, and it makes sense that Doncic has started to pick the brain of the four-time MVP.
