As the offseason unfolds and the basketball world turns its attention to roster moves, trade rumors, and the upcoming NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers have made a quiet yet significant move that signals their early intentions for the 2025-26 campaign. The storied franchise has officially locked down four preseason games, giving fans an early glimpse of what could be a critical transitional year for the purple and gold.
While the preseason typically doesn’t carry the weight of regular-season drama or postseason intensity, for a team like the Lakers, it offers invaluable insight. It’s a first look at the chemistry of new additions, the physical readiness of returning stars, the tactical mindset of the coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, it sets the emotional tone for what’s to come. After a disappointing 2024-25 season that saw them exit the playoffs earlier than expected, the Lakers find themselves at a crossroads. The organization is seeking a resurgence, and these four preseason games could prove instrumental in laying the groundwork for that revival.
The announcement of the preseason schedule comes at a pivotal time. LeBron James, still remarkably effective in Year 22, continues to defy the odds, but the Lakers are well aware that Father Time is undefeated. While James hasn’t officially committed to his long-term future with the franchise, early reports suggest he will return for at least one more season, possibly his last. That looming reality has the front office operating with a sense of urgency—every decision now carries the weight of legacy.
Anthony Davis remains the centerpiece of the Lakers’ present and future plans. When healthy, he’s a dominant two-way force, but consistency and durability have often evaded him. The preseason, therefore, becomes critical not just for testing rotations and strategies, but also for assessing Davis’s early-season conditioning. He’ll be expected to shoulder more responsibility on both ends of the floor, particularly if LeBron adopts a more strategic, minutes-managed approach to the regular season. Davis embracing that challenge and showcasing leadership in the preseason could set the tone for a more assertive campaign.
Alongside James and Davis, the Lakers will be integrating new faces into the mix. After parting ways with key rotational players during the offseason—including the possibility of losing D’Angelo Russell or Rui Hachimura in free agency—the team has turned its focus to acquiring younger, more versatile talent who can thrive in an uptempo, switch-heavy system. Rumors have swirled around potential trade targets, and with the NBA Draft approaching, the Lakers have a chance to acquire impact players either through picks or as part of larger packages. Whoever the new additions are, the preseason games will serve as their first audition in the gold and purple.
Head coach Darvin Ham enters the new season under immense scrutiny. After navigating a stormy year filled with roster inconsistencies, defensive lapses, and criticism over rotational decisions, he now has the opportunity to redefine his identity as a leader. The preseason offers a clean slate—an opportunity to recalibrate the Lakers’ offensive schemes, refocus on defensive accountability, and build a more fluid system that maximizes the talents of both the veterans and the younger players. These games won’t just be warmups—they will be measuring sticks for Ham’s adaptability and ability to prepare his squad.
One of the key benefits of locking down four preseason games early is the ability to plan strategically. Unlike past years where the preseason was an afterthought squeezed between summer break and training camp, this year’s scheduling reflects intention. The front office understands that early cohesion can pay dividends in a tightly contested Western Conference. By giving the coaching staff time to experiment with lineups, test roles, and evaluate talent in real-game scenarios, the Lakers are setting themselves up for a more polished start when the games begin to count.
Each preseason opponent also provides unique value. Though the team has yet to publicly release the identities of all four opponents, sources close to the organization suggest that at least two games will come against playoff-caliber Western Conference teams. These matchups will be key in gauging the Lakers’ competitiveness against elite competition. A third game will reportedly be against a rebuilding Eastern Conference team, offering a different pace and style to test against. The fourth game is rumored to be part of a special overseas event, which could serve not only as a marketing opportunity but also a bonding experience for the squad.
For fans, the preseason will also mark the first opportunity to see any new rookies or two-way players don the Lakers uniform. Developmental prospects like Bronny James—should the Lakers select him in the draft—would likely get meaningful minutes during these exhibitions. His presence would be more than just symbolic; it could signal a generational bridge, a continuation of the franchise’s legacy through both family and talent. The Lakers are always thinking about legacy, and the potential of LeBron and Bronny sharing the court, even in a preseason setting, would be nothing short of historic.
Of course, preseason performances must always be taken with a grain of salt. Teams often experiment wildly, stars play limited minutes, and outcomes are rarely indicative of regular-season success. But for a team like the Lakers, battling expectations, internal pressure, and a ticking championship clock, every rep matters. These games represent an important developmental stage, not only for new acquisitions but also for the coaching staff, the front office, and the veterans who are expected to lead.
There’s also an intangible value to the preseason that transcends X’s and O’s. It’s about energy, culture, and reestablishing a winning mentality. The Lakers spent parts of last season searching for their identity. There were nights they looked like contenders, nights they seemed disconnected, and nights they couldn’t keep pace with younger, faster teams. That inconsistency can be traced back to more than just injuries or talent—it speaks to cohesion. The preseason, in that sense, becomes more than a warm-up. It’s a workshop in chemistry.
