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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 28: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on December 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most popular teams in the NBA. No matter who is on the roster, fans usually vote for multiple players to make the All-Star team. This year’s roster gives fans no shortage of options for deserving players.
Right now, the Lakers sit fourth in the Western Conference standings. A lot of that is because of how good Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been. LeBron James is still one of the most popular players in the league, so he always gets All-Star votes.
The first round of fan voting for this year’s All-Star game has been released, and the votes show that Doncic is clearly the most popular player in the league.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts after a basket. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers Guard Luka Doncic Leads the First Round of NBA in All-Star Voting
Doncic doesn’t just lead the Western Conference in voting, but he leads the entire NBA. He is one of three Lakers who are in the top ten of voting. James is ninth in the West, and James is tenth. Doncic has played in just 23 of the 30 games that the Lakers have played so far.
When Donic is on the court, the offense is deadly. The Lakers have the seventh-best offense in the league. His ability to score on every level of the court and throw passes that can’t be stolen makes him one of the most valuable players in the entire league.
Of course, Doncic is not without his flaws. Despite coming into this season in better shape, his defense hasn’t improved much. The Lakers have the sixth-worst defense in the league, and a lot of that is because of poor defense on the perimeter.
Doncic certainly deserves these All-Star accolades despite the poor defensive numbers. He’s scoring by far the most points of his career, and his free-throw shooting is the best it has ever been, as well.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic plays defense. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
The Lakers Need to Make a Trade to Improve the Defense
Despite how well the Lakers can play on offense with Doncic on the court, it’s clear they don’t have a championship-level defense. There is a good chance that the Lakers will explore the trade market when the trade deadline nears to help improve that perimeter defense.
Los Angeles has multiple expiring contracts that they can use as trade assets this season. Capitalizing on what could be James’ final season in the NBA, when he is still an elite player, should be their top priority. Doncic is signed long-term, so going all-in for a title this year makes sense for them to do.
Los Angeles has been linked to having interest in a few players around the league who fit that bill, but they still haven’t made any trades. It seems to be the top priority for them as the deadline approaches in a couple of months. The Lakers have lost three of the last four, mainly because of poor defense.
Ryan Stano Ryan Stano covers the NBA for Heavy.com. He has been covering sports since 2017, covering the NFL, College Football, College Basketball, and the NBA. His work has been featured on Yahoo, Bleacher Report, FanSided, and Sports Illustrated. More about Ryan Stano
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