Lakers Receive Blunt Take About LeBron, Doncic, Reaves Lineup

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Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a swipe to the face by Moritz Wagner #21 of the Orlando Magic during the first quarter of an NBA game at Crypto.com Arena on February 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

The Los Angeles Lakers have a problem with their Big 3.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst appeared on First Take on Wednesday and delivered a blunt assessment of the Lakers’ lineup combinations. According to Windhorst, the team performs significantly worse when LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves all play together.

What Windhorst Said About LA’s Big 3

GettyLuka Doncic, Lebron James and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Windhorst pointed to a striking statistical difference.

“When Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic play together—when it’s just the two of them out there—the Lakers are an excellent team,” Windhorst said. “When all three of them play out there, they’re not.”

Windhorst cited a 20-point difference per 100 possessions in favor of the Doncic-Reaves duo without LeBron. That is a massive gap. The Lakers are a different team depending on which combination of their three best players is on the floor.

The trio has started just 11 games together this season. The Lakers are 6-5 in those games.

Windhorst explained the problem. “They all relatively do the same thing,” Windhorst said. “They all need the ball in their hands… When it’s just LeBron out there by himself, guys, they’re a very good team. When it’s two of the three, they’re a very good team. When they’re three together, they’re a bad team.”

That is a damning assessment. The Lakers cannot maximize their talent when all three stars are on the court. The offense stagnates because all three players operate best with the ball in their hands.

Why the Lakers Struggle With All Three

Windhorst made these comments Wednesday, the day before the Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns 113-110 on Thursday.

Phoenix hit 22 three-pointers and outscored the Lakers by 33 points from beyond the arc. Doncic scored 41 points with eight rebounds and eight assists. James added 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Reaves finished with 14 points. The Lakers shot 48 percent from the field but lost their third straight game.

The Lakers also lost to the Orlando Magic 110-109 on Tuesday. Doncic had 22 points and 15 assists. James and Deandre Ayton each scored 21 points. Reaves added 18 points.

Whether Windhorst’s theory explains these losses is debatable. The Lakers’ defensive issues against Phoenix had more to do with giving up 22 three-pointers than lineup combinations. The Magic loss came down to a missed final shot.

But the statistical gap Windhorst cited is real. The Lakers are 10-4 when only Doncic and Reaves play without LeBron. The trio has started just 11 games together this season with a 6-5 record.

Head coach JJ Redick will need to evaluate whether staggering minutes or adjusting the offensive system can address the fit concerns Windhorst raised.

What This Means for the Lakers

The Lakers are 34-24 and hold the sixth seed in the Western Conference.

They have lost three straight games. The recent struggles include defensive breakdowns and late-game execution issues. Whether lineup combinations are the primary cause remains an open question.

Windhorst’s comments highlight a statistical anomaly worth examining. The 20-point per 100 possessions gap between the duo and the trio is significant. But small sample sizes and context matter. The Lakers have dealt with injuries all season, limiting the opportunities to build chemistry with all three stars together.

The Lakers face the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. Whether Windhorst’s theory about the Big 3 fit holds up or if other factors better explain the Lakers’ recent slide will be tested in the games ahead. For now, it is a narrative worth watching as Los Angeles tries to find the right formula down the stretch.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins