Lakers coach JJ Redick and Luka Doncic believe the team could compete for a championship this season.
uncertain
team → believe → championship
You know, the 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama who carried the Spurs to the NBA Finals last postseason before his team blew double-digit leads in four of its five games against the eventual-champion Knicks.
asserted
team → know → Knicks
Wembanyama, who’s next in line to become the face of the league after LeBron James retires, spent all summer stewing — and plotting.
asserted
James → ’ → summer
You know, two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the Thunder to a championship in 2025 and is now chomping at the bit to carry his team back to the Finals after the Spurs stunned Oklahoma City in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.
asserted
Spurs → know → finals
There are nine new players, including Walker Kessler, who’s going to be an integral part of the Big 3 alongside Doncic and Austin Reaves.
asserted
who → be → Doncic
It’s going to take time for everyone to build chemistry.
asserted
everyone → go → chemistry
Not only do the Lakers have to worry about everyone else.
asserted
Lakers → have → everyone
But they have to worry about themselves.
asserted
they → have → themselves
What’s their identity?
asserted
identity → ’ → ?
Redick raised eyebrows when he claimed ahead of media day that he was confident the Lakers would develop into a championship-level team this season.
asserted
Lakers → raise → team
When asked at Thursday’s practice why he believes that, he didn’t hesitate.
asserted
he → ask → that
“I think that every season,” Redick said.
asserted
Redick → think → ?
“Unless somebody blatantly tells me that we’re not trying to win, I think that every year.
asserted
I → tell → that
That’s why I say I’m confident.
asserted
I → ’ → ?
I said the same thing last year for all of January and February that we were going to figure it out at some point, and we did.
asserted
we → say → point
And then we had some injuries.”
asserted
we → have → injuries
He kept insisting that Doncic, Reaves and LeBron James would work out their kinks.
asserted
Doncic → keep → kinks
Those words seemed empty at times.
asserted
words → seem → times
But eventually they shape-shifted and came together, going on a 16-2 run last spring before Doncic suffered a strained hamstring and Reaves suffered a strained oblique on April 2.
asserted
Reaves → shift → April
During that time, Doncic looked like the NBA’s best player, regularly delivering stunning 40-point performances.
asserted
Doncic → look → performances
Reaves looked like an All-Star.
asserted
Reaves → look → Star
And James, who’s arguably the greatest player of all time, wholeheartedly committed to becoming the team’s third offensive option.
asserted
who → ’ → option
Redick has his work cut out for him again.
asserted
work → have → him
Can Walker become an All-Defense-caliber player?
asserted
Walker → become → ?
Can Redick unlock the potential of guys like Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero, Cameron Carr, Quentin Grimes, Jake LaRavia, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton and Matisse Thybulle?
asserted
Redick → unlock → Williams
Redick has a way of getting through to players.
asserted
Redick → have → players
He got James to agree to be the third option for the first time in his then-23-season career.
asserted
James → get → career
He helped Luke Kennard transform into an ephemeral star in the first round of the playoffs against the Rockets when Doncic and Reaves were sidelined.
asserted
Doncic → help → Rockets
He got the best out of defensive juggernaut Marcus Smart.
asserted
He → get → Smart
It’s not far-fetched that he could work wonders with this team.
uncertain
he → ’ → team
It’s not out of the question that he could make them believe they’ve arrived.
uncertain
they → ’ → question
It’s not absurd that they could buy into the idea that their time is now.
uncertain
time → ’ → idea
The Lakers have arguably the best player in the league in Doncic.
asserted
Lakers → have → Doncic
They have a lot of talent.
asserted
They → have → talent
They have a great coach.
asserted
They → have → coach
But they also have holes, such as proven starting forwards and a reliable backup center.
asserted
they → have → forwards
They have a lot to prove.
asserted
They → have → lot
Especially against teams that already have most things figured out.
asserted
things → have → teams
The Spurs tasted victory before letting it drop out of their mouths like a dog rejecting a healthy snack.
asserted
it → taste → snack
But they could get there.
uncertain
they → get → ?
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
