LeBron James: Health Key for Lakers' Success

Lakers star says team's ability to stay healthy will determine their performance down the stretch.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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LeBron James said prior to the NBA All-Star Game that the most important factor for the Los Angeles Lakers' success this season will be their ability to stay healthy. The Lakers have been plagued by injuries, with James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves playing together in just 10 games so far. James acknowledged the team's inconsistent play, noting they've looked great when healthy but "disgusting" when dealing with injuries. He's hopeful that if the Lakers can get healthy, they can start to build the necessary chemistry and cohesiveness to make a strong push in the second half of the season.

Why it matters

The Lakers have underperformed this season despite their star-studded roster, and their ability to get and stay healthy will be crucial to their chances of making a deep playoff run. James' comments highlight the team's struggles with injuries and the need for their key players to be on the court together to develop chemistry and consistency.

The details

The Lakers have a 33-21 record and are in fifth place in the Western Conference, but their net rating of -0.3 is just 16th in the league. They've struggled with injuries, with James, Doncic, and Reaves playing together in only 10 games, though the team has gone 7-3 in those contests. When the Lakers have lost, they've usually lost by double digits, with 18 of their 21 losses coming by more than 10 points.

  • The Lakers will resume their regular-season schedule on Friday, February 17, 2026, when they host the Los Angeles Clippers.
  • LeBron James made his comments during his NBA All-Star Game media availability on Sunday, February 16, 2026.

The players

LeBron James

A superstar forward for the Los Angeles Lakers and one of the greatest players in NBA history.

Luka Doncic

A star guard for the Lakers who was acquired in a trade during the offseason.

Austin Reaves

A young guard for the Lakers who has emerged as a key contributor this season.

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What they’re saying

“Most important for our ball club right now is health. I can't state it any more clear. Not quite sure how many games we've had where we've had a full roster. We're over the halfway point and there's not been many games.”

— LeBron James (usatoday.com)

“It's hard to say because this is a new group. We added DA (Deandre Ayton) and Marcus [Smart] and Jake [LaRavia], just got a new acquisition (Luke Kennard) on our ball club a couple games ago. It's too hard to really say what we're capable of.”

— LeBron James (usatoday.com)

What’s next

The Lakers will look to get healthy and build chemistry during the second half of the season as they push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

The Lakers' ability to get and stay healthy will be the key factor in determining their success this season. If James, Doncic, and Reaves can stay on the court together, the team has shown it can be competitive, but their inconsistent play when dealing with injuries has held them back so far.