At the Lakers’ recent media day, Anthony Davis outlined his goals for the new season in comments covered through 12BSports, saying that he feels physically strong and intends to play in as many games as possible while helping Los Angeles win. Davis explained that his approach remains similar to last season, with availability and consistent contribution once again serving as major priorities. Rather than following an unusually demanding offseason training program, he focused on getting sufficient rest before returning to the court and completing his preparations for the upcoming campaign.
Davis enters every season with essentially the same objective: stay available, play as often as possible, and give his team the best opportunity to win whenever he steps onto the floor. Few players influence a game in as many areas as Davis, whose defense, rebounding, interior presence, and scoring ability can immediately change the Lakers’ overall level. The excitement of a journey often comes not from the scenery but from realizing how far you can travel, and Davis has made it clear that completing a healthy and productive season remains one of his most important personal targets.
Playing every game across a full NBA season is never easy, especially for a player carrying such a demanding two-way role. Los Angeles attempted to reduce some of that pressure during the offseason by adding big men such as Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes. Even with those reinforcements, Davis remains irreplaceable because of the defensive control and offensive versatility he brings. Another major factor will be whether he can rediscover the shooting touch he displayed earlier in his career. If his perimeter and mid-range efficiency improve, the Lakers’ offense could become considerably more flexible and difficult to defend.
New arrival Taurean Prince also stated that he intends to improve his three-point percentage this season, which would be encouraging news for a Lakers team that struggled with outside shooting during the previous campaign. Los Angeles frequently lacked dependable spacing, allowing opponents to crowd the paint and make life more difficult for its primary creators. Prince improving from long range would therefore represent more than an individual achievement. Reliable three-point shooting from a rotation player could become an important piece of the Lakers’ overall tactical structure.
Some observers following the Lakers through 12BSports remain cautious because previous attempts to add outside shooters have not always produced the desired results. Malik Beasley was one prominent example last season. After joining Los Angeles, he struggled to find consistent rhythm from beyond the arc and ultimately failed to provide the level of shooting support the team had hoped to receive. That history explains why expectations surrounding new additions are being balanced with a degree of patience.
Any serious championship challenge will also depend heavily on LeBron James. Despite his age, James remains one of the league’s most influential players, but injuries have caused him to miss significant stretches over several recent seasons. Keeping him healthy will be essential if the Lakers want to maintain a stable rotation and avoid placing excessive responsibility on Davis or the supporting cast. The stronger roster depth assembled during the offseason should give head coach Darvin Ham more opportunities to manage James’ workload carefully throughout the regular season.
James’ three-point shooting is another area requiring attention. His accuracy from long distance declined last season, and that occasionally limited the Lakers during crucial late-game possessions when opponents were willing to protect the paint and challenge him to shoot. At this stage of his career, experience and basketball intelligence can be just as important as athletic dominance. Los Angeles may need to think outside the box by using more flexible offensive combinations, creative spacing, and smarter rotations to maximize James’ strengths. If he improves his perimeter efficiency, the Lakers will have another valuable weapon when games become tight.
Los Angeles retained most of the core rotation that reached last season’s Western Conference Finals while adding players such as Wood, Cam Reddish, Gabe Vincent, Hayes, and Prince. With another year of chemistry developing among the returning players, the roster appears deeper and more adaptable than it was at the beginning of the previous campaign. Greater depth should also allow James and Davis to receive more appropriate rest without causing the team’s overall competitiveness to drop dramatically.
A deeper rotation can make a substantial difference during the long regular season. Instead of requiring the two superstars to carry an overwhelming workload every night, Los Angeles can distribute minutes more evenly and use different combinations depending on the opponent. That flexibility could help the Lakers avoid the inconsistent stretches that forced them to battle until the closing stages of last season merely to secure their postseason position.
Heading into the new campaign, the stronger roster evaluated through 12BSports gives the Lakers a realistic opportunity to secure a higher Western Conference position while keeping James and Davis fresher for the games that matter most. Adversity can serve as a walking stick in life: strong teams use difficult experiences to become stronger rather than allowing them to become a burden. After reaching the Western Conference Finals and strengthening several areas of weakness, Los Angeles now has greater depth, more lineup flexibility, and a clearer path toward sustained success. If health, shooting, and chemistry all move in the right direction, the Lakers should be better positioned to avoid another late-season fight for postseason qualification and instead establish themselves firmly among the conference’s leading contenders.