The Los Angeles Lakers have been on fire lately, going 9-1 in their last 10 games and climbing to the third seed in the Western Conference. Naturally, the conversation around them potentially winning the NBA championship has heated up as well.
The case is there. They have one of the best players in the league right now in Luka Doncic. They have the veteran leadership and experience of LeBron James. They have the offensive firepower. And they’re playing with real momentum. But is that enough to win a title?
For Stephen A. Smith, there’s some hesitation. He’s not picking the Lakers to beat teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in a series, but he’s also not ruling out the possibility of them making real noise given how they’re playing right now..
“I wouldn’t pick the Lakers to beat San Antonio. I wouldn’t pick the Lakers to beat OKC, but they are legitimately the third-best team in the Western Conference, and the momentum is climbing, which means to me we can’t rule anything out.”
Stephen A Smith on the Lakers title chances:
“I wouldn’t pick the Lakers to beat San Antonio. I wouldn’t pick the Lakers to beat OKC but they are legitimately the 3rd best team in the Western Conference and the momentum is climbing which means to me we can’t rule anything out”… pic.twitter.com/9iUkIAiVez
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 23, 2026
