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The Lakers have handed Luka Doncic the keys after LeBron James moved to Philadelphia, but Derek Fisher believes replacing James’ thinking and playmaking could be harder than replacing his points.
Fisher Questions Who Replaces LeBron’s Basketball Brain
Los Angeles has built a very different roster around Luka Doncic for the 2026-27 season, but former Lakers guard Derek Fisher sees one hole that cannot be filled simply by adding another scorer.
LeBron James left the Lakers during the summer and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, ending an eight-season run in Los Angeles.
That makes Doncic the unquestioned centerpiece of the Lakers, with Austin Reaves alongside him and several new faces added to the rotation.
Fisher likes parts of the rebuild, including the additions of guards Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes, but his concern is what happens to the decision-making James provided.
Points Are Only Part of the Missing Production
Replacing LeBron is an awkward exercise because his value has never fitted neatly into one statistical column.
The Lakers are losing a player who could score, organize an offense, diagnose defenses and control possessions from multiple positions.
Doncic is one of the NBA’s premier creators and is more than capable of carrying an offense, but Fisher’s question is broader: who helps replace the collective basketball IQ and playmaking Los Angeles previously received from James?
That could become particularly important when Doncic sits or opposing teams force the ball out of his hands.
If every difficult possession has to be rescued by Luka, the Lakers may have plenty of talent but a very predictable emergency plan.
Los Angeles Has Reworked the Supporting Cast
The Lakers did not spend the summer pretending nothing had changed.
Walker Kessler has joined the frontcourt, while Sexton, Grimes and veteran center Kevon Looney are among the players brought in as the franchise reorganizes around Doncic.
Looney brings three NBA championship rings and years of experience playing alongside Stephen Curry in Golden State.
His view of Doncic is considerably more optimistic.
Looney Sees a Familiar Pick-and-Roll Formula
Looney regards Doncic as one of the league’s elite pick-and-roll operators, which is handy for a center who has spent much of his career creating space for superstar guards with screens.
That pairing could give Los Angeles a dependable half-court option.
Kessler offers a different dimension around the rim, while Reaves remains another ball-handler capable of taking some creation duties away from Doncic.
The Lakers therefore have answers. The season will determine whether they have enough of them.
This Is Luka’s Team Now
There is no longer much ambiguity over the hierarchy in Los Angeles.
Doncic enters the new season as the player around whom everything revolves, and that brings both freedom and pressure.
LeBron’s move to Philadelphia removes the constant debate over whose team it is. It also removes one of the smartest and most versatile offensive players in NBA history from the equation.
For Lakers fans, Fisher’s concern is a useful way of viewing the roster.
The question is not whether Doncic can score enough. Few players in basketball create offense as easily.
The real test is whether Los Angeles can make good decisions for 48 minutes without forcing him to make nearly all of them.
New Pieces Give the Lakers a Chance
There are reasons for optimism.
Reaves gives the team another proven creator. Kessler can anchor the interior. Sexton adds attacking speed, Grimes brings two-way backcourt help and Looney supplies championship experience.
That is a deeper collection of complementary pieces than a simple “LeBron left, Luka takes over” storyline suggests.
Still, the Western Conference rarely rewards teams for looking sensible on paper.
Fisher’s warning gets to the uncomfortable part of the Lakers’ transition: James did several jobs at once, and Los Angeles may need multiple players to replace what disappeared when he left.
Doncic can be the new face of the franchise. The harder task is making sure he does not also have to become the entire operating system.
