The Los Angeles Lakers have proven to be one of the most elite teams in the Western Conference this season. LA has remained consistently among the top five teams in the conference and has yet to drop below fifth place this year.
While the Purple and Gold have shown they are worthy of contending for a championship this season, DeMarcus Cousins expressed why that goal may be easier said than done.
DeMarcus Cousins and Other Former NBA Players Believe Lakers Aren’t Likely to Win a Title
During a recent episode of “Run It Back,” Cousins and fellow former NBA players Chandler Parsons and Lou Williams weighed in on the Lakers’ chances of contending for a title in the Luka Dončić era.
While there is no denying how great a player Dončić is and how much better he has made the Lakers so far this season, the former NBA players do not believe that alone will carry the team to a championship.
Cousins noted the Lakers’ one-dimensional style of play. The former four-time All-Star believes the team still needs to improve in other areas where it is lacking.
“I think I’ve seen the best of this style of play, and it didn’t result in a championship,” Cousins said. “Until I see improvement on the other side of the ball, I think it’s really hard to get a championship playing on one side of the ball.”
Parsons also weighed in, noting that the Lakers do not resemble a long-term dynasty with their current roster. Instead, LA appears to be a team built to win immediately, rather than sustain prolonged success.
“The league is so good, the teams are so good,” Parsons noted. “A championship, let alone two, is very, very hard to do. Especially when you look at the landscape of the league and how many good young teams there are. The Lakers aren’t really one of them. They’re more of a win now, and I still don’t think they have enough.”
Lakers aren’t built for Luka to win more than 1.5 rings 😱
“LA is built to win now… they still don’t have enough.” – @ChandlerParsons
“I’ve seen the best of this style of play and it didn’t result in a championship.” – @BoogieCousins
“I’d take the over on .5” – @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/acsUp7aiCD
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 5, 2026
The Lakers’ defensive shortcomings have also been acknowledged internally. Head coach JJ Redick has publicly called out the team for its lack of defense, expressing frustration with Dončić and LeBron James for leaning too heavily on an offense-first approach rather than mixing in consistent defensive stops.
While the Lakers are currently sitting in third place in the Western Conference after beating the Memphis Grizzlies in back-to-back games, their margin for error remains slim. Simple defensive lapses have often resulted in losses, leaving open the possibility that LA could slide back in the standings as the season progresses.
