Kendrick Perkins is already looking ahead to a Lakers offense that, in his view, could end up setting the pace for the entire NBA.
On a recent episode of ESPN’s NBA Today, the former player and current analyst talked up Los Angeles’ new direction around Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler. He pointed to the fit between Doncic and a rim-running big as the key piece, then took the conversation all the way to a bold finish.
“Luka is so great when he has a dynamic roller that loves to finish at the basket,” Perkins said. “But also Luka is a different type of guy in the pick-and-roll.
He's not just ahead of steam kind of guy and lobbing at the basket. He's a guy that likes to keep you on his hip, that likes to probe.
So I want to see them develop that same synergy that he had with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively, right?
“The Lakers are gonna have the best offensive team in the league in my opinion.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 16, 2026
Thoughts on this take from Kendrick Perkins? 🤔
(via @ESPNNBA) pic.twitter.com/bsxQXQf2FI
“Because they knew, when Luka was in the pick-and-roll, to always stay ready. The pass could come late, it could come early, and so just watching that because once they develop that - we know Luka is going to get buckets - but outside of that, it's going to open up so many wide open threes for Austin Reaves, for Quentin Grimes, and others that I believe the lakers are going to have the best offensive team in the league in my opinion when you think about what they're capable of doing and Luka just being an offensive threat himself.”
Perkins’ case centers on how that pick-and-roll chemistry can change everything for the Lakers. If Doncic gets comfortable with the new pieces around him, the ball movement and spacing could create cleaner looks for Reaves, Quentin Grimes, and others.
This is the clearest supporting cast Doncic has had since being traded to the Lakers at the February 2024 trade deadline. With shooters, defenders, and athletic big men in the mix, the setup gives Los Angeles a real chance to maximize what Doncic does best.
The Lakers open their 2026-27 regular season at home against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, October 21st.
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