The Los Angeles Lakers are sitting in a solid spot this season-fifth in the Western Conference with a 32-19 record-and while that’s nothing to scoff at, it’s clear the franchise is thinking bigger than just being “solid.” In true L.A. fashion, the Lakers are looking to level up, and they're turning to their championship-winning neighbors for some inspiration.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka recently revealed that he’s been collaborating with Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, tapping into the Dodgers’ recent run of sustained excellence to help shape the Lakers’ next chapter. That’s right-one of the NBA’s most storied franchises is taking notes from one of MLB’s most dominant.
“It's been great to have sort of outside allies and advocates looking at the Dodgers and the success they've had and what they've built over there,” Pelinka said before the Lakers’ matchup with the Warriors. “Being able to tap into a person like Andrew Friedman for best practices… He's so incredibly smart and has done such an amazing job bringing championships to the Dodgers. So just to have another head of another team that you can [talk to]-whether it’s a roster move, whether it’s a staff move-just someone that you can talk to has been an incredible resource.”
And when Pelinka says “success,” he’s not exaggerating. Since 2024, the Dodgers have been on a tear, winning back-to-back World Series titles and posting a 191-133 regular-season record.
They’ve also been the gold standard in free agency, landing Shohei Ohtani in the winter of 2023 and following that up with the acquisition of Kyle Tucker this offseason. That’s not just winning-that’s building a juggernaut.
The connection between the two franchises runs even deeper now. Mark Walter, who owns the Dodgers, also holds the majority stake in the Lakers. According to Pelinka, he and Walter-along with Lakers governor Jeanie Buss-have been in ongoing discussions about how Walter can further support the basketball side of the operation, with plans to begin implementing new strategies as early as this summer.
Buss is set to remain in her role as acting governor through at least four more seasons after 2025-26, ensuring continuity at the top while the organization explores new ways to evolve.
So what does this all mean for the Lakers? It means they’re not content with being a playoff team-they’re aiming to build something more sustainable, more dominant, and more championship-caliber. By looking across town at a franchise that’s mastered the art of long-term success, the Lakers are signaling that they’re ready to rethink how they operate-from roster construction to organizational infrastructure.
The Lakers chasing greatness isn’t new. But teaming up with the Dodgers to get there?
That’s a uniquely L.A. power move. And if it pays off, we could be looking at a new era of purple and gold dominance-one built not just on star power, but on the kind of strategic vision that’s made the Dodgers the envy of Major League Baseball.