The Lakers’ Luka Doncic makeover is already spilling into the offseason spotlight, and now one of the team’s newest names is turning heads in an unexpected place: NBA 2K26.
Cameron Carr, a rookie whose summer work already showed off his bounce in Las Vegas, landed on the game’s Top 10 vertical leap list. Even more eye-catching, he’s tied for No. 2 in that category at 98 alongside Detroit’s Ausar Thompson, and sits ahead of Minnesota star Anthony Edwards, who checks in at 97.
That kind of rating is a shocker, especially for a player who is still just getting established. Carr impressed during NBA Summer League and flashed the leaping ability that traces back to his father, Chris Carr, who took part in the Slam Dunk Contest with Kobe Bryant in 1997.
Still, seeing him ranked that high is a surprise. So is the absence of teammate Adou Thiero, who didn’t crack the Top 10 despite piling up dunk highlights in Las Vegas.
Doncic, meanwhile, has started collecting his own NBA 2K26 praise. The Lakers guard landed at No. 7 among three-point shooters with a 92 overall, a number that feels about right even if some might push for more.
Stephen Curry leads that list at 99, with Kon Knueppel at 94 and Duncan Robinson, Luke Kennard and Damian Lillard all at 93. Edwards and Kevin Durant are both at 92 as well.
He also showed up among the game’s best ball-handlers. Kyrie Irving tops that group at 99, while Doncic is tied at 95 with LaMelo Ball, James Harden and Trae Young.
Doncic’s overall rating is 95, putting him in a tie for fourth on the league-wide list with Edwards. Ahead of him are Giannis Antetokounmpo at 97, plus Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic at 98 apiece.
Not every Lakers name fared as well. Austin Reaves missed the Top 20 entirely and sits at 85 overall, tied with Zach LaVine, De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby and Kristaps Porzingis.
Walker Kessler is the only other Lakers player in the Top 100, landing at 82 overall. That number looks light, but he played only five games last season because of a shoulder injury. He’s tied there with Isaiah Hartenstein, John Collins, Naz Reid, Nikola Vucevic and Jalen Duren.
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One of those options is Peyton Watson, whose situation has drawn sign-and-trade interest from several teams, including the Lakers. For a team still weighing ways to add length and athleticism on the perimeter, that kind of flexible trade candidate is worth monitoring, even if nothing is imminent. If the talks never come together, Watson could eventually reach unrestricted free agency in 2027, keeping this thread alive well beyond the current summer. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Walter Just Set A New Standard For The Lakers
Mark Walter is already sounding like the kind of owner Lakers fans have been waiting for, one who is willing to talk in the language of titles instead of just timelines. Fresh off taking over the franchise, he pointed to his experience with other sports teams and made it clear that the standard in Los Angeles is nothing less than contention, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves among the players he expects to help drive that push.
Walter also acknowledged that getting there will not be simple, which is part of what makes the message resonate. The Lakers have spent too much time talking about the next step instead of the next banner, and Walter promised that championships will return to Los Angeles under his watch, a declaration that instantly raises the pressure and the expectation around everything the franchise does next. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Frontcourt Hole Puts Luka At Center Of Next Big Decision
The Lakers still have a notable opening at starting power forward, and the search to fill it has lingered well into the offseason. After coming up short in their pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga, the front office has kept looking around the league for a frontcourt answer, with the market for bigger bodies now drawing as much attention as any splashier move.
One name that has surfaced is Dallas forward P.J. Washington, a player the Lakers have shown interest in as they try to firm up the lineup around Luka Doncic. A reunion would make sense from Doncics side, and his comfort with Washington is part of what gives the idea some traction, but there is still no agreement in place as the Lakers keep weighing their options. [Read more 🡒]
