The first week of Lakers’ training camp has passed. 

It has been a whirlwind of Purple-and-Gold-smeared optimism and excitement. 

Luka Doncic is ready to lead the Lakers back atop the league as the unequivocal head of the 17-time championship franchise. 

Austin Reaves wants to live up to his new four-year, $180 million contract. Walker Kessler is ready to run through walls.

Here are our biggest takeaways from camp so far:

1. Lakers’ perimeter defense is better than expected 

If you asked any scout what the Lakers’ biggest hole was heading into the season, the response would’ve been unanimous: perimeter defense. 

Only, the players say that’s wildly incorrect. 

In fact, Lakers coach JJ Redick cut practice short Wednesday because the competition became so intense. There are nine new players. There are two starting positions open alongside Doncic, Reaves and Kessler. 

And it’s obvious that those spots will be won by defensive effort. 

Kessler, who is the Lakers’ defensive anchor down low, has been impressed by what he has seen so far. 

“I think we’re going to be a nasty defensive team, I’m just being honest,” Kessler said. “Just seeing these guys hound the ball on the perimeter.”

Kessler said people “aren’t taking into account” how good the Lakers’ perimeter defense will be, adding that this roster has the intelligence and skill to surpass expectations.

But one question in particular stumped Kessler.

Who stood out?

“I mean, Thi [Adou Thiero], Ziaire [Williams], Quentin [Grimes], Bull [Matisse Thybulle], Van [Jarred Vanderbilt], Jake [LaRavia] — I could go through the whole team,” he said.

“Everyone’s got their own strengths, weaknesses. But I think that these guys are really good at not allowing their weaknesses to show and really focusing on their strengths, and [making] sure that’s what’s pushing them forward, especially on the defensive side.”

2. Lakers believe they’ll be championship contenders this season

It was obvious last season that the Lakers were heads and shoulders behind the top teams in the West, including the Thunder and Spurs. 

They lost their four regular-season matchups against the Thunder by an average of 29.3 points and then were swept out of the playoffs by Oklahoma City in the second round. Oh, then the Thunder lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference finals. 

The Lakers responded by completely overhauling their roster last summer, adding youth and speed. 

But let’s be real: It still seemed as though they were a few tweaks away from being able to contend. And they definitely needed time to jell, especially considering the Thunder and Spurs have been deep into the playoffs with their rosters. 

But the Lakers don’t think it will take time. 

They believe they’ve arrived. 

Said Redick: “I’m confident we’re gonna develop as a team into a championship-level team this year.”

When Reaves was asked if he agreed, he didn’t hesitate.

“I do,” he said. “Let me tell you, trying to score on Matisse and Ziaire, especially with Adou out there, too, and then Walker on the back line is not easy. I had to deal with that all day yesterday and today, and it’s not fun. So, defensively, we’re going to be much better.”

That’s great news for a team that finished 19th in defensive rating last season. As for their new defensive star? Kessler also believes the Larry O’Brien Trophy is within the team’s grasp.

“I believe so,” he said. “No question. Yeah, undoubtedly.”

3. Get ready for Luka

A fire was lit under Doncic as soon as he was shockingly dealt by the Mavericks to the Lakers in February 2025. 

Those flames were fanned when LeBron James left Los Angeles in free agency.

The Lakers are his team. 

And he’s ready. 

He says he’s fully healthy after missing last postseason because of a strained hamstring. He recently made five consecutive half-court shots, stunning Reaves into pausing his own news conference to marvel at the feat. 

He helped handpick the roster, telling Lakers brass that he wanted Reaves and Kessler as his teammates. And he paid for the entire Lakers team to fly to Slovenia so he could host a minicamp, something he had never previously done in his career. 

Doncic led the league in scoring last season (33.5 points per game), was third in assists (8.3) and finished fourth in MVP voting. 

Here’s to betting he puts up an MVP-caliber campaign this time around.