The Los Angeles Lakers delivered an emphatic statement on opening night, cruising to a 127-105 blowout victory over the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena. The home crowd was energized in midseason form, the team’s offense operated at an elite level, and newcomer Walker Kessler put up impressive numbers in his debut. Yet, even with the comfortable win, underlying roster questions emerged regarding the team’s frontcourt depth.
Beyond an unfortunate injury setback to Jake LaRavia, the Lakers are grappling with a clear backup center problem. Veteran big man Kevon Looney absorbed those reserve minutes against Golden State, but his performance left much to be desired. Observers noted that Looney appeared uncharacteristically sluggish and heavy-footed, lagging behind on defensive rotations and failing to set screens with the precise sharpness that previously defined his tenure with the Warriors.
At 30 years old, Looney is not yet past his prime years, raising questions about whether his early-season struggles stem from conditioning hurdles or an undisclosed physical issue. Regardless of the root cause, his performance suggests he will require an adjustment period during the 2026-27 campaign before finding his full rhythm.
In the interim, head coach JJ Redick possesses a viable in-house alternative by sliding Sandro Mamukelashvili into the reserve center role to absorb a portion of Looney’s minutes. While traditional criticisms of the 6-foot-9 Mamukelashvili center around his size when contesting traditional post players or competing above the rim for rebounds, current evaluations suggest he matches Looney’s current level of rim protection and glass-cleaning effectiveness.
Furthermore, Mamukelashvili offers a distinct offensive advantage as a stretch big man capable of spacing the floor effectively for playmakers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Rather than completely stripping Looney of his role—an approach that might prove overly drastic given the length of the 82-game season—a measured rotation adjustment could provide immediate relief.
Simultaneously, general manager Rob Pelinka faces pressure to explore external options on the trade market, ideally targeting a true center standing 6-foot-10 or taller to shore up the frontcourt rotation for the long grind ahead.
