The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA. Between the players who were expected to struggle and generally efficient shooters who can't find the bottom of the net, the Lakers have been dreadful from distance.
Thankfully, it's the uncharacteristic elements of Los Angeles' shortcomings from beyond the arc that prove why it's a true contender in 2025-26.
The Lakers currently rank dead last in the NBA at 10.9 three-point field goals made per game. They're admittedly 26th in three-point field goal attempts per contest, but that's only part of the problem with how the team is functioning at the moment.
Los Angeles is also No. 26 in three-point field goal percentage at 33.3 percent, and each of the four teams below it have records below .500.
The reason the Lakers have such a profound reason for optimism is the fact that they've overcome this glaring issue. They're 12-4 through 16 games played and are the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder by just 4.0 games.
The source of Los Angeles' success has been a combination of factors that are both sustainable and proof of what this team can achieve once it starts making threes.
Lakers proving they can win at an elite level without making threes
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Even with [their three-point shooting woes](https://lakeshowlife.com/lebron-james-perfect-player-to-resolve-lakers-most-shocking-flaw), the Lakers rank No. 15 in the NBA in offensive rating. They're also No. 14 in defensive rating and No. 15 in net rating, thus putting them in the range of average on both ends of the floor.
While some might lament the fact that the Lakers aren't standing out in any of those three statistics, they're one of just 10 teams that rank 15th or better in offensive and defensive rating.
Furthermore, the Lakers have been one of the best teams in the NBA at turning defense into offense. They rank No. 5 in the Association in points off of turnovers per game at 21.4 and have the active hands on defense to continue that trend.
Los Angeles is also No. 8 in points in the paint and No. 7 in fast break points allowed, which may very well be the foundation upon which its success is built.
Between slashing scorers and productive big man Deandre Ayton, the Lakers have no shortage of quality finishers inside. That should last throughout the 2025-26 season, with Luka Doncic, a healthy LeBron James, and Austin Reaves each contributing to that goal.
Compounded by the fact that they aren't allowing easy buckets in transition, Los Angeles is effectively overcoming its opponents by punishing mistakes and limiting its own.
Los Angeles clearly has the luxury of running its offense through three of the best offensive players in the NBA in Doncic, James, and Reaves. It's played [most of the season without](https://lakeshowlife.com/lebron-james-makes-luka-doncic-lakers-absolutely-unstoppable) James, however, and continues to prove that it can overcome shortcomings or absences via the sum of its parts.
If the Lakers are already this good without being able to buy a bucket from three-point range, then it's fair to believe they can reach an even higher level once their shots start falling.