Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Lakers, NBA history
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Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida.
The Los Angeles Lakers have surged late in the season, but not everyone is buying into their rise, with CBS Sports sideline reporter and analyst Ashley Nicole Moss labeling them “pretenders.”
Moss questioned whether the Lakers are built to contend while appearing on a CBS Sports HQ segment, offering a blunt assessment of a team that has gained momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
“They are getting hot at the right time… But for me, the Lakers are Pretenders,” Moss said. “This is not a championship team. This is not a Western Conference Finals team.”
Lakers Surge Late in Season
Los Angeles has backed its recent momentum with results.
The Lakers have won nine of their last 10 games, with their only loss in that stretch coming Monday in a 113-110 defeat to the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons. They responded with a 137-130 win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, capping a 5-1 road trip.
That stretch has been fueled in large part by Luka Doncic, who delivered a historic scoring run during the trip, alongside LeBron James, who continues to anchor the offense.
Recent History Offers Caution
The Lakers have been in a similar position before.
Late last season, Los Angeles was also one of the league’s hottest teams, posting a 14-5 record during its final push while recording a league-best +12.5 net rating over that stretch. The run helped the Lakers secure the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
However, that momentum did not carry into the postseason. The Lakers were eliminated in five games in the first round by the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, raising questions about the sustainability of late-season success.
Schedule and Standings Add to Stakes
The Lakers’ upcoming schedule could further shape the conversation.
Los Angeles returns home for its next three games against the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Nets and Wizards have already been eliminated from playoff contention, while Cleveland currently holds the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
At 47-26, the Lakers hold a 1.5-game lead over the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 seed in the West. They are also trending toward their second consecutive 50-win season.
The last time the franchise reached that mark in back-to-back years came under Phil Jackson, when the Lakers posted four straight 50-win seasons from 2007 to 2011. That run included three NBA Finals appearances and two championships, led by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
Questions Persist Despite Momentum
Despite the strong run, Moss drew a clear distinction between regular-season success and postseason viability.
“They are not a good basketball team,” she said. “This is not a good basketball team.”
Her evaluation focused less on the Lakers’ recent record and more on how the roster might hold up against elite competition in a playoff setting.
Matchups Could Define Lakers’ Ceiling
A key part of Moss’ argument centered on potential postseason matchups, particularly against top teams in the Western Conference.
“Depending on the matchup, if by the grace of God, they get a very easy matchup that allows Luka and LeBron to be as dominant as they always are, and that pushes the Lakers to the second round, then glory to them,” Moss said.
“But realistically, if they go against a team like the Denver Nuggets, they are going to get the floor mopped with them.”
The Nuggets have been among the conference’s most consistent contenders in recent seasons, and Moss suggested that a matchup against that level of competition would present a significant challenge for Los Angeles.
Social Media Post Reinforces Criticism
After CBS Sports shared the segment clip, Moss reiterated her stance on social media, acknowledging the reaction her comments might generate.
“There are going to be Lakers fans mad at this, but whatever. LeBron and Luka are INCREDIBLE TALENTS,” she wrote. “This is not a championship team. There’s nothing about this team (as a whole) that has championship written on it.”
Lakers Playoff Outlook Remains Under Scrutiny
As the regular season winds down, the Lakers continue to build momentum, but questions about their ceiling remain part of the conversation.
Moss’ comments add to an ongoing debate surrounding the team — one that weighs recent performance against both historical precedent and the realities of postseason matchups.
Whether the Lakers can carry their current form into the playoffs and avoid a repeat of last season’s outcome will ultimately be determined on the court.