A photo circulating on social media shows the Lakers’ bench during a critical moment—and the body language tells a story no box score can capture.
Players sit separated. Eyes avoid each other. There’s no communication, no encouragement, no visible connection. It’s the kind of image that makes fans wonder if this team actually likes playing together.
The Lakers entered the season with championship aspirations. Luka Dončić. LeBron James. A supporting cast built to win now. But chemistry doesn’t come pre-packaged with talent.
Friday’s loss to Denver was supposed to be a statement game. Instead, it raised questions about whether these pieces actually fit not just on paper, but in the locker room.
At 35-22, the Lakers are firmly in the playoff picture. But against elite competition, they’ve looked outmatched. Losses to Boston, Cleveland, and now Denver have exposed a team still searching for its identity.
Chemistry is hard to measure and impossible to fake. Great teams have it. Good teams sometimes find it. Bad teams never do.
One photo doesn’t define a season. But when that photo captures a team that looks like strangers sharing a bench, it’s worth paying attention.
Whether they find it before June might determine everything.