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NBA Insider Snubs Lakers From Top 8 NBA Title Contenders

The Los Angeles Lakers have one of the best records in the NBA, but that isn’t getting them title contending respect to all pundits. NBA insider Kevin O’Connor gave his full league ranking of the top NBA Championship contenders via…

Published: Tuesday, 3 November 2026 at 2:06 AM
NBA Insider Snubs Lakers From Top 8 NBA Title Contenders
Key Things to Know
  • Kevin O'Connor ranked the Los Angeles Lakers ninth in his power rankings, excluding them from eight legitimate contenders.
  • O'Connor pointed out the Lakers' offensive rating plummets to 100 when Austin Reaves plays without Luka Doncic.
  • The San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Oklahoma City Thunder topped O'Connor's championship contender tiers.
The Story in 60 Seconds

NBA insider Kevin O'Connor left the Los Angeles Lakers out of his top eight NBA Championship contenders in his recent Yahoo power rankings, placing them ninth overall. O'Connor categorized the Lakers as falling contenders behind top-tier teams including the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Oklahoma City Thunder, arguing that a weak early schedule inflated their record.

O'Connor highlighted tactical concerns, specifically noting the team's offensive rating drops significantly to 100 when Austin Reaves plays without Luka Doncic. Writer Joey Haverford reports that the Lakers' path to contention relies on securing a top seed in a Western Conference dealing with injuries to key rivals.

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