Lakers Legend Shaquille O’Neal Gets Brutally Honest About LA’s 2027 NBA Championship Outlook After LeBron James’ Exit
The Los Angeles Lakers had one of the NBA’s busiest offseasons, losing 22-time All-Star forward LeBron James at the outset of free agency before replacing him with a hodgepodge of players they felt could complement superstar guard Luka Dončić.
While LA has exhausted most of its resources to appease Dončić, including making an all-in push for a high-level starting center, franchise icon Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t see a viable path to the 2027 NBA championship.
Shaquille O’Neal Bluntly Assesses New-Look Lakers’ 2027 NBA Title Chances
Despite its strong 53-win finish to the 2025-26 season, LA’s title contention hopes were thwarted by Dončić’s absence (hamstring) throughout the 2026 playoffs. The shorthanded squad was forced to put an excessive workload on 41-year-old James en route to a second-round sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Lakers’ inability to match up defensively against OKC and lack of complementary scoring options contributed to James seeking greener pastures in free agency. The four-time MVP announced his exit in late June, eventually opting to join the star-studded Philadelphia 76ers out East.
Looking to pick up the pieces, LA had significant money to work with this summer, with James’ expiring $52.6 million contract coming off the books. Rob Pelinka and Co.’s biggest move came when they parted with unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030 to land restricted free agent big man Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz on a four-year, $130 million contract.
The rebounding and rim-protecting 7-footer is expected to fill a major need for the Lakers and potentially benefit offensively from the savvy playmaking of Dončić and Austin Reaves. The organization also rounded out its guard (Collin Sexton, Jaden Hardy), wing (Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams), and frontcourt depth (Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney).
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Still, James’ experience and versatility on the wing will be impossible to replicate, something O’Neal appears to have factored into his latest assessment of his former team.
“I’d say no right now,” O’Neal said during a Thursday appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio when asked if the Lakers are “capable of winning a championship.” “But you never know.”
The Hall of Famer, who won three of his four titles with the Purple and Gold, then poked fun at LA’s predominantly white core.
“This is a joke, so I know you’re gonna post this, and it might go viral, but the Hoosiers did win a championship also, so maybe they can win with their little Hoosiers squad,” O’Neal quipped. “It’s a joke, America. Relax!”
Jokes aside, the Lakers face stiff competition in the crowded Western Conference, which still features two juggernauts in the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. As such, it may take an MVP-caliber season from Dončić combined with LA’s new pieces fitting seamlessly for the storied franchise to pose a legitimate threat in next year’s title race.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
