Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady Slams Lakers Roster for Major Shortcoming

January 4, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Detroit Pistons shooting guard Tracy McGrady (1) goes in for a basket against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum (17) during the first half at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

At 13-4, the Luka Doncic/Austin Reaves/LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers are off to a robust start on the young 2025-26 NBA season. LA has won its last five straight games and currently occupies the No. 2 seed in the competitive Western Conference.

The mighty Oklahoma City Thunder have won lost just one game this season, and at 18-1 are the top seed in the West so far — without their second-best player, All-NBA small forward Jalen Williams, available for a second of game time yet.

The Denver Nuggets, the conference's third seed, also sport a 13-4 record. The 12-4 Houston Rockets and the 12-5 San Antonio Spurs round out the West's top five.

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Former seven-time All-NBA small forward Tracy McGrady, for one, is skeptical that the current Lakers roster can compete for the West crown in the playoffs.

Now an analyst for NBC/Peacock along with his fellow Hall of Famer and step second cousin once removed Vince Carter, McGrady projected the Lakers' playoff ceiling and called them out for their biggest roster issue after the club's 135-118 defeat of the LA Clippers.

The postgame panel also included Maria Taylor and former Boston Celtics champion bench power forward Brian Scalabrine.

T-Mac on the Lakers:

"If you look at this roster constructed, what did you see on this bench that can give you consistency in a 7 game series against OKC or Denver?" pic.twitter.com/JrZezMY8xm

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) November 26, 2025

McGrady seemed pessimistic about the ability of the Lakers' roster depth to help the club successfully battle the Oklahoma City Thunder or Denver Nuggets, the two other top teams in the Western Conference by record.

Depth Questions

"I don't think this team [as] presently constructed can survive OKC or a Denver team that has depth, has size, speed. I don't think they can sustain that," McGrady opined. "If you look at this roster constructed, what did you see on this bench that can give you consistency in a seven-game series against OKC or Denver?"

The Lakers' 51 percent field goal rate ranks first in the league, and the Lakers rank seventh in offensive rating (118.4). LA is fairly middle-of-the-road in point differential (14th at +3.4), defensive rating (114.9, good for just 17th among 30 teams). Surprisingly, despite their offensive efficacy, the Lakers also rank 24th in 3-point percentage (33.9 percent) and 26th in 3-point attempts (32.5).

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So why has LA been so good at all? Its two-man backcourt tandem of Doncic and Reaves has been absolutely lethal as scorers and distributors. With James back, questions abound about the Lakers' ability to balance the trio's lackluster defense, but it's clear that Los Angeles still packs a punch on the other end.

The Lakers have managed to improve their depth by bringing in free agent summer additions Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia.

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.