{
  "id": 5924144,
  "title": "Derek Fisher is confident the Lakers won't decline much without LeBron",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/derek-fisher-is-confident-the-lakers-wont-decline-much-without-lebron",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-06T06:06:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/derek-fisher-confident-lakers-wont-060610242.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Lakers are projected to experience a minor decline in performance without LeBron James, according to general NBA expectations. Last season, the team finished fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 53-29. However, the Lakers' roster now appears more balanced and versatile, providing a glimmer of hope for another competitive season. Derek Fisher, a former Lakers guard who won five NBA titles, expressed confidence that the team wouldn't suffer a significant drop-off in performance. Fisher pointed out that it's not common for a team to improve after losing LeBron, but the Lakers have a strong backcourt featuring Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, along with a rising defense-oriented big man, Walker Kessler. The addition of Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Matisse Thybulle, and Ziaire Williams also bolsters the team's offensive capabilities. Rookie guard Cameron Carr may soon join the rotation. The team's star player, Doncic, showcased his ability to elevate his team's performance during the 2025-26 season, suggesting he could again lead the Lakers to more wins than initially anticipated.",
  "summary": "Derek Fisher seems confident that the Lakers will still be competitive without LeBron James this season.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Derek Fisher speaks on how Jaylen Brown's drawing power helped the 76ers build the team",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/derek-fisher-speaks-on-how-jaylen-browns-drawing-power-helped-the",
        "published": "2026-09-04T05:02:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}