LeBron James Can’t Quiet Lakers Doubters Until December’s First Real Tests Arrive

The Los Angeles Lakers are winning games, but they aren’t winning credibility — at least not yet.

Since LeBron James returned to the lineup, LA is 3–0, a flawless record that would normally spark praise. Instead, skeptics have dismissed the victories as empty calories, pointing to the weakness of the opponents. And as it turns out, the Lakers won’t get a true chance to silence their critics until the calendar flips to December.

🟣 Wins That Critics Won’t Take Seriously

The trio of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves has only played three games together so far this season. Those matchups came against:

• Utah Jazz (twice)
• Los Angeles Clippers

None of those teams will be considered meaningful tests for critics who believe the Lakers are pretenders rather than contenders. No matter the stats, margins, or highlights, those wins will be shrugged off as “expected.”

And the rest of November won’t help much, either.

LA will close the month against:

• the struggling Dallas Mavericks
• the bottom-dwelling New Orleans Pelicans

All of which reinforces the narrative that the Lakers have feasted on soft competition.

📉 A Net Rating That Fuels Doubt — and a Counterpoint

For as strong as LA’s 13–4 record looks, their +3.2 net rating ranks just 14th in the NBA — a statistic critics lean on heavily.

However, in the three games with LeBron active, that rating explodes to:

+10.0 net rating

(3rd-best in the league during that span)

But again, critics respond the same way: weak schedule.

🔥 December Changes Everything

The first week of December delivers the first legitimate measuring stick of the season, with four opponents who are all currently at least in Play-In position:

• Phoenix Suns
• Toronto Raptors
• Boston Celtics
• Philadelphia 76ers

That’s the first real gauntlet the Lakers will face with their full core available — and the first stretch that skeptics won’t be able to brush aside.

If LA emerges from that run 4–0, the national conversation will be forced to shift.

Even 3–1 should earn legitimate praise.

Or at least… it should.

🟡 The Reality of Being the Lakers

The Lakers’ brand guarantees one thing: no matter how well they play, criticism will always follow. Even domination won’t fully silence the doubters — that’s simply the price of being the league’s most polarizing franchise.

But inside the building?

Confidence is growing.

And December offers the first real chance for the Lakers to prove to everyone else what they already believe:

they are legitimate contenders.