Lakers Player Grades: Dominating the Pelicans in a Statement Win

The Lakers absolutely torched the Pelicans in a commanding 136-115 victory, proving that blowout wins are becoming the new normal this season. After back-to-back statement games against the Clippers and with a marquee matchup against the Knicks on the horizon, this had all the makings of a trap game—but the Lakers weren’t having it.

They handled business with ease, turning what could’ve been a tight contest into a highlight-filled laugher. The bench got to sit back, relax, and celebrate while the starters put in the work.

This team is just flat-out fun to watch, and after some frustrating seasons, we’re soaking up every second of it. Now, let’s break down how each player performed.

(Grades are based on expectations, with a “B” representing an average performance.)

Dorian Finney-Smith

🕒 30 min | 8 pts | 5 reb | 3-10 FG | 2-7 3PT | +5
The shot wasn’t falling, but his presence changed the game—a common theme since he landed in L.A. Even when the numbers don’t jump off the page, he’s making an impact.
Grade: B-

LeBron James

🕒 33 min | 34 pts | 8 reb | 6 ast | 10-18 FG | 5-10 3PT | 9-9 FT | +7
What else can we even say about The King? LeBron is still unreal, knocking down threes, orchestrating the offense, and doing it all with ease. The chemistry with Luka is growing, and it’s scary for the league.
Grade: A

Jaxson Hayes

🕒 24 min | 19 pts | 10 reb | 8-8 FG | +4
PERFECTION FROM THE FIELD. A near 20-10 game from Hayes would’ve sounded crazy a year ago, but here we are. He’s thriving in his role alongside LeBron and Luka.
Grade: A+

Gabe Vincent

🕒 29 min | 2 pts | 3 ast | 2 stl | 1-7 FG | 0-6 3PT | -8
Oof. Just when we thought his shooting slump was over, he’s right back in it. His defense still gives him a role, but man, it’d be great if he could hit a shot again.
Grade: F

Luka Dončić

🕒 34 min | 30 pts | 8 reb | 15 ast | 9-19 FG | 6-13 3PT | +37
Luka is OFFICIALLY A LAKER, and it’s a beautiful sight. He was dropping dimes everywhere, making deep threes, and leading the offense effortlessly. We’re just scratching the surface of what he and LeBron can do together.
Grade: A+

Jarred Vanderbilt

🕒 20 min | 12 pts | 8 reb | 2 blk | 4-7 FG | +27
It took some time, but Vando is back in full form. His energy, defense, and now a potential corner three? Yeah, we’ll take that all day.
Grade: A-

Dalton Knecht

🕒 26 min | 13 pts | 4 reb | 5-9 FG | +2
Knecht is playing impactful basketball again, solidifying his role in the rotation after some shaky stretches. Just in time, too.
Grade: B+

Shake Milton

🕒 19 min | 12 pts | 2 reb | 2 ast | 2 stl | 5-7 FG | +30
+30. Yes, really. Milton made big shots and provided strong rotation minutes. A solid, under-the-radar performance.
Grade: B+

Trey Jemison III

🕒 17 min | 4 pts | 5 reb | 3 ast | 2-2 FG | +7
Forget the box score—Jemison’s physicality and rebounding presence made a huge difference. He even showed off some sneaky playmaking skills in the short roll.
Grade: B+

Bronny James & Alex Len

Bronny got some garbage-time minutes AND scored. Love to see it.

JJ Redick (Head Coach)

Redick and his staff clearly did their homework—they knew the Pelicans were vulnerable to threes and exploited it perfectly. Small details like this show why this team is in a different place than under Darvin Ham.
Grade: A-

Tuesday’s DNPs & Inactives

• DNPs: Cam Reddish

• Inactives: Markieff Morris, Maxi Kleber, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Jordan Goodwin, Christian Koloko

Final Takeaway:
The Lakers are clicking, and it’s a sight to behold. This wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. The chemistry is growing, roles are being defined, and dominant performances like this might just become the new standard.

Who’s next?