Who Should Be the Lakers Fifth Starter?
The 5th Starter Question Gets Real Now
With LeBron James healthy and back in the rotation, the Lakers have a clear core: Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Deandre Ayton. After that, the team’s depth opens up a real discussion about who rounds out the starting five.
That fifth spot isn’t settled, and it shouldn’t be, because the Lakers’ roster this season is made up of a few versatile options who can credibly make a case.
What’s different this year is that there are more real options next to the stars than in recent Lakers lineups, and the team has several players capable of starting.
Rui Hachimura (The Current Default)
Rui Hachimura has been the most common fifth starter with the Lakers this season when the full group is available. He brings reliable scoring and size, and his numbers reflect that he’s been one of the team’s better offensive role players statistically: roughly 14.0 points per game on efficient shooting this season.
That consistency has made him the basic “safe” choice at the fifth spot.
Rui gives spacing and finishing, and he’s been statistically productive when given starter minutes. His offensive numbers this season also put him above some of the other rotation players.
At this point, Rui still represents the most statistically consistent 5th man outside of the big four.
Marcus Smart (Defense, Experience, and a Role Change)
Marcus Smart is the most discussed alternative to Rui for the fifth starter role because he brings a very different impact: defense and physicality.
Marcus Smart tied the Lakers franchise record for most threes in a game off the bench. pic.twitter.com/KkHPQoMLe2
— Real Sports (@realapp) December 11, 2025
Smart was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and has multiple All-Defensive Team honors. He signed with the Lakers in the offseason on a two-year deal after time with Boston, the Grizzlies, and Washington.
Smart’s production this season (about 9.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game in limited games) reflects a role player. He missed a bit of time with a lumbar strain but recently returned to play and hit 26 points in a game against the Spurs this past week, showing us that he can contribute offensively, too.
Jake LaRavia has brought that crashing and offensive rebounding presence the film and data showed.
That’s a nice bonus skill from a Movement Shooter, allowing him to impact the game even if he doesn’t get shots up (or isn’t hitting). pic.twitter.com/wWbQ0KWOxw
— Cranjis McBasketball (@Tim_NBA) December 6, 2025
Smart as a starter also brings a change in identity to the starting five: better perimeter defense, more on-ball pressure, and some toughness that was missing from last season.
That’s exactly why a lot of fans and analysts argue he should be the fifth starter when healthy; however, I could see the Lakers possibly wanting to manage his minutes carefully rather than run him as a traditional high-minute starter.
Jake LaRavia (Valuable, But More Bench-Oriented)
LaRavia isn’t usually in the starter conversation the way Rui and Smart are, but he’s become a legitimately important piece of the rotation. His production (around 9 points a game) fits what the Lakers ask of him, but the bigger story is how he’s playing: clean, active, and consistently in the right spots.
LaRavia comes off the bench, knocks down open looks, and gives them steady scoring without trying to do too much. He hasn’t started many games and hasn’t logged starter-level minutes consistently, so there’s no strong evidence in the rotation to suggest he’s in serious contention for the fifth starter slot, at least as of now.
His role fits, and he’s a flexible player who contributes in multiple areas, but I would say he’s closer to a first off the bench option than a starter at the moment.
So Who Should Start?
Right now, it still feels like Rui holds the spot because he’s the most reliable fit and doesn’t complicate anything for the core four.
Smart is a very close second option, though, and if the Lakers decide they need more defense to open games, he probably makes more sense.
LaRavia has been solid, but right now, I feel like he’s more of a bench piece who gives them stability.
The good part for the Lakers is that they finally have some more options, and they can adjust depending on matchups instead of forcing the same lineup every night.
