Lakers projected – A projected 2026-27 Los Angeles Lakers starting lineup that could feature three White players—after the reported acquisition of Walker Kessler—has set off a heated public debate about race in the NBA, drawing criticism, jokes, and pushback from former players
The debate started with a lineup—and escalated fast.
On Wednesday. July 1. the Los Angeles Lakers’ projected starting lineup for the 2026-27 season became the center of a race-fueled argument after the team was reported to have acquired center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz. Kessler is White, and the Lakers’ backcourt duo is projected to be White as well: Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Within hours, the chatter turned into jokes, including “Snowtime,” a reference to “Showtime” when the fast-paced Lakers were led by Black stars such as Magic Johnson and Kareem Adbul-Jabbar. The roster talk quickly shifted from banter to something sharper.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith went on the Stephen A. Smith Show on July 1 to argue that the team’s core—three White top players—doesn’t fit what basketball success looks like “in today’s generation.” “The Los Angeles Lakers think they going with a bunch of White dudes. ” he said. “Your three top players are White dudes?. Really?. This ain’t golf. This ain’t baseball. Hell, it ain’t even soccer. What y’all think this is?. Basketball. …” He added, “You ain’t going anywhere being led by three White dudes in today’s generation of basketball.”.
Former players joined the fight over what the Lakers could realistically achieve. Kenyon Martin, a former No. 1 NBA draft pick who played in the league from 2000 to 2015. said on the Gilbert Arenas sport talk show. Gil’s Arena: “Y’all lose in the first round (of the playoffs) either way it goes. You play four White boys. you ain’t gonna beat nobody … I want to know what team has been successful with that many on one roster.”.
The roster picture may not be frozen yet. On July 1, the Lakers also signed power forward and center Sandro Mamukelashvili, according to ESPN. Depending on what the Lakers do with Rui Hachimura and other free agents. Mamukelashvili could emerge as a potential fourth White player in the starting lineup.
Critics of the backlash say the focus on skin color ignores what actually decides games: performance. But the dispute has persisted because the NBA itself has become more openly engaged with social justice and cultural inclusion over the years.
Commissioner Adam Silver addressed that in a 2016 interview. telling Andscape: “I do feel a particular obligation to focus on the African-American community in that we have a league that is roughly 75 percent African-American.” He continued. “And I feel part of the obligation comes from the history of this league that I’ve inherited.”.
The numbers behind the argument are part of why tensions flare. Census estimates put the overall U.S. population at 57% White, while the league is drastically different. The debate also leans on high-profile NBA achievements by White players.
Nikola Jokic. the Denver Nuggets’ White. Serbian center. won back-to-back NBA MVPs in 2021 and 2022 and was named NBA Finals MVP in 2023. That same year, he finished second to Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in MVP voting. Since the turn of the century, White players named league MVP include Jokic, Steve Nash (2005 and 2006), and Dirk Nowitzki (2007). Larry Bird (1984-86) was the last White NBA MVP prior to Nash.
Jokic and Nowitzki (2011) are the only White players to be named NBA Finals MVP since Bird won the award in 1984 and 1986.
Still, when Smith and Martin brought the conversation back to roster composition, the pushback came quickly.
On X, Smith drew criticism for alleged racism. One commenter wrote: “Now. if a white journalist said the EXACT same thing about BLACK players. Stephen A Smith would accuse the journalist of racial bias. When do we stop with the identity politics?” Another said: “Skin color don’t win championships, skill does. Stephen A. race-baiting again. Garbage take.” A third added: “Mr Smith, your race card is showing.”.
Even some former players pointed to historical NBA rosters that complicate the claim that “three White dudes” (or more) automatically undercut winning.
Rashad McCants. a former NBA player and co-host on Arenas’ show. pushed back by referencing Utah Jazz teams from the 2000s. He pointed to Jazz starting lineups featuring two White players—Andrei Kirlenko and Mehmet Okur—with Matt Harping as another key contributor coming off the bench. Those teams reached the Western Conference Finals once and the Western Conference semifinals twice.
Others turned the attention to the Boston Celtics, who won the 1986 NBA title. That starting lineup included three White players: Larry Bird, Danny Ainge, and Kevin McHale.
The point of the disagreement isn’t only what the Lakers might do on the court—it’s what the public is willing to argue out loud about race when rosters are being discussed. With the Lakers projected to have three White players in the starting lineup after acquiring Walker Kessler. and the possibility of Sandro Mamukelashvili becoming a fourth. the debate around what basketball success “should” look like shows no sign of cooling.
As the roster talk continues, the controversy is already following the team—less like a basketball question and more like a cultural one, tied to how the NBA chooses to talk about identity, and how fans respond when those conversations land on a headline.
Los Angeles Lakers Walker Kessler Luka Doncic Austin Reaves Sandro Mamukelashvili Stephen A. Smith Kenyon Martin race debate NBA social justice Nikola Jokic Adam Silver
Snowtime is kinda funny tho lol
I didn’t even know Walker Kessler was going to the Lakers, I just saw the headline. But Stephen A makes it sound like race automatically = failure? Like basketball isn’t that deep.
Wait so is the whole argument that because they have 3 white starters they can’t win?? That’s what I read but maybe I’m missing something. Also Doncic being white has nothing to do with it, he’s literally a sniper. I swear people will blame anything except coaching.
This is why ESPN drives me nuts. They talk like the Lakers can’t do anything unless it matches some “generation” vibe. Like first round jokes are already out and the season not even started. I’m not even sure the lineup is real real, it’s projected and people acting like it’s a done deal. Kenyon Martin saying you play “four white boys” like that’s the whole reason, cmon man.