The 2026 NBA Playoffs are heating up, and the Los Angeles Lakers are facing a challenge unlike any in LeBron James' legendary career. After a gritty first-round series victory over the Houston Rockets, the Lakers now prepare for a daunting second-round matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder—and the odds are stacked against them like never before.
On Friday night, LeBron James and a depleted Lakers squad clinched their first-round series with a commanding 98-78 win in Game 6, taking the series 4-2. Despite missing Luka Dončić for the entire series and Austin Reaves for part of it, Los Angeles entered as +425 underdogs but found a way to advance. The Rockets' Kevin Durant was sidelined for five of the six games due to injuries, opening the door for James to carry his team to victory.
But now, the real test begins. The Thunder, the No. 1 seed, swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round and have been resting and waiting for their next opponent. Oddsmakers have made the Lakers historic underdogs, with the team currently listed at +950 to win the series. That's the biggest playoff underdog the Lakers have been since at least 1988, according to the Sports Odds History database.
For LeBron James personally, this marks the second-largest underdog role of his playoff career. The only time he faced longer odds was back in 2006, his first postseason, when the Cleveland Cavaliers were 12-1 underdogs against the Detroit Pistons in the second round. The Pistons eventually won that series in seven games.
Game 1 in Oklahoma City is particularly daunting. The Lakers are 16-point underdogs, which would be the biggest spread LeBron has ever faced in a playoff game. The previous high came in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, when his Cavaliers were 12.5-point underdogs and lost 124-114 in overtime to the Golden State Warriors—a game forever remembered for J.R. Smith's infamous clock management gaffe.
To make matters worse, the Thunder dominated the Lakers in the regular season, winning all four matchups. Three of those victories came by at least 29 points, underscoring the size of the challenge ahead. For fans and bettors alike, this series promises to be a true test of heart, history, and the enduring legacy of LeBron James.