The 2026-27 NBA season is almost upon us, and with it comes a new set of expectations for every team. That puts a lot of pressure on Nurse, who has won just one playoff series in the most improbable fashion across three years on the job. If Nurse were replaced by a less proven coach, it's unclear if LeBron still takes his talents to a completely unfamiliar city for a record 24th NBA season. Nurse, known first and foremost for his expert defensive schematics in Toronto, will need to plug a lot of holes. And, absent LeBron, the Lakers now need to prove their decision to not-so-subtly push The King out the door was warranted.