Luka Doncic, without extra pressure due to the absence of LeBron James
So far, without LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the Lakers are winless in the preseason, with an 0-2 record against the Suns and Warriors.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — While LeBron James is expected to be out for the start of the season as he recovers from sciatica on the right side of his body, the Los Angeles Lakers’ other superstar, Luka Doncic, said he doesn’t feel obligated to do more in James’ absence.
“I don’t see it that way,” Doncic said after training on Saturday. “I just want to play basketball. If I do less, if I do more, whatever it takes to get a win.”
So far, without James and Doncic, the Lakers are winless in the preseason, with a record of 0-2 against the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors.
Los Angeles hosts Golden State in a preseason rematch on Sunday and Lakers coach JJ Redick said it is still being determined whether Doncic will play.
Sunday begins a stretch of three preseason games in four days for the Lakers, which will continue with a road game against Phoenix on Tuesday and the second night of a back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Redick said Doncic would play in two of Los Angeles’ four remaining preseason games.
Doncic was at full strength Saturday after modifying his workload all week to spare the 26-year-old point guard some wear and tear after playing for Slovenia in EuroBasket this summer.
“I had the national team,” Doncic explained. “Playing a month or so of basketball with Slovenia. Obviously, it’s a long season ahead, so just for that.”
Now Redick has his work cut out for him trying to fill in for James while he is out for the next 3-4 weeks before a re-evaluation of his sciatica is scheduled.
“I hope he comes back soon,” Redick said. “Those things can be complicated… It’s not clear what the starting lineup will be, that’s the reality, until he comes back. We’ll have to find out.”
Doncic, point guard Austin Reaves and center Deandre Ayton will occupy three of the five positions.
Redick will examine the other two starting positions, with Rui Hachimura starting 57 of the 59 games he played for Los Angeles last season clearly under consideration. Along with Jarred Vanderbilt, who has started both preseason games so far and is in his best health since the Lakers qualified for the Western Conference finals in 2023, and free agents Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart, who offer the team different offensive and defensive options.
Smart, who has also been out to begin the preseason due to Achilles tendinopathy, will play against the Warriors, according to Redick.
Redick said he has thought about having a lineup and rotation that best fits when James plays and another for when he doesn’t play.
Doncic said he and James have “talked a lot” while watching the Lakers practice from the sideline during training camp, which has helped improve chemistry.
For now, the only thing Doncic and the Lakers will get from James during games is what the 40-year-old can contribute off the bench.
“It’s a big change,” Doncic said of having to play without James. “He’s a great player. He can help us a lot. But in the end, our mentality has to be ‘next man on the list’. We have a group of guys who have been training and we hope LeBron can join us as soon as possible. Obviously, we’re going to need him. But our mentality has to be ‘next man on the list’. That’s it.”
