UPDATE: The Los Angeles Lakers face a challenging start to their season as star player LeBron James is sidelined for the next 3-4 weeks due to sciatica. In his absence, fellow superstar Luka Doncic has stepped up, emphasizing his commitment to do “whatever it takes” to secure wins for the team.
After practice on Saturday in El Segundo, California, Doncic expressed his determination, stating, “I just want to play basketball. If I do less, if I do more, whatever it takes for me to get a win.” The Lakers are currently 0-2 in the preseason, losing to both the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors. They will face the Warriors again on Sunday, with Doncic’s participation still uncertain.
Lakers’ coach JJ Redick confirmed that Doncic is expected to play in at least two of the team’s remaining four preseason games. The upcoming stretch includes a road game against the Suns on Tuesday and a back-to-back matchup against the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Doncic, who is returning from a busy summer with the Slovenian national team at EuroBasket, has been managing his workload in practice. “Obviously, it’s a long season ahead,” he explained. Redick noted the difficulty ahead without James, stating, “It is unclear what the starting lineup is going to be until he is back.”
With James out, Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton are set to fill three of the five starting positions. Redick is evaluating options for the remaining two spots, considering players like Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt, who have both had significant roles in recent games.
Redick also mentioned that Marcus Smart, who has been nursing an Achilles injury, is cleared to play against the Warriors. The coach is contemplating different lineups for when James is on the court versus when he is not.
As the Lakers adapt to life without their veteran leader, Doncic emphasized the need for a “next man up” mentality. “We got a group of guys that have been practicing, and hopefully LeBron can join us as soon as possible,” he stated.
The Lakers are counting on Doncic’s leadership and talent to navigate these critical early games. Fans are eager to see how the team adjusts and whether they can turn their preseason fortunes around starting with their rematch against the Warriors on Sunday.
