The Los Angeles Lakers are set to take on the Phoenix Suns in their opening preseason game on Friday, but Luka Doncic will play no part in that contest. Doncic will miss the first two games against the Suns and the Golden State Warriors, and Lakers head coach JJ Redick gave an update on the guard pregame.
“Luka will play in the preseason,” Redick said.
Redick added that Doncic, who signed a three-year, $165 million extension in the offseason, will have next week to continue to get ramped up. The decision to sit out was made by the five-time All-Star and the Lakers’ performance team, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Doncic playing at EuroBasket 2025 this summer was taken into consideration when making this call, and the long term is very much being kept in mind here. There is no need to rush the 26-year-old into action.
Doncic featured in all seven games that Slovenia played at EuroBasket as they made it to the quarterfinals. He averaged 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 2.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game and was named to the tournament’s All-Star Five.
Considering Doncic’s workload at EuroBasket, easing him into action is the way to go. The Lakers play six preseason games in total, so he will still have a lot of opportunities to step out on the court before the 2025-26 NBA season commences.
Doncic isn’t the only Laker who won’t be in action against the Suns. Redick had previously announced that LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber, and Adou Thiero will miss the contest.
James has been dealing with nerve irritation in his glute and sat out for the Lakers’ first practice of training camp. The 40-year-old was a limited participant on the second day as well.
James’ camp has told the Lakers to be overly cautious with him as he enters his 23rd season in the NBA. So, you do wonder how much we’ll see of him in preseason.
As for the rest, Smart is dealing with left Achilles tendinopathy, Kleber has tweaked his quad, and Thiero has swelling in his knee.
With all of these names out, the Lakers will be trotting out a starting lineup of Austin Reaves, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton against the Suns. It will be the first time we see LaRavia and Ayton step out on the court for the Lakers. There is hope that adding them and Smart this offseason will bring the team closer to its goal of winning a championship.
The Lakers were the third seed in the West in 2024-25 with a 50-32 record, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
