Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick had declined to speak about the starting lineup in the lead-up to the 2025-26 season, but we now finally know what it will look like on opening night. According to NBA insider Dave McMenamin, Redick stated before the Lakers’ final preseason game against the Sacramento Kings that the starting five for this game will be what they will go with against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21.
So, here is who the Lakers have started against the Kings tonight.
PG: Luka Doncic
SG: Gabe Vincent
SF: Austin Reaves
PF: Rui Hachimura
C: Deandre Ayton
The big question, of course, was who would replace LeBron James in the starting lineup. James is dealing with sciatica and might only be back by mid-November.
Lakers insider Dan Woike believed that it would be Jarred Vanderbilt or Jake LaRavia taking James’ spot, but Redick has gone with Gabe Vincent instead. It sure is an interesting decision.
Vincent was on fire in the Lakers’ last preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks. He racked up 18 points in the first quarter, and you wonder if that explosion played a part in Redick’s decision.
Vincent was primarily a backup for the Lakers in 2024-25 and averaged 6.4 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game. The 29-year-old can defend and is a solid outside shooter (35.3% last season), which makes him a good fit with this group on paper.
The Lakers did give Vincent 11 starts last season, and he put up 8.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game in them while shooting 36.4% from beyond the arc. He’ll be looking to improve on that this time around.
What the inclusion of Vincent does mean is that Luka Doncic will be tasked with defending forwards in James’ absence. The 6’2″ Vincent is too small for that task, and you wouldn’t want to put the 6’5″ Austin Reaves on them either.
It has to be Doncic, who is listed at 6’7″. The 26-year-old is coming into the season in great shape, so perhaps he will be up to the task.
Doncic will also be carrying a big load on offense, though, with James being out. The five-time All-Star averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game for the Lakers in 2024-25, and that scoring number has to go up.
The same applies to Reaves, who put up 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game in 2024-25. He has stepped up in James’ absence in the past, and you’d back him to do it again.
As for the rest of the frontcourt, there are no surprises there.
Rui Hachimura slots in at power forward, and he averaged 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game for the Lakers in 2024-25. Hachimura has shot over 40% from beyond the arc in each of the last two seasons and retains his spot in the lineup.
Lastly, Deandre Ayton was the obvious pick at center, and he put up 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2024-25. Ayton is the biggest question mark when it comes to this team. There have been concerns about his motor, and only time will tell if Redick is able to get the best out of him.
The Lakers have gone 1-4 in the preseason so far, and you’d like to see them get a win here against the Kings in this dress rehearsal.
