While LeBron James missed the first day of Lakers training camp due to a nerve irritation in his glute, Luka Dončić has been fully engaged from the start. So much so that when asked to describe the camp in just three words, he didn’t hesitate: “Fun. Excitement. Hard.” That “hard” part isn’t just about effort on the court- it also reflects the coaching and training side. Coach JJ Redick has been busy figuring out how to balance Luka’s boundless EuroBasket energy with LeBron’s 22 years of wear and tear, making sure both stars stay at their best.

While addressing the press, JJ Redick shared the team’s plans for their star players moving forward. About Luka, he said, “Luka will play in the pre-season next week to continue getting him in a good spot with his body, energy, and all that stuff. He was great the first two days at camp—it was a lot. Given his workload this summer, it made sense to pull back a bit. He’s in a great place physically and mentally, so we’re continuing to use him next week to get him ramped up and help all the guys acclimate with him.”

Doncic played in all seven of Slovenia’s games at EuroBasket, helping the team reach the quarterfinals. He put up huge numbers, averaging 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 2.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game, earning a spot on the tournament’s All-Star Five.

That heavy workload this summer was a big reason why the Lakers decided he won’t play in the first two preseason games against the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. But with six preseason games on the schedule, Doncic will still get plenty of chances to hit the court and shake off any rust before the 2025-26 NBA season officially begins.

Redick didn’t shy away from the big topic: LeBron James entering the 23rd year of his career.

“For him, it’s different in year 23,” Redick said. “Normal return-to-play protocols—we’ve been doing 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3, exposures versus coaches, and eventually that gets to 3-on-3 live. He knows his body, so we’ll work with him and with Mike [Mancias] to make sure he reaches a point of comfort where he can be a full participant. But he’s been on the court every day, in the weight room, continuing to get his body ready, and doing his individual workouts.”

LeBron James will probably sit out the preseason, which means he won’t get those early reps with the team, but Redick says he’s still been on the court and doing his workouts, so he’s not completely out of rhythm. This summer, LeBron worked on catch-and-shoot threes to give Doncic more chances to run the offense when he’s back.

Yet, there remains no question that LeBron is still a dominant force. Last season, he played 70 games, logging almost 35 minutes a night, and even earned a spot on the All-NBA Second Team. 

The Lakers have a tough start to the season, with 16 of their first 26 games before Christmas against teams that missed the playoffs last year, so getting off to a strong start is key. Missing LeBron makes that harder, and the team will still need time to connect once he returns.

For him, skipping preseason makes sense to protect his body, but for a team trying to rise in the standings, losing your ‘second-best player’ even for a short while is risky, and a glimpse of it is already showing. 

Lakers lose in the preseason opener without LeBron James and Luka Doncic

The Los Angeles Lakers started off rough, falling 103-81 to the Phoenix Suns in their first preseason game. Both LeBron James and Luka Dončić sat out as the team managed their workload. With their two superstars on the sidelines, the Lakers struggled to find rhythm, and the Suns quickly built a big lead. 

Austin Reaves stepped up for Lakers, leading the team with 20 points, while Bronny James added eight in nearly 23 minutes of action. Despite their efforts, the Lakers had trouble shooting, hitting just 31% from the field and 17% from three. 

New additions like Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia displayed some action, but couldn’t spark enough momentum to keep pace with Phoenix’s fast-paced offense and solid ball movement. The Suns, even without new acquisitions Jalen Green and Mark Williams, were balanced and aggressive, with Devin Booker leading the charge with 24 points and 7 assists. 

And Redick was quick to point it out, speaking to the media postgame: “They’ve had seven practices- they’re ahead of us from that perspective. They have more stuff in.” He added, “I felt that more on the defensive end- they clearly have alot of their concepts, schemes all that stuff- really, really tight.”

Concluding with “We’ve just haven’t had enough time- we will get there.” This has led Redick and the performance team to adopt a gradual approach for LeBron leading up to the season opener, focusing on long-term management rather than immediate intense conditioning. Similarly, players like Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent have been limited by injuries (Achilles tendinopathy and knee management, respectively), further limiting full team practices.

Phoenix showed off their depth and new system under coach Jordan Ott, building a 27-point lead by the third quarter. JJ Redick noted that both LeBron and Luka will feature in upcoming preseason games, with the hope of getting one full “dress rehearsal” game before the regular season. 

For now, though, this first outing highlighted just how much the Lakers rely on their top players to compete at the highest level.