The Los Angeles Lakers enter their first preseason matchup at a significant disadvantage. Superstar forward LeBron James is sidelined due to nerve irritation in his glute, while offensive initiator Luka Doncic is missing the first two games as he continues a ramp-up after EuroBasket. With their matchup against the Phoenix Suns tonight, expectations are being carefully managed, especially by Lakers head coach JJ Redick, who spoke to reporters before the preseason opener.

Redick was candid about the team’s approach. “Execution’s not gonna be perfect… that’s a given.” He said, recalling past experiences during back-to-back preseason games in Palm Springs. He emphasized a shorter rotation planned for the players, saying, “Maybe in the 4th quarter, there’s a couple guys that would play longer runs, but nobody’s playing more than like a 6-minute run, that’s like max, so most of these runs will be 4–5 minutes at a time.”

Those limited minutes would also allow the team to experiment, make mistakes, and learn what works without the pressure of immediate results.

Redick also emphasized that conditioning is a significant priority. “We wanna push the pace, we wanna sprint back defensively,” he said, making it clear that improving stamina and ensuring players are prepared is the goal for the preseason. Every run is meant to sharpen instincts and build endurance, making the importance of playing with energy clear.

Beyond being physically ready, Redick wants the Lakers to use the preseason to cultivate a competitive edge. “We’ve gotta establish and build our competitive edge,” he said, noting that last season’s turnaround came from them “just [playing] harder than other teams.” According to him, the preseason is the perfect environment to develop this mentality, even when key players like James and Doncic are not on the court.

With James and Doncic out, the game provided valuable runway for younger talent and offseason acquisitions to build confidence, refine roles, and integrate into Redick’s system. The Lakers’ 2025 free agency focused on cost-effective depth around their stars: signing center Deandre Ayton (2 years, $16.2M) and forward Jake LaRavia (2 years, $12M).

Both Ayton and LaRavia debuted against the Suns, logging meaningful minutes in a low-stakes environment. This approach helps them acclimate to L.A.’s pace.

Redick’s second year as coach stresses ball movement, defensive versatility, and short-burst intensity to maximize James/Doncic’s efficiency while developing youth. Preseason absences like this are ideal for testing his “base” offense/defense without stars dictating minutes.

For Ayton- anchor the starting five. Use him for pick-and-roll lobs, Redick wants “paint scoring and protection”- pair him with Smart/Vanderbilt for switches. Limit his usage early to focus on rebounding.

For LaRavia: Sixth-man spark off the bench, spelling James or Hachimura. His 42%+ 3PT shooting stretches defenses in Redick’s motion sets (heavy on cuts and flares). At 6’7″, he adds “sneaky athleticism” for transition.

Luka and LeBron’s absence also opens the door for other players to step up. With more minutes available and rotations already being tested, players like Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, and Jarred Vanderbilt, young role players, can gain experience and learn to lead.

JJ Redick stressed the importance of building habits, and this experience sets the foundation for a successful 2025-26 campaign once the stars return.

LeBron James Prioritizes Health Ahead of Training Camp and Preseason

During training camp, LeBron was excited to start an entire season alongside Doncic “Full season with Luka… like I get a full season with Luka.” but ended up missing the practice due to the glute injury, and LA’s precaution to save him for the regular season. After last year’s midseason trade, this season would mark the duo’s first full year together.

Analyst Andy Kamenetzky supports this cautious approach. Sacrificing preseason to keep LeBron ready for a high stakes regular season outweighs the potential issues that missing early practice may raise.

Kamenetzky pointed to an instance of overwork early last season, during December, when James scored 20 points just once in a six game span. Kamenetzky emphasized long-term fitness, saying, “If it avoids what we saw last year… you do it every day of the week.”

LeBron also echoed this focus on recovery. Following his slump, the Lakers reportedly asked James to step away to focus on getting back to full strength. “I had an opportunity to take more days and get my mind, body and everything where I wanted it to be for tonight, and it worked out,” James said.

With coach JJ Redick focusing on building a culture of “obsession” this season, trying to win a championship, the pieces around their superstars need to get reps and be ready to step up during the season.