Doncic will debut in preseason with Lakers vs. Suns; Smart and Reaves will also play

Doncic ready to debut in preseason with the Lakers

The Slovenian star Luka Doncic will make his expected preseason debut with the Los Angeles Lakers this Tuesday, when the team faces the Phoenix Suns as visitors, according to coach JJ Redick. Doncic did not participate in the first three preseason games for the Lakers, who are looking to manage the workload of the 26-year-old player, following his month-long participation with the Slovenian national team in the EuroBasket. After the game against the Suns, the Lakers will close their preseason schedule with a game in Las Vegas against the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic’s former team, on Wednesday, and a home game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday. Redick indicated that Doncic will also play in the game against the Mavericks or the Kings. It is likely that he will play against the Kings, as the game against the Mavericks is on the second night of a back-to-back. The coach will work with Doncic’s physical trainer, Javy Barrio, to determine the number of minutes Doncic will play, but the Lakers will be cautious in Phoenix.

“I’d say there will probably be a gradual increase in minutes for Luka between the first and second game,” Redick said. “We’re still talking with Javy and Luka about what makes sense.”

JJ Redick

When asked how he planned to use Doncic, Redick replied with humor: “Give him the ball”. Marcus Smart, who has missed the first three preseason games due to Achilles tendinopathy, will also debut with the Lakers in Phoenix, according to Redick. The coach added that Austin Reaves will also play against the Suns. With the start of the regular season against the Golden State Warriors in just over a week, next Tuesday, Redick stated that he still has to define his starting lineup. LeBron James will be out for at least two or three more weeks due to sciatica on his right side before being reevaluated. Redick added: “You want to put your five best players on the court as much as possible. You also want to have balance in each lineup. When we do our substitution metrics: Who is going to defend? Who is going to create? Will we have enough shooting? So you do that with every lineup you put out, including the starting lineup.” “We’re still working on it, and obviously losing LeBron at the beginning of the year, kind of complicates things a little bit. So we have a week to figure it out, and I think it will reveal itself.”