Lakers: Vincent to start for LeBron at the beginning of the NBA season

Lakers Close Preseason with Defeat, Focused on the Regular Season

The Lakers coach, JJ Redick, used the last preseason game as a “dress rehearsal” for the start of the regular season. Redick put Gabe Vincent in the starting lineup in place of the injured LeBron James. Vincent had an outstanding performance in the training camp, scoring 14 points with 5 of 6 shots (4 of 5 in three-pointers). Despite this, the Lakers lost 117-116 against the Sacramento Kings, finishing the preseason with a 1-5 record. The regular season will begin on Tuesday night, when the Lakers host the Golden State Warriors. Although the decision on Vincent has already been made, the team still has a lot to resolve in the coming days.

“We have two more practices, so we need to improve some things,” commented Luka Doncic, who led the game with 31 points and nine assists in 33 minutes.

Luka Doncic

Vincent revealed that the coaching staff informed him about the change in the lineup on Friday morning. Vincent demonstrated his worth in the preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 18 points in the first four minutes, with 5 of 5 in three-pointers.

“I think I’m just bringing what I’ve been doing since I got here,” Vincent said when asked about fitting in with the starters. “Just defending, trying to defend at a high level. Playmaking when I have opportunities, spacing the floor while Luka and Austin Reaves create for themselves.”

Gabe Vincent

James is not expected to return to the lineup until mid-November, as he recovers from sciatica affecting the right side of his body. Although Vincent will join Doncic, Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura on the court to start the 2025-26 season, Redick clarified that the current starters are not permanent.

“I don’t know anything about who will start the rest of the season because, again, there are injuries and things that happen throughout the year,” Redick said. “I have a pretty clear idea of who will start Game 1. After that, I don’t know. But I do believe that in that lineup there’s a lot of shooting around Luka and DA, and Gabe is another ball handler, another tough defender.

JJ Redick

Redick has downplayed the significance of his decision regarding the starting lineup during training camp, noting that he used 25 starting lineups last season. Both he and his team seemed much more concerned with their defense after allowing 59 points in the second half to a Kings team that had a 54.7% overall effectiveness and a 44.8% on three-pointers.

“I think in practice we were more physical,” Doncic said. “We need to work on our physicality.”

Luka Doncic

The Lakers were without one of their most physical defenders, center Jaxson Hayes, during the second half on Friday. He left the game due to a right wrist contusion after finishing a dunk in the first quarter. Redick reported that Hayes’ wrist X-rays were negative, and the Lakers will have an update on Hayes when they practice on Sunday. Marcus Smart, former Defensive Player of the Year, who scored 14 points and stole four balls off the bench against Sacramento, promised to help with physicality in the meantime.

“Just follow my example,” Smart said. “That’s really all it is. I’m going to try to set the tone every night. And just follow me.”

Marcus Smart