After one of the most eventful offseasons in recent memory, Luka Doncic has yet to set foot on the court in preseason action for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. With Doncic still sidelined, as well as the injury to LeBron James, the Lakers have yet to see their full lineup healthy before the season even begins.
However, while that might be a cause for concern, the Lakers got a massive update on the availability of their top star. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Doncic expects to play his first game for Los Angeles against the Phoenix Suns.
“Luka Doncic plans to play Tuesday in Phoenix against the Suns, a source told ESPN,” McMenamin wrote on X. “It will be Doncic’s preseason debut. Lakers coach JJ Redick said Doncic will play in two out of LAL’s final three preseason games.”
After signing his extension with the Lakers, going on a weight-loss journey, and leading Slovenia at the 2025 EuroBasket tournament, Doncic has yet to play in any action through the team’s first three preseason games.
Luka Doncic Set For 2025-26 Debut
While Doncic differs from James and other Lakers players due to his not having a specific injury, the star sat out due to his workload over the summer. But now, the Slovenian is set to make his debut, albeit in preseason action. Redick had previously stated he planned to play Doncic in two preseason games, so McMenamin’s reporting goes along with that sentiment.
“Doncic sat out L.A.’s 1-2 start to the preseason, with the Lakers looking to lessen the 26-year-old star’s workload coming off his monthlong commitment playing for the Slovenian national team in EuroBasket,” McMemanin wrote in his article for ESPN.
The Lakers have a total of three more preseason games, meaning Doncic will likely suit up against the Suns and either the Dallas Mavericks or Sacramento Kings to close out their exhibition matchups.
“Redick said that Doncic would also play in either the Mavs or Kings game,” he added. “It stands to reason that the Kings game would be more likely, considering the Mavs game falls on the second night of a back-to-back.”
Regardless, Redick also said he doesn’t expect Doncic to be playing anything close to the full game, as he’ll ramp up his minutes in each of the two games he’ll see action.
“I would say there will most likely be a ramp-up from Game 1 to Game 2 in Luka’s minutes,” Redick said. “What that total number looks like, we’re still talking to (the trainer) and Luka about what kind of makes sense.”
Though traded midway through last season, Doncic remained extremely impactful for the Lakers and expects to do the same this season.
Smart Also Back For The Lakers
Along with the news of Doncic’s preseason debut, McMenamin reported Marcus Smart will return to action for the Lakers. Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year who arrived in Los Angeles over the summer, was dealing with Achilles pain through the team’s training camp.
“Marcus Smart, who has been out for the first three preseason games because of Achilles tendinopathy, also will make his Lakers debut in Phoenix, according to Redick,” McMenamin wrote. “The coach added that Austin Reaves will also play against the Suns.
The news of Smart’s return comes as a good sign for the Lakers, who will need every bit of his defensive intensity over the course of the upcoming season. For Reaves, he has already played well in multiple preseason games, and the action against the Suns will likely be a short stint to get better prepared for his role alongside Doncic.
While Redick is getting back two of his top guards in Doncic and Smart, the question remains about who he will start in place of James.
“You want to put your five best players on the court as much as possible. You also want to have balance with every lineup,” Redick said when asked about that decision. “When we do our substitution metrics: Who is going to guard? Who is going to create? Are we going to have enough shooting? So you’re doing that with every lineup you put out there, including the starting lineup.”
Lakers insider Dan Woike believes Jarred Vanderbilt will take James’ spot, but for now, the news of Doncic and Smart’s return comes as a good sign for a team that has yet to be fully healthy to start the season.
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