Already reeling from LeBron James’ lingering sciatica, the injury-hit Los Angeles Lakers just can’t catch a break as the start of the season looms.
Four more rotation players — Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes — have been ruled out for Tuesday’s preseason matchup against the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The absences leave coach JJ Redick facing a difficult challenge in fielding a balanced lineup, particularly at forward, with both James and Hachimura unavailable.
The Lakers (1-2 in the preseason) will face the Suns on the first night of a back-to-back, further complicating player workloads as injuries pile up across the roster.
Luka Dončić, Marcus Smart to Make Preseason Debuts
Amid the growing injury list, there is at least one positive development for Lakers fans: Slovenian star Luka Dončić and Marcus Smart are both set to make their preseason debuts on Tuesday.
Dončić, who led Slovenia to the EuroBasket quarterfinals this summer, has rested through the team’s first three preseason games. His arrival brings an immediate boost of scoring and playmaking to a lineup that has struggled with consistency in his absence.
Smart, meanwhile, is expected to see limited action as he continues to recover from Achilles soreness that sidelined him for most of training camp.
Redick declined to specify how many minutes Dončić or Smart will play, but Smart said he will be on a minutes restriction as the coaching staff continues to test lineup combinations.
The matchup also marks an early look at the Dončić–Deandre Ayton pairing — a potential cornerstone of the Lakers’ revamped offense. Ayton, the former No. 1 overall pick, rebounded from a rough preseason debut with 14 points and eight rebounds in Sunday’s 126–116 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Luka Dončić Implores ‘Next Man Up’ Mentality
Getty LeBron James and Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the third quarter of a game against the Utah Jazz.
With James sidelined until at least late November, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Lakers’ rotation will rely heavily on Dončić and rising guard Austin Reaves, who scored 21 points against Golden State before leaving briefly with a leg contusion.
“It’s a big change,” Dončić said after Saturday’s practice. “He’s a great player — he can help us a lot. But at the end of the day, our mentality has to be next man up.”
Redick echoed that sentiment in his first public remarks since news of James’ injury broke.
“We knew he was dealing with the nerve irritation, so you hope he’s back soon,” Redick said. “Those things can be tricky. It hasn’t changed how we want to practice — it just makes it unclear who’s going to be in the starting lineup until he’s back.”
JJ Redick Weighs Lineup Options
The rookie head coach said he’s exploring separate lineup systems — one built around James when he returns, and another “non-LeBron” rotation that can function without him.
“Yeah, that’s something that’s certainly crossed my mind in the last couple of days,” Redick said.
Still, Redick emphasized that James hasn’t been shut down.
“He’s been on the court every day,” he said. “There’s been no effect on practice. We haven’t game-planned yet, but he’s been around and working.”
With five rotation players out, the Lakers’ depth will be tested early. But for Redick, it’s also an opportunity to see how the Dončić-led Lakers operate in their star’s absence — a preview of how the franchise’s future may look when the 40-year-old James eventually steps aside.
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