Luka to do 'whatever it takes' in LeBron's absence

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- While LeBron James is expected to beryllium sidelined to statesman the play arsenic helium recovers from sciatica connected the close broadside of his body, the Los Angeles Lakers' different superstar, Luka Doncic, said helium doesn't consciousness compelled to bash much successful James' absence.

"I don't presumption it that way," Doncic said aft signifier Saturday. "I conscionable privation to play basketball. If I bash less, if I bash more, immoderate it takes for maine to get a win."

So acold without James and Doncic, the Lakers are winless successful the preseason, going 0-2 against Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors.

L.A. hosts Golden State successful a preseason rematch Sunday and Lakers manager JJ Redick said it is inactive being determined if Doncic volition play.

Sunday starts a agelong of 3 preseason games successful 4 days for the Lakers, continuing with a roadworthy crippled against Phoenix connected Tuesday and the 2nd nighttime of a back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks successful Las Vegas connected Wednesday.

Redick said Doncic would play successful 2 of L.A.'s remaining 4 preseason games.

Doncic was a afloat subordinate connected Saturday aft having his workload modified each week, to prevention the 26-year-old defender immoderate deterioration and teardrop aft helium played for the Slovenia successful EuroBasket this summer.

"I had [the] nationalist team," Doncic explained. "Playing 1 period oregon thing of hoops [for Slovenia]. Obviously it's a agelong play ahead, truthful conscionable due to the fact that of that."

Now Redick has his enactment chopped retired for him trying to capable successful for James portion helium is sidelined for the adjacent 3-4 weeks earlier his sciatica is scheduled to beryllium reevaluated.

"You anticipation that he's backmost soon," Redick said. "Those things tin beryllium tricky. ... It is unclear what the starting lineup is going to be, that's the reality, until helium is back. We'll person to fig that out."

Doncic, defender Austin Reaves and halfway Deandre Ayton volition inhabit 3 of the 5 spots.

It's the different 2 starting spots that Redick volition examine, with Rui Hachimura starting 57 of the 59 games helium played for L.A. past play nether evident consideration. Along with Jarred Vanderbilt, who has started some preseason games truthful acold and is the healthiest he's been since the Lakers' 2023 travel to the Western Conference finals and escaped cause signees Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart giving the squad antithetic options offensively and defensively.

Smart, who has besides been sidelined to commencement the preseason due to the fact that of Achilles tendinopathy, volition play against the Warriors, according to Redick.

Redick said helium has thought astir having 1 lineup and rotation that fits champion unneurotic erstwhile James plays and a abstracted 1 for erstwhile helium doesn't.

Doncic said helium and James person "talked a lot" portion observing the Lakers signifier from the sidelines during grooming camp, which has helped with chemistry.

For the clip being, each Doncic and the Lakers volition beryllium getting retired of James during games is what the 40-year-old tin supply with his voice...