The Los Angeles Lakers will be short-handed for the first preseason game of their 2025-26 schedule on Friday. LeBron James, guard Marcus Smart, big man Maxi Kleber and rookie Adou Thiero will not play due to an assortment of injuries and ailments.
James’ camp reportedly wants the Lakers to be “overly cautious” with the superstar as he enters his record 23rd NBA season. But he won’t be the only superstar that the team will be careful with during the exhibition season.
Luka Doncic, who recently played in EuroBasket 2025 for his native Slovenia, will sit out L.A.’s first two preseason games, apparently out of an abundance of caution.
Doncic is starting his first full season with the Lakers after they landed him from the Dallas Mavericks in early February. He played some sensational basketball during EuroBasket 2025, averaging a tournament-high 34.7 points, as well as 8.6 rebounds and 7.1 assists a game while leading Slovenia to the quarterfinal round.
The Lakers’ second preseason game will be this Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. They will not have another game after that until the following Sunday, when they face the Warriors again.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Luka Doncic will sit out Lakers’ first two preseason games
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
