Lakers stumble in their first 2025-26 exhibition, shooting 31.1% and 6-of-35 from deep with 22 turnovers, and five more tuneups loom before the regular season. With LeBron, Luka, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero sidelined, the result isn’t surprising but highlights major areas to fix.

Austin Reaves shone with 20 points, signaling he may be the early engine for LA, while Deandre Ayton offered an inside presence on defense and rebounding. Offense and transition defense need work, and halfcourt chemistry must improve fast.

Five preseason games remain to tighten ball security, refine reads for Ayton, and build a reliable offensive flow around Reaves. If those pieces click, LA could still position itself for a competitive start to the season.

Lakers begin 2025-26 preseason with key players resting as they pace a long season. LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber and rookie Adou Thiero sit out the opener. Luka Doncic will skip the first two preseason games, starting his first full season in L.A. after the February trade from Dallas. His EuroBasket 2025 run for Slovenia—34.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 7.1 APG—underscores the high usage he’ll bring when healthy.

LA’s second tune-up is Sunday vs Golden State, with another meeting next week. The exhibition plan will test depth and rotation balance, influencing early-season fantasy expectations as Doncic’s rest pattern and the roster around him shape minutes and opportunities for role players.

Jake LaRavia signs with the Lakers as a versatile 3-and-D wing, aimed at energizing both ends and spacing the floor for ball‑handlers. LeBron James signaled the acquisition early, underscoring a quiet yet pivotal offseason move behind the splashy additions.

The 6-foot-7 wing will guard multiple positions and fit into lineups around Luka Dončić’s gravity, with LaRavia emphasizing energy and fit while entering training camp amid injury notes on Marcus Smart, Adou Thiero, and Gabe Vincent. Maxi Kleber’s quad tweak adds a health timeline to the early rotation as the Lakers build out depth.

LeBron James opens Lakers camp sidelined by nerve irritation in the glute, starting a cautious ramp-up into Year 23. LA aims to have him ready for opening night against Golden State, with a six-game preseason in mind and a long playoff run as the priority. JJ Redick emphasizes patience, while Lakers’ camp notes highlight leadership from Austin Reaves and management of minor injuries to Vincent, Smart, and Thiero.

The Suns loom as the preseason opener, where James won’t play, and the team signals a balanced approach to workload. The vibe is about preserving health and building depth around LeBron as the season edges closer, with a mix of veterans and a developing rotation shaping the early weeks.