EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 22, 2025 — The Los Angeles Lakers opened the practice facility Wednesday with video clips rolling and an unexpected analyst in the room: LeBron James.
Head coach JJ Redick said the 40-year-old forward, sidelined by sciatica in his lower back and right leg, played a key part in dissecting Tuesday’s 119-109 defeat to the Golden State Warriors.
“LeBron was really helpful,” Redick noted after practice, describing an animated film session in which James questioned defensive lapses that allowed Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield repeated looks from deep.
Pinpointing Transition Breakdowns
Redick emphasized that finding shooters in transition had been the second defensive priority going into opening night, yet Curry and Hield still combined to hit 8 of 19 three-point attempts. The Lakers, by contrast, finished 8 of 32 from long range.
Additional trouble spots surfaced on the tape: a 33-18 deficit in bench scoring, a 35-25 third-quarter shortfall, 11 missed free throws and 20 turnovers that produced 22 Warriors points.
Guard Gabe Vincent called the review “encouraging,” saying many mistakes added up to “12, 14 points” that could be erased with better execution. Forward Jarred Vanderbilt added that the miscues were “controllable.”
Health Updates on James and Doncic
James missed the first opening night of his 23-year career and will be reevaluated in one to two weeks. Sources told ESPN he is unlikely to debut before mid-November.
The Lakers also monitored Luka Doncic, who needed more than an hour of treatment on the inside of his right leg after scoring 43 points in 41 minutes against Golden State. Redick said the apparent groin issue “doesn’t look major,” adding that Doncic took part in Wednesday’s abbreviated workout.
Building Early-Season Chemistry
Redick acknowledged the group is still searching for the “connective brain tissue” that powered last season’s late surge. “We just don’t have that yet,” he said, though he voiced confidence the familiarity will come.
Los Angeles hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, still aiming for its first win of the young season.
Source: ESPN
