Luka Doncic embraces ‘next man up’ mindset while LeBron James recovers
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — With LeBron James expected to miss at least the first three to four weeks of the season while he rehabilitates right-side sciatica, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic said Saturday he will simply do whatever is required to keep the team competitive.
“I just want to play basketball,” Doncic told reporters after practice. “If I do less, if I do more, whatever it takes for me to get a win.”
The Lakers are 0-2 in the preseason without both of their superstars, dropping games to the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. They face the Warriors again Sunday at Crypto.com Arena, but head coach JJ Redick has not decided whether Doncic will suit up.
Sunday’s contest begins a demanding stretch of three exhibitions in four days: home against Golden State, on the road at Phoenix on Tuesday, and a neutral-site matchup with the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Redick said Doncic is scheduled to appear in two of the club’s remaining four preseason games.
Doncic, 26, practiced in full Saturday after the team limited his workload all week to manage fatigue from a month of play with Slovenia at this summer’s EuroBasket tournament. “Obviously it’s a long season ahead,” he said.
Redick acknowledged the starting lineup is in flux until James, 40, is cleared. Doncic, Austin Reaves and newly acquired center Deandre Ayton have spots locked up, while the final two positions remain open. Forward Rui Hachimura, who started 57 of his 59 games last season, is under strong consideration. Jarred Vanderbilt has opened both preseason games, and newcomers Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart offer additional options at both ends of the floor.
Smart, sidelined earlier by Achilles tendinopathy, is expected to make his preseason debut Sunday against Golden State.
Redick is weighing separate rotations for when James plays and when he does not. Meanwhile, Doncic said he and James have spent significant time talking on the sideline during camp, helping to build chemistry even while the four-time MVP is limited to vocal support.
“He’s a great player. He can help us a lot,” Doncic said. “But at the end of the day, our mentality needs to be ‘next man up.’ We’ve got a group of guys that have been practicing, and hopefully LeBron can join us as soon as possible.”
Source: ESPN
