LOS ANGELES — Both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves hope LeBron James postpones retirement and remains their teammate for as long as possible, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. Team sources told the outlet that out of respect for the four-time MVP, neither guard has raised the topic of his eventual exit.
McMenamin noted that Doncic has experience sharing the floor with a fading great, having played alongside Dirk Nowitzki during the future Hall of Famer’s final NBA season in Dallas. That 2018-19 campaign saw Nowitzki average 7.3 points in 15.6 minutes per game, a part-time role that differs from James’s current importance to a Lakers group eyeing short-term contention, sources said.
James out with lingering sciatica
Shams Charania reported on ESPN’s “NBA Today” that the nerve issue sidelining James for the start of 2025-26 is not new. The 40-year-old has dealt with left-side sciatica since late July or early August and performed little on-court work for more than a month before media day on Sept. 29. His decision to miss what will be his first opening night in 22 seasons reflects the need for additional ramp-up time, Charania added.
Reaves impresses as primary option
With James unavailable, league observers told Dan Woike of The Athletic they have been impressed by Reaves’s performance as a lead scorer during fall workouts. The expectation is that Reaves will shoulder the offense whenever Doncic rests.
Smart battling injuries but plans to play in preseason
Marcus Smart called training camp “a roller coaster” while managing Achilles tendinopathy and a recent stomach illness, Khobi Price of the Southern California News Group tweeted. The veteran guard practiced in full on Thursday but could not guarantee availability for Sunday’s preseason contest. Los Angeles also plays Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, giving Smart multiple chances to debut before opening night.
Source: Hoops Rumors
