The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2025-26 campaign kicks off with a preseason test against the Phoenix Suns on Friday, October 3, at 10:00 p.m. ET in Palm Desert—a golden chance to fuse their revamped roster, headlined by LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and blockbuster additions Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart. But the purple-and-gold faithful got a curveball Thursday when first-year coach JJ Redick announced that James (glute soreness), Smart (Achilles tendinopathy), Maxi Kleber (quad), and rookie Adou Thiero (knee) will sit out, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. For a team banking on a deep playoff run after a 47-35 season and a first-round exit to Denver, this early hiccup—especially LeBron’s absence—sparks worries about chemistry in a star-heavy lineup. With opening night (October 22 vs. Minnesota) looming, can the Lakers gel without their 21-time All-Star conductor in this desert dress rehearsal? Let’s unpack the injuries, the new-look Lakers, and how this missed opportunity could ripple through L.A.’s title hopes.
The Lakers’ offseason was a seismic flex: Trading Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, and picks to Dallas for Dončić, Kleber, and Tim Hardaway Jr. on July 8, then flipping Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent to Memphis for Smart, while snagging Ayton from Portland in a three-team deal. The result? A juggernaut core—LeBron (25.7 PPG, 8.3 APG last year), Dončić (33.9 PPG, 9.2 APG), Ayton (16.7 PPG, 11.1 RPG), and Smart (14.4 PPG, Defensive Player of the Year pedigree)—designed to overwhelm the West. FanDuel pegs L.A. at +1200 for the Finals, fifth league-wide, with a 50.5 O/U win total, trailing only OKC (+500) and Denver (+800). Redick’s system, rooted in pace (top-10 last year at 100.2 possessions) and three-point volume (37.8 attempts per game), screams potential: Dončić’s heliocentric playmaking, LeBron’s off-ball cuts, Ayton’s rim-running, and Smart’s dogged defense could elevate L.A.’s 8th-ranked offense (117.2 rating) and 15th-ranked defense (112.1).
But Friday’s absences sting. LeBron, entering his 23rd season at 40, is the linchpin—his 7.3 APG and 1.3 SPG last year orchestrated L.A.’s flow, and his off-ball gravity (4.1 defenders drawn per touch) freed shooters like Austin Reaves (15.9 PPG, 41.7% 3PT). Missing this Suns clash—a team with Kevin Durant (26.6 PPG) and Bradley Beal (18.2 PPG)—robs James of early reps syncing with Dončić’s pick-and-roll wizardry (1.4 PPP) and Ayton’s lob finishes (68% at rim). Smart’s absence compounds it: His 2.0 SPG and 43.1% 3PT (Memphis 2024-25) were set to lock Phoenix’s guards, but Achilles tendinopathy—lingering from a January tweak—delays his grit. Kleber’s quad issue and Thiero’s knee (the No. 36 pick, a Kentucky sparkplug with 6.2 PPG in college) thin the bench, forcing Reaves, Cam Reddish, and rookie Dalton Knecht (No. 17 pick, 40.2% 3PT at Tennessee) to carry early minutes.
Chemistry’s the real casualty. LeBron and Dončić, both ball-dominant (combined 62% usage), need reps to mesh—Luka’s step-back threes (34.4%) and LeBron’s transition slashes (1.2 PPP) could clash without defined roles. The Athletic’s Jovan Buha notes, “Redick’s preaching motion, but LeBron-Luka pick-and-rolls need live tuning—preseason’s the lab.” Ayton, who thrived as a roller in Portland (1.3 PPP), craves LeBron’s dimes, while Smart’s switchability (guarded 1-4 last year) must sync with Dončić’s slower defensive footwork (0.7 SPG). Without Friday’s reps, L.A. risks a clunky opener—especially against a Minnesota squad (No. 2 seed projection) that thrives on size with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Redick’s lineup experiments—potentially starting Reaves, Dončić, Knecht, LeBron, and Ayton—get a blind test, with Phoenix’s pace-and-space attack (top-5 in 3PA) exposing any rust.
Still, it’s not panic time. LeBron’s glute issue is precautionary—MRI clean, per ESPN, with a return slated for Tuesday’s preseason tilt vs. Golden State. Smart’s tendinopathy, managed since February, projects a week-by-week ramp-up, while Kleber and Thiero could return by October 10’s Milwaukee game. Redick’s unfazed, per Lakers Nation: “We’ve got three weeks to sort lineups—Luka and Austin can run point, Cam’s got defensive length.” L.A.’s depth—Hardaway Jr. (10.2 PPG), Jarred Vanderbilt (lockdown wing), and Knecht—offers wiggle room, but the LeBron-Dončić-Ayton-Smart quartet needs court time to gel. Synergy projects a +7.2 net rating with that group, but only if LeBron’s playmaking (8.3 APG) and Smart’s hustle (2.0 SPG) click early. Phoenix, at +3500 Finals odds, is no slouch—Durant’s 43% 3PT and Beal’s pull-ups test L.A.’s makeshift rotations.
The Lakers’ preseason opener was supposed to be a chemistry lab for LeBron, Dončić, Ayton, and Smart—a star quartet built to storm the West. Instead, injuries sideline James and key pieces, forcing Redick to tinker with a skeleton crew against a sharp Suns squad. While LeBron’s glute tweak is minor and Smart’s return looms, the missed reps could haunt L.A.’s early-season cohesion, especially with Dončić’s ball-heavy style needing LeBron’s orchestration to sing. At +1200 Finals odds, the Lakers’ ceiling is sky-high—but only if this roster gels fast. Lakers Nation, who steps up Friday—Reaves, Dončić, or Knecht? Drop your bold prediction below, tag a Suns fan, and let’s see if L.A. can spark without the King.