The Los Angeles Lakers’ exceptional player, Luka Dončić, is anticipated to be out of action for a minimum of one week because of a sprained left finger and a contusion on his lower left leg. Initially, Dončić was marked as possibly unavailable for the Lakers’ match against the Sacramento Kings this Sunday evening, but he is now confirmed to be added to the injured list.
The exact moment of the injury is not yet known, but it represents another significant setback for the Lakers, who are already competing without LeBron James, as he addresses his sciatica issue and has no confirmed return date. James’ absence was clearly noticed during L.A.’s opening game loss of the season to the Golden State Warriors; however, Dončić’s stellar performance guided the Lakers to an overwhelming triumph against the Timberwolves. Dončić’s displays in the first two games have been remarkably MVP-caliber. He’s been averaging a staggering 46 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists, nearly achieving a triple-double in a 128-110 victory over the Timberwolves, where he completely overpowered Minnesota’s defense.
With Dončić projected to be absent for one week, he will be missing matches against the Kings, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, and Heat. Additionally, since there have been no recent updates on James’ condition, the Lakers will probably have to compete without both of their leading players in the near future.
Given that both Dončić and James are unable to play, Austin Reaves is expected to step into the primary option position for the Lakers. He has been producing an average of 25.5 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds for the Lakers so far, and he will now be tasked with contributing even more with the team’s top two performers sidelined. This also suggests that Rui Hachimura will see an increased scoring role, coming off a career-best start to the season (16 points, three rebounds).
In terms of who will be filling the void in the starting lineup while Dončić is out, JJ Redick might choose to maintain the three-guard lineup by including Marcus Smart. He could also integrate Jake LaRavia into the starting lineup to maintain a degree of size and shooting ability on the court. Despite who Redick decides to put out on the court, the team will face an uphill battle for at least the upcoming week without both Dončić and James.
The Lakers are facing a challenging path ahead, particularly within the Western Conference, where a single unfavorable week can influence the difference between reaching the playoffs or missing out. It may seem unusual to discuss this so early, considering we are just a week into the season, but such is the competitive nature of the Western Conference.
