Lakers Struggle Without LeBron James in Season Opener Loss to Warriors

The Los Angeles Lakers began their NBA season on a challenging note, falling to the Golden State Warriors in the absence of injured star LeBron James. Coach JJ Redick acknowledged the difficulty of competing without the league’s all-time leading scorer but underscored the importance of making the existing roster work.

"It’s hard to forget about LeBron," Redick said. "The reality is, when you’re focused on the group that you have, you’ve got to make the group work."

Redick candidly admitted that there was a moment in the first half when the Lakers struggled offensively against the Warriors’ zone defense and wished they had James on the floor.

Meanwhile, James watched from courtside, dressed in a suit and glasses, as he continues to recover from a flare-up of sciatica, marking the first time in his 23-year NBA career that he missed a season opener.

Luka Doncic delivered an outstanding performance, nearly achieving a triple-double with 43 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. However, aside from Austin Reaves’ 26 points and Deandre Ayton’s 10, no other Lakers players reached double figures in scoring. Although the Lakers trailed by only one point at halftime, the Warriors dominated the third quarter with an 18-4 run that proved decisive.

"The trend I see is that we continue to be a terrible third-quarter team," Redick remarked. "That was last year, that was the preseason. We’ve got to rethink some things and it’s, you know, a two-way thing with the guys: What do they need at halftime to make sure they’re ready to play? They’re not ready to play to start the third quarter."

With James expected to remain sidelined into November, Redick stressed the need for all Lakers players to excel in their roles regardless of the superstar’s availability.

"We need our guys to star in their roles," he added. "I don’t think that changes if LeBron is in the lineup or out of the lineup. We need our guys to star in their roles."

Despite Doncic’s impressive outing, he took responsibility for not involving newcomer Ayton more effectively, noting his seven shot attempts were insufficient and indicating a need for better communication.

Adding to the Lakers’ concerns, Doncic appeared to experience some groin discomfort late in the game and required treatment afterward. However, he downplayed the issue, stating, "Felt it a little bit, but it’s probably nothing."