Who needs to step up for Doncic, Lakers during LeBron’s absence?

The Los Angeles Lakers will need to bounce back from a loss at home in the season-opening game of the 2025-26 NBA season.

The Lakers lost 119-109 to the Golden State Warriors, despite Luka Dončić’s near triple-double performance.  Dončić had 43 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in 41 minutes of play.

Austin Reaves followed through on what’s expected of him with 26 points, nine assists and five rebounds. Despite the high scoring, the duo was responsible for eight of the team’s 19 turnovers.

While Dončić and Reaves are likely to continue meeting the moment, the Lakers will need to rely on others to help carry the load until LeBron James is available to return to the lineup.

Who must step up for Lakers?

Vincent, in his seventh season, has averaged just 7.1 points, two assists and 1.6 rebounds. He played in 72 games for Los Angeles last season.

“He’s been fantastic,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said about Vincent last week. “He’s an on-ball guy. He’s created advantages for us, I think his movement in early offense sets and then his movement in our half-court has been really good.

“I think he’s pushing himself right now to get in fantastic shape and be able to do that, sustain that, for a longer period. That would be the goal for him.”

Vincent showed why he could be a valuable asset for the team after scoring 14 points in the preseason finale on 5-of-6 shooting from the field in 23 minutes of play. He was 4-of-5 from the three-point line. 

The guard also produced another double-digit scoring output, with 18 points in the first four minutes of play against the Dallas Mavericks after going 5-for-5 from three.

Jaxon Hayes was another potential option to play forward and help fill the void to replace James, but he will be unavailable in the Friday, Oct. 24 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was downgraded to out due to left knee soreness.

He had four points and six rebounds off the bench in 14 minutes of play. Jarred Vanderbilt and Marcus Smart were the only other two players to come off the bench for the Lakers in the opener vs. the Warriors. Vanderbilt had three rebounds but did not score. Smart had nine points and four fouls in 23 minutes off the bench.

What is LeBron James’ injury?

James missed the preseason and the season opener due to Sciatica.

Sciatica is a pain caused by some level of irritation, pinching, or compression of the sciatic nerve, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The nerve is located in the lower back and goes down the back of each leg. It begins at the lower part of the spinal cord and extends through the buttocks, back of the thighs and down the feet.

When James’ injury was announced on Oct. 9, the four-time MVP was expected to be reevaluated in three to four weeks.

When do the Lakers play next?

The Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, Oct. 24 at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT).