Life Without LeBron Begins
It’s been 4 months since the Oklahoma City Thunder lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy, winning the franchise’s first-ever NBA title. But, just like that, the NBA is back and a new season is upon us – along with all the excitement, anticipation, and renewed storylines that come with it. As teams gear up for another grueling campaign, one of the most intriguing squads entering the new season is the Los Angeles Lakers – the storied franchise now centered around their all-world talent Luka Doncic, looking to navigate a brutally competitive Western Conference without LeBron James.
This preseason offered an early look at how the Doncic-led Lakers might operate, especially with LeBron set to miss the opening stretch due to injury. From offensive adjustments to roster chemistry, there was plenty to unpack – and now, after their season-opening loss to the Golden State Warriors, we have a clearer sense of where things stand. It’s a picture filled with promise, intrigue, and the potential for something special if all the moving pieces come together as intended.
Luka’s return to form
For starters, Luka Doncic is once again reminding everyone who he is. The five-time All-NBA First Team selection opened the 2025-26 season with a vintage performance, dropping 43 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists in the Lakers’ 109–119 loss to the Warriors.
This wasn’t just another box-score masterpiece – it was a statement that Doncic is back in peak form. He looked noticeably leaner and quicker compared to last season, when he battled through nagging injuries and inconsistencies. This version of Luka is fit, spry, and determined, seamlessly carrying over the energy he showed during the preseason.
With LeBron sidelined, Doncic has the freedom to take over the offense completely, and he’s wasted no time doing so. From the opening tip, he dictated the pace, controlled every possession, and nearly willed the Lakers to a win, but it just wasn’t enough.
If Los Angeles can start turning those types of performances into wins, Luka’s name will surface early in the MVP discussion. The challenge, though, is getting enough help around him to make it sustainable.
The offensive blueprint for JJ Redick: Pick-and-Roll Heavy, Action-Oriented Flow
One of the clearest developments from both the preseason and opening night is how JJ Redick’s offensive philosophy is taking shape. The Lakers are leaning heavily into pick-and-rolls, elbow actions, and Spain/stack concepts, blending Redick’s analytical approach with Luka’s methodical brilliance.
Against Golden State, we saw many of the same looks that appeared in the preseason: horns sets flowing into dribble handoffs, Spain pick-and-rolls that open corner shooters, and empty-side actions designed to give Luka the freedom to read defenses.
The foundation is solid – but the execution still needs polish. Some possessions bogged down when role players hesitated or missed timing cues, particularly with Deandre Ayton, who’s still developing chemistry with Luka and Austin Reaves. There were a few misreads on lobs and short rolls, a sign that their pick-and-roll partnership is still in progress.
What stood out, however, is how Redick continues to stagger Doncic and Reaves’ minutes, ensuring that one of them always anchors the offense. Reaves was excellent in that role against the Warriors, posting 26 points and 9 assists, seamlessly operating as a secondary creator when Luka sat.
That dynamic could be crucial all season long. Luka’s workload has historically been immense, and having Reaves as a reliable release valve can keep the offense balanced and unpredictable.
Off the ball, Redick has also shown creativity in how he uses Doncic – running him off pin-downs, letting him relocate to the weak side, or using his gravity to open driving lanes for teammates. The ideas are there. Now, it’s about getting everyone else comfortable enough to execute them consistently.
The Lakers’ supporting cast: work in progress
While Luka and Reaves carried the scoring load, the rest of the Lakers’ roster contributed just 40 combined points in the opener – a number that won’t cut it against elite Western Conference teams.
Deandre Ayton’s struggles continued from the preseason. He’s still finding rhythm within the system and chemistry with his guards. There were flashes – strong screens, soft-touch midrange jumpers, a few solid defensive possessions – but he remains too passive at times. For Los Angeles to compete at the top level, Ayton must become a consistent inside presence and play with urgency.
Rui Hachimura, meanwhile, was steady in the preseason but quiet in the opener. His ability to score efficiently on low volume – through post-ups, midrange looks, and spot-up threes – will be vital moving forward. The Lakers need him to punish switches and give Luka a dependable outlet when defenses load up on him.
Jake LaRavia and Jaxson Hayes also had subdued performances after promising preseasons. Hayes, in particular, showed flashes as a vertical lob threat next to Luka, but struggled against Golden State’s spacing and ball movement. The chemistry is still developing, but his energy and athleticism could be a real asset once he locks into his role.
Defensively, Marcus Smart, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Gabe Vincent form the team’s defensive backbone. Smart looked noticeably better physically after an injury-plagued year in Memphis, but the collective defense had communication lapses. Golden State’s off-ball movement exposed holes in their rotations, forcing Redick to mix lineups in search of cohesion.
Vincent, in particular, embodies the stabilizing “Mario Chalmers” role – capable of handling the ball, hitting open threes, and defending the point of attack. But the Lakers’ defensive structure as a whole will need to tighten quickly.
As it stands, the Lakers’ rotation looks like this:
Starters: Luka Doncic, Gabe Vincent, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton
Bench: Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes (Dalton Knecht 10th man)
With the eventual return of LeBron, the Lakers will be 11-deep – a luxury for a coach like Redick, who can mix and match lineups based on opponent and matchup flow. But depth only matters if production follows, and the early signs suggest this group still needs time to gel.
How the absence of LeBron hurts (or helps) the team
Now comes the big question: how does the absence of LeBron affect this team early on?
On one hand, it allowed Luka the space to fully assert himself. With more touches, more usage, and more decision-making control, we saw the complete Doncic experience – an offensive engine unrestrained by another ball-dominant superstar. It also opens the door for Reaves, Ayton, Hachimura, and Vincent to step up and grow into bigger roles on offense.
On the other hand, the Lakers clearly miss LeBron’s presence and everything that makes him unique – his physicality, vision, and leadership. Even at age 40, he remains one of the smartest players in the league, capable of quarterbacking an offense, screening for Luka, or cutting off the ball for easy finishes. His short-roll reads and timely cuts generate high-value looks the Lakers can’t easily replicate. Without him, Los Angeles lacks a secondary high-IQ connector to balance Luka’s heliocentric style.
Defensively, the size and strength of LeBron remain valuable. He can still bang bodies in the post, rotate as a weakside helper, and deliver those signature chase-down blocks that change momentum. Without him, the Lakers lose an extra layer of defensive versatility and experience that can stabilize chaotic possessions.
Not having LeBron to start the season presents both opportunity and challenge. The Lakers will lose some offensive structure and veteran poise, but they gain the chance to let Luka set the tone, establish chemistry with Ayton, and test Redick’s system under real conditions.
Finally
Ultimately, Los Angeles will need to tighten its defense, improve communication, and find more offensive balance if they want to stay afloat while James recovers. The Western Conference won’t wait for anyone, and their next matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves will be another test of resilience.
The Lakers’ preseason hinted at what this team could become, and their opening-night loss to Golden State confirmed both their potential and their flaws. Luka Doncic looks every bit the superstar the Lakers hoped he’d be – healthy, dominant, and commanding. JJ Redick’s offensive system is showing real promise, blending structure and freedom in ways that fit Luka’s game.
But this is still a team in transition. Their supporting cast needs to step up, their defensive discipline must sharpen, and their chemistry must develop quickly. The good news? It’s early, and they have one of the best players in the world leading the charge.
If the Lakers can survive this stretch without LeBron and learn from these early lessons, they’ll be better for it. For now, it’s Luka’s show – and as we saw on opening night, he’s ready to put on another MVP-level performance.
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