The Los Angeles Lakers faced a tough challenge in their season-opening loss to the Golden State Warriors, and it was clear that they felt the absence of their star player, LeBron James. James, who is recovering from a flare-up of sciatica, missed the first game of his 23-year NBA career, leaving teammate Luka Doncic to lead the team’s charge. Doncic delivered an impressive performance, scoring 43 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win for the Lakers.
Coach JJ Redick acknowledged that the team missed James, saying, “It’s hard to forget about LeBron.” Redick added that the Lakers need to find a way to win without James, but it’s clear that his presence is deeply felt. James’ absence has shifted the early burden to Doncic, who is opening among the MVP favorites alongside Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Lakers’ struggles were evident, particularly in the third quarter, when the Warriors outscored them 90-79. Redick noted that the team continues to be a terrible third-quarter team, and they need to rethink their strategy to improve. Despite the loss, Doncic’s performance was a bright spot, and he shouldered the blame for new teammate Deandre Ayton’s limited shot attempts, saying he needed to communicate better.
The Lakers will look to regroup and face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, but it’s clear that they’ll need to make adjustments to remain competitive in the Western Conference without James. As one of the oldest teams in the league, the Lakers’ age might be a legitimate problem this season, and they’ll need to find a way to overcome this challenge.
