Lakers Announce Disappointing Collin Sexton News Ahead of Season Opener

The Los Angeles Lakers will start the 2026-27 NBA season a little shorthanded, with a few of the team’s players ruled out for the season-opening game on Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors.

On Tuesday, the team announced that rookie Cameron Carr would miss the matchup against the Warriors due to a right oblique strain. Second-year forward Adou Thiero was also ruled out against Golden State because of a left knee effusion.

Lakers Rule Out Collin Sexton for Season Opener

As if not having the team’s two youngest players to start the 2026-27 campaign wasn’t concerning enough, veteran newcomer Collin Sexton won’t make his Lakers debut on Wednesday, as he continues to deal with a right soleus strain.

Collin Sexton (right soleus strain) has been downgraded to OUT for tonight’s game versus Golden State.
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) October 21, 2026

Sexton was trending in the right direction to suit up in purple and gold for the first time, initially being listed as questionable for the season opener, but apparently he needs more time to get his body ready after missing all five games of the NBA preseason.

Luka Doncic: 'Tonight We Start Our Run for a Championship'

Oct 5, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) drives with the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ahead of the season opener on Wednesday night, Luka Doncic took out a full-page ad in the LA Times to get Lakers fans hyped for the 2026-27 campaign, as he made it clear he intends to win a championship in Los Angeles.

"DEAR LA, Tonight we start our run for a championship," Doncic said. "Every player dreams of holding that trophy. To do it for all of you amazing fans would mean everything to us,"

As the post-LeBron James era gets underway, Doncic continues to show he's embracing the challenge of being the new face of the Lakers franchise, which is no easy task, especially for a player that has yet to win a title during his NBA career.

The reigning scoring champion is showing his willingness to be the undisputed leader for the 17-time champions while being in the best shape of his life and having all the support of the front office, coaching staff, fans and his Lakers teammates.

Doncic will face pressure right away with the 27-year-old superstar being put under the microscope this season and expected to show that the Lakers are still in the title-contending conversation in the Western Conference along with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

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