Lakers’ Luka Doncic Ruled Out for First 2 Games of Preseason

Sep 29, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during media day at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic will not play in Friday and Sunday's preseason games.

More news: Lakers to Be Without 4 Players For Suns Preseason Game

Lakers say Luka Doncic will not play in this weekend’s preseason games (tonight vs. Suns; Sunday at Warriors).

The decision was a collaborative one with the team's performance after Luka's EuroBasket run with Slovenia this summer.

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) October 3, 2025

LA will take on the Phoenix Suns on Friday and the Golden State Warriors on Sunday without their 26-year-old superstar.

The Lakers say they are being extra cautious with Doncic, considering he has just returned from playing for his home country of Slovenia in EuroBasket. With Doncic out, the Lakers will likely start Gabe Vincent in his place.

Doncic's return date is unclear, but the good thing is that he is not dealing with any injury as the season approaches.

Los Angeles will play in its first game of the 2025-26 season. Although it is just preseason, following the Lakers' stellar offseason, many are excited to see this new-look squad. However, we'll have to wait to see this new look squad in full force.

Not only will Doncic miss Friday and Sunday's game, but so will fellow superstar forward LeBron James. James will likely miss all six preseason games as he deals with nerve irritation in his glute.

The Lakers are hoping that James will be back by opening night when they take on the Warriors on October 21.

In place of James will likely be Jake LaRavia, who was spotted practicing alongside the projected starters during training camp.

The players who will miss Friday's game do not stop there; LA will also be without Maxi Kleber, Marcus Smart, and rookie forward Adou Thiero.

Smart is dealing with an Achilles injury that could likely keep him out of the next two games as well. The expectation for Smart is that he will be healthy sometime next week, possibly after this weekend's slate of games. In the meantime, Dalton Knecht and Vincent are set to fill in his place for what could be the first two games.

Kleber is dealing with a minor quad injury that has kept him out of practice. The Lakers say it is not a big deal, but injuries have been an issue for the German big man. However, the expectation is that he will be ready for at least opening night as well.

Thiero is dealing with a knee issue, which is the same one that kept him out of Summer League. His status moving forward is unclear.

The only goal for preseosans is to come out of it healthy. While the Lakers aren't exactly there yet, they hope that will be the case once the regular season rolls around.

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.