Dončić, Redick Shape Lakers Leadership Amid LeBron Shift

The Los Angeles Lakers opened training camp with Luka Dončić embracing his first full preseason in Los Angeles, calling practices “fun, excitement, hard” and saying he’s eager for the regular season. Coach JJ Redick and Dončić are working on a leadership plan to make Dončić a central on‑court leader while accommodating LeBron James’s evolving, more off‑ball role. The team will be cautious with minutes as several players—LeBron (glute nerve irritation), Marcus Smart (Achilles tendinopathy), Adou Thiero (knee) and Maxi Kleber (quad)—were unavailable for the preseason opener vs. Phoenix and players are expected to play in shorter bursts. Dončić signed a three‑year extension after a productive summer and European run that he says rebooted him; he is viewed as an early MVP candidate and last season averaged about 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists following the midseason trade. The roster pairs veterans (LeBron, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura) with additions (Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia) as the organization balances health and chemistry to try to advance deeper in the playoffs after a first‑round exit.