LeBron James, Anthony Davis to sit out Lakers first preseason game vs. Wolves
The Lakers will open their preseason without either LeBron James or Anthony Davis on Friday as he will be held out of the team’s opening game against the Wolves.
UPDATE: Well, then. The Lakers’ open to the season will be an anticlimactic one. Along with LeBron James, Anthony Davis will sit out of the Lakers first preseason game on Friday, JJ Redick announced pregame.
JJ Redick says Anthony Davis will sit tonight, along with LeBron James.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 5, 2024
With both AD and LeBron out, Jaxson Hayes and Max Christie will step into the starting lineup in their place.
Redick says LAL will start Jaxson Hayes and Max Christie in place of AD and LeBron. Reaves, Russell and Hachimura will also start. https://t.co/k0q6Ajx8Pj
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 5, 2024
With Redick noting during the week both would play this weekend, that means the pair will play on Sunday against the Suns. Let’s save up our excitement for that game.
Original story follows.
The Lakers will open their season unofficially on Friday as they host the Wolves in a preseason duel against the Wolves in Palm Springs. However, they will be doing so without LeBron James.
While head coach JJ Redick said that both LeBron and Anthony Davis will be playing in the opening weekend, the team announced on Friday afternoon that LeBron would be out.
LeBron James will be held out of the Lakers’ first preseason game Friday vs MIN, sources told ESPN. Lakers coach JJ Redick said Thursday that LeBron and Anthony Davis would both play at some point this weekend. LAL plays again in Palm Springs on Sunday vs PHX
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 4, 2024
As of time of publish, there was no update on if AD would play on Friday. It feels unlikely that Davis would play in both games on the weekend, but it’s not out of the realm of possibilities.
Both LeBron and AD come into camp in a much better spot than normal, having taken part in the 2024 Paris Olympics. If anything, that would generally lead to a preseason where they play less.
However, given that the team is learning a new offensive system under Redick, there will probably be more asked of them this preseason. It’s always a fine balance of trying to keep the stars rested and healthy while also needing to learn the system.
It also helps that the starting lineup has a whole bunch of chemistry together. As opposed to some years when the Lakers were putting together a new roster, this one is pretty much a carryover from last year, which also makes it easier to sit out players this preseason.
While it feels unlikely LeBron and AD play this weekend together, they will surely spend some time together this preseason. But LeBron is not one to typically play many preseason games, so this is nothing out of the ordinary.
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