Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a rough road trip, finishing with an 0-4 record while dealing with a string of injuries, most notably to LeBron James. In his absence, Luka Doncic has shouldered the load alongside Austin Reaves, but their efforts haven’t been enough to keep the team afloat. Head coach JJ Redick shared his thoughts on Doncic’s performance and how his role remains unchanged despite LeBron’s absence.
“The marching orders for him don’t change if LeBron is out of the lineup. I think the way basketball works, at least in my mind, is that people, players, and skill sets all have to complement each other and work together,” Redick said before the team’s game against the Suns. “Everybody has a role and everybody is valued. And if you do that role well, we have a chance to win.”
“Luka has to be Luka … same thing with our guys that are defensive-minded or shooters. You just have to be yourself, and you hope there’s enough to fill the gap when guys are out,” Redick continued. “The sum of that equals a team that has a chance to win a game.”
Doncic himself has battled injuries, but he made his return in the Lakers’ matchup against the Phoenix Suns. He led the team back into the win column, proving Redick’s point by simply being himself—Luka being Luka. The game even featured some heated exchanges between Doncic and Kevin Durant, with Austin Reaves providing strong support in the victory.
Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.
Lakers dominate Suns behind Doncic’s big night
The Lakers put together a dominant performance against the Suns, led by one of Doncic’s best outings since arriving in Los Angeles. He posted 33 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals, while Reaves added 28 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. The Lakers also welcomed back Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith, both of whom missed their previous loss to the Nuggets.
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On the other side, Kevin Durant finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists, but it wasn’t enough to lift the struggling Suns, who are in danger of missing even the NBA Play-In Tournament. With growing tension in the locker room, Durant appears increasingly frustrated, fueling speculation that he could be looking for a way out of Phoenix.
Doncic’s impact since the trade
Since the trade, Doncic has played in 14 games, leading the Lakers to a 9-5 record in that span. He’s averaging 26.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 41.2% from the field, 34.4% from three, and 75.7% from the free-throw line.
With LeBron James still sidelined, the Lakers will need Doncic to continue his high-level play as they push toward NBA playoff positioning.
