Luka Doncic finally suited up for the Lakers this preseason in their matchup against the Suns. He wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s one of the league’s brightest stars — 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 22 minutes.
Austin Reaves matched him blow for blow, dropping 25 points of his own with that same fearless confidence he carried from last season. For a moment, it felt like the new era of Lakers basketball had arrived — Luka controlling the tempo, Reaves hunting mismatches, and LeBron watching from the sidelines like a proud big brother letting the kids run the show.
Then halftime ended.
The all-too-familiar third-quarter Lakers showed up. Phoenix, even with key players missing, exposed L.A.’s weaknesses. They seemed to be outclassed athletically. Defensive rotations lagged, rebounding slipped, and the Suns’ second unit attacked with pace. The Lakers had 13 turnovers, most of them unforced, erasing what had been a crisp offensive rhythm early on.
The Luka–Reaves Preview Was Worth It
If there’s a silver lining, it’s the chemistry between Doncic and Reaves. The two looked like they’d been running sets together for months — simple dribble handoffs flowing into two-man actions that produced clean looks. Luka’s gravity opened up space for Reaves, and Reaves’ decisiveness gave Luka the freedom to orchestrate without overdribbling.
The Lakers’ front office has talked all summer about building a sustainable post-LeBron identity. Nights like this — even in preseason — show a glimpse of what that might look like.
The problem is what happens when those two sit.
Depth Questions Still Linger
Once the stars checked out, the Lakers’ bench looked exactly like what it is: a group still fighting for clarity. Nick Smith Jr. and Nate Williams both had flashes, but the offense became stagnant, and the defensive effort wavered. The Suns’ role players, led by Jordan Goodwin, took advantage and flipped a tight contest into a 113–104 win.
That’s been the recurring theme of the past two years — Lakers depth looking uneven, especially when the stars rest. It’s not panic time, but the preseason is about habits. If the Lakers want to avoid another slow start, the lessons from these games matter.
The Bigger Picture
Fans shouldn’t overreact to a preseason loss, but they also shouldn’t ignore what it says. The Lakers’ ceiling with Luka and Reaves is sky-high. They’re skilled, smart, and complement each other beautifully. But the floor, when those two aren’t on the floor, is still shaky.
The team’s next step isn’t about headline names; it’s about continuity, defensive buy-in, and cutting down turnovers. For a franchise that’s made chemistry its buzzword all offseason, it’s time to show that those aren’t just media-day quotes.
Because when Luka and Reaves make it look this easy, everything else needs to catch up.
