The Lakers preseason was disappointing to say the least. They spent the entire offseason talking about chemistry — how last year’s slow start was the price of too little time together, and how this training camp would finally fix that. But here we are again: a 1–5 preseason record and a team that’s had just one game featuring real regular-season rotations.
The Talk Doesn’t Match the Work
LeBron James hasn’t played a single preseason minute and won’t suit up until November if things go according to plan. Marcus Smart’s been ramping back from Achilles tendinopathy, and rookie Adou Thiero is still limited due to knee swelling. Those are legitimate injuries. Nobody’s asking the team to put their health at risk.
But Luka Doncic isn’t hurt. He’s played in only two preseason games — one of which featured limited minutes — and that’s after the Lakers themselves said this camp was crucial for building chemistry around him and Austin Reaves. That decision undermines the very message they’ve been preaching.
The EuroBasket Double Standard
Not wanting to overwork Luka is understandable. He played at EuroBasket this summer, sure, but so did several other European stars. Lauri Markkanen suited up for Finland. Franz Wagner played for Germany. And Nikola Jokic represented Serbia. And all of them played more preseason games than Luka.
So when the Lakers voluntarily sit their healthy star — while other top players who went deeper into the tournament are out there playing real preseason reps — it stops sounding like “load management” and starts sounding like mismanagement.
A Continued Lack of Chemistry
This is becoming an annual tradition in Los Angeles: talk about togetherness, then spend camp apart. Redick himself said it’s “very hard” to install his system when guys aren’t available, yet the team keeps choosing rest over reps.
It’s the same story every year. The Lakers say chemistry is the key, then act like it’ll magically appear once the season starts. Last season, they blamed their early playoff exit on not having enough time together. This fall, they’re repeating the exact same mistake — this time by choice. You can’t complain about not having time together and then not do anything to correct it.
Meanwhile, Denver, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City are practicing together, tightening rotations, and fine-tuning systems. They’re already where the Lakers claim they’re trying to go.
Falling Behind Before Tip-Off
That’s the real frustration — the self-inflicted setback. JJ Redick is installing a new playbook and a new system. Luka and Austin need to find a rhythm together. Marcus Smart’s defensive voice only matters if teammates can hear it on the floor. None of that happens when the team’s best players are watching from the sidelines.
You can’t build chemistry through press conferences, load management schedules, or film study. It’s built through repetition, rhythm, and real game reps — the kind the Lakers have now burned away.
Enough Talk — Show Up
There’s a fine line between cautious and complacent. The Lakers are walking it again. Resting injured players is smart. But resting healthy ones — especially Luka — when he’s the centerpiece of the team and the entire point of this camp was to build chemistry? That’s inexcusable.
If the Lakers truly believe continuity wins championships, they need to start treating October like it matters. Because no amount of talk can replace the one thing this group keeps skipping: shared time on the court.
You don’t build chemistry by waiting.
You build it by showing up.
