Wed Oct 15 03:40:00 UTC 2025: **Lakers’ Dončić Set to Make Preseason Debut Against Suns**

**PHOENIX, AZ** – Los Angeles Lakers fans will finally get their first glimpse of star point guard Luka Dončić this preseason as he’s slated to make his debut against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. The game, scheduled for 10 PM ET, will be available on League Pass.

Dončić has been sidelined throughout the preseason, prioritizing rest and recovery after a demanding summer competing for the Slovenian national team in EuroBasket. Coach JJ Redick emphasized the importance of Dončić’s recuperation and plans a gradual increase in his playing time as the regular season approaches.

“I would say there will most likely be a ramp-up from Game 1 to Game 2 in Luka’s minutes,” Redick stated. “What that total number looks like, we’re still talking to Javy [Barrio, Dončić’s athletic trainer] and Luka about what kind of makes sense.”

In addition to Dončić, guard Marcus Smart is also scheduled to make his preseason debut on Tuesday.

Redick acknowledged the challenges of constructing optimal lineups, especially with LeBron James sidelined for the next 2-3 weeks due to sciatica. He emphasized the importance of balance in each lineup, considering factors like defense, creation, and shooting.

“You want to put your five best players on the court as much as possible. You also want to have balance with every lineup,” Redick said. “When we do our substitution metrics: who is going to guard? Who is going to create? Are we going to have enough shooting? So you’re doing that with every lineup you put out there, including the starting lineup.”

With the regular season opener against the Golden State Warriors just a week away, Redick admitted the starting lineup is still a work in progress. Despite these challenges, expectations for the Lakers remain high as Dončić has resigned with L.A. to avoid free agency. NBA analysts are watching closely to see how the Dončić-James pairing will develop under Redick’s leadership in their second season together.

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