3 Takeaways from Lakers @ Kings Preseason Game #1
The Lakers kicked off the preseason Monday night with a 127-103 win over the Kings in Sacramento. You can’t overreact to one preseason game, but there were some things to take away from the debut of the ’26-’27 Lakers:
Luka Dončić looked like he’s in great shape and ready to take the next step toward finally winning his first MVP.
He led the league in scoring last season at 33.5 points per game and will likely need to bump that up another point or two if the Lakers want to contend for a top-four seed again.
More importantly, though, Luka needs to play 70-plus games this season. His durability has been well chronicled over the past couple of years. He played 64 games last season, the most he’s played since the 2023-24 season, when he appeared in 70 games with the Mavericks.
The most games he’s ever played in a season was 72 as a rookie, so playing 75-plus games probably isn’t realistic. But the Lakers need to find a way to balance his regular-season workload to make sure he doesn’t have any extended stretches of missed time while still keeping him fresh enough for the playoffs.
The NBA has become a war of attrition in many ways. Lately, it seems like the healthiest teams at the end of the season are the ones making deep playoff runs.
Defensive ferocity was on display.
A point of emphasis in JJ Redick’s plans leading up to the season has been defensive disruption. He wants his guys to pick up full court, pressure ballhandlers and do everything they can to make opposing offenses uncomfortable.
After Monday night’s game, those points of emphasis were on display.
“We had 16 turnovers forced in the first half, 27 overall,” Redick said after the game. “I know it’s a preseason game, first time the Lakers have done that since 2000. So clearly that disruption that we talked about carried over.”
Every wing on this Lakers roster is going to get a look. Quentin Grimes, who isn’t really a wing but essentially is on this team, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia, Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero will all have opportunities to earn minutes. Hounding opposing ballhandlers and being able to make open shots will go a long way toward determining who solidifies himself in the regular rotation.
With a backcourt of Austin Reaves and Luka, those players are going to be tasked with guarding the other team’s best playmakers. Aside from doing what they can to funnel everything toward Walker Kessler at the rim, the Lakers’ other best approach on defense might be forcing turnovers and trying to generate as many extra offensive possessions as possible.
Considering how prolific their offense could be, creating extra possessions could be a major part of their defensive identity.
The Lakers were letting it fly from beyond the arc.
One of the issues the Lakers have had over the past few seasons has been their lack of 3-point volume. Last season, they ranked 24th in the league, taking only 32.9 3-pointers per game and making 11.8 of them.
Monday night, they took 44 and made 20.
The new pieces they’ve brought in around Luka and Austin are more equipped to catch and shoot than some of the players who have been on the roster the past couple of years. From 3-point range Monday, Ziaire Williams went 3-for-3, Quentin Grimes went 2-for-3, Matisse Thybulle went 2-for-4, Sandro Mamukelashvili went 2-for-4, Jake LaRavia went 2-for-3 and Cameron Carr went 3-for-7.
The Lakers didn’t let the ball stick, made decisive decisions and weren’t afraid to catch and shoot. All these players surrounding Luka and Austin are going to get open looks from beyond the arc, and they have to be willing to knock them down or make quick decisions off the dribble when attacking closeouts.
It’s just one game and something to monitor, but the Lakers have been operating at a mathematical disadvantage the past few years by shooting as few 3-pointers as they have.
They don’t need to shoot 44 every game, but if they can hover around 40 and shoot a good percentage while doing it, they’ll be able to compete with anyone.
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