Imagine kicking off the NBA season with one of your superstar players sidelined, forcing your coach to scramble and rethink the entire starting lineup. That's the dramatic reality facing the Los Angeles Lakers as they gear up for the 2025-26 campaign—and it has fans buzzing with anticipation and a touch of worry. But here's where it gets controversial: Is swapping in a role player like Gabe Vincent truly the best way to fill LeBron James' enormous shoes, or could it signal bigger shake-ups that challenge traditional NBA expectations?
In what felt like a full-scale rehearsal for the real thing, Lakers coach JJ Redick treated Friday's preseason finale against the Sacramento Kings as a golden opportunity to test their opening-night roster. With James out due to injury, Redick slotted in Gabe Vincent to lead the team off the bench, treating this as a preview of what might unfold when the regular season tips off next Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors.
Vincent, who had impressed everyone during a standout training camp, delivered a solid performance with 14 points on efficient shooting (5-for-6 overall and 4-for-5 from beyond the arc). Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to secure a win, as the Lakers fell 117-116 to the Kings, wrapping up their preseason with a modest 1-5 record. For beginners in basketball, preseason games are like practice rounds where teams experiment with strategies, player combinations, and conditioning—think of them as trial runs before the high-stakes regular season, where every game counts toward the playoffs.
The upcoming matchup with the Warriors promises to be electric, but Redick's decision to start Vincent isn't set in stone. He emphasized that there's still plenty to refine in the remaining practices. 'We have two more sessions to iron out the kinks,' said Luka Doncic, who shone brightly with a game-high 31 points and nine assists in just 33 minutes of action. Doncic, the dynamic Dallas Mavericks star now playing for the Lakers, highlighted the importance of these extra workouts to polish their approach.
Vincent got the heads-up about the lineup shift early Friday morning from the coaching staff. He backed up his selection with a stellar showing earlier in the preseason, dropping 18 points in the opening four minutes of their game against the Dallas Mavericks—nailing all five of his three-point attempts. When asked how he fits into the mix with the starters, Vincent kept it humble: 'I just contribute what I've been bringing since joining the team—solid defense, occasional playmaking, and spreading the floor to give Luka and Austin Reaves space to operate.' For those new to the game, 'spacing the floor' simply means positioning yourself to create open shots for teammates, a key tactic in modern basketball to avoid defenses collapsing inward.
James, the Lakers' iconic forward, is expected to be sidelined until mid-November as he recovers from sciatica—a condition involving nerve irritation in the lower back that can cause pain and numbness, often flaring up from overuse or strain. Sources close to ESPN's Shams Charania provided this timeline, underscoring how this injury is a setback that could reshape the team's early-season dynamics.
In the meantime, Vincent will step onto the court alongside Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and Rui Hachimura for the season opener. But Redick was quick to clarify that this group isn't etched in stone. 'I don't have any long-term commitments on starters,' he explained, 'because injuries and unexpected twists happen all year. I have a solid plan for Game 1, but after that, it's all about adapting.' He pointed out the strengths of this lineup: plenty of outside shooting to complement Doncic and Ayton (nicknamed DA), plus Vincent adding another ball-handling threat and defensive edge.
And this is the part most people miss: Redick's philosophy embraces flexibility, having rotated through 25 different starting combinations last season alone. It's a strategy that prioritizes matchups over rigid roles, which could be a breath of fresh air—or a recipe for confusion, depending on your viewpoint.
However, the preseason finale exposed some glaring concerns, particularly on defense. The Lakers surrendered 59 points in the second half to a Kings squad that shot an impressive 54.7% overall and 44.8% from three, raising red flags. 'Our practices felt more aggressive,' Doncic noted, 'but we really need to amp up our physicality.' Physicality in basketball refers to tough, in-your-face defense—think hustling for rebounds, contesting shots, and not backing down, which is crucial for disrupting opponents and building momentum.
The challenge was compounded by the absence of center Jaxson Hayes, a key physical presence, who exited early in the second half due to a right wrist contusion from a dunk in the first quarter. Fortunately, X-rays came back clear, and the Lakers plan to provide more details after Sunday's practice. In his place, former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart stepped up off the bench with 14 points and four steals, pledging to lead the charge. 'Follow my example,' Smart urged. 'I'll set the tone every game, and you can build off that.'
As the Lakers prepare to ignite the season without their aging superstar, questions swirl about whether this experimental lineup will thrive or crumble. Is Gabe Vincent's steady presence enough to bridge the gap, or does it highlight a controversial shift toward versatility over star power? What do you think—should coaches stick to more traditional lineups for stability, or embrace these fluid strategies? And how big of a blow is LeBron's absence really? Drop your opinions in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have a different take!
