Days after making history with consecutive 40-point outings, the Lakers announced some unfortunate news around superstar guard Luka Doncic.
Luka Doncic Sidelined After Season-Opening Masterclasses
Doncic to Miss One Week
Ahead of Sunday’s game against the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers revealed that Doncic would miss at least one week with a left finger sprain and lower leg contusion, according to ESPN. With LeBron James also sidelined for weeks due to sciatica, it is a major setback for the purple and gold.
Doncic is coming off a 49-point heater against the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday night—a game that saw him surpass Jerry West for the most points in a Laker’s first two games of the season. His stellar showings have led to averages of 46 points, 11.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists on .620/.318/.793 shooting splits.
With Doncic down for the count, the rest of the team must adopt the “next man up mentality,” something they are no stranger to given their struggles with health last season.
Lakers play four games over the next week:
@ SAC
vs. POR (b2b)
@ MIN
@ MEM https://t.co/oteBTaxRBi— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 26, 2025
The Lakers Who Must Step Up
Though every Laker in JJ Redick’s rotation will be asked to handle a larger role, there are three who must answer the call immediately.
Austin Reaves
As electric as Doncic has been, Austin Reaves has put on a show in his own right, scoring 51 points and dishing 20 assists through his first two games. As a member of the Lakers’ big three, the team will need every bucket and dime Reaves can get, especially now with the dynamic duo missing the next few games. The increased role will also give Reaves a chance to show improvement on defense, a common criticism of his game over the last few years.
Rui Hachimura
Another incumbent starter, Rui Hachimura could hear his number called more often with Doncic out. Hachimura just had an efficient 23-point performance against the Timberwolves, serving as the Lakers’ third-best player next to Doncic and Reaves. His consistency and two-way talent will be vital to the Lakers’ success, especially in a contract year where his future with them is under a microscope.
Gabe Vincent
Finally, though his numbers have looked bleak to open the year, Gabe Vincent has some big shoes to fill in Doncic’s absence. The veteran guard showed signs of life in preseason, averaging 16.3 points in four games on 47% shooting from the field and 55% from deep. While that early success hasn’t translated in the games that count, Vincent can flip the script this week. That starts by efficiently running the Lakers offense as a skilled shooter and playmaker while setting the tone defensively alongside other key enforcers.
The Last Word
Having both superstars out this early is clearly far from ideal, but if the rest of the Lakers want to show off their championship-level habits, now is the time to do so.
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
