The Los Angeles Lakers have a busy preseason schedule, with six games. The team has already finished three games and has three more games lined up before they can take a break for Opening Night on Oct. 21 against the Golden State Warriors. Despite this, head coach JJ Redick thinks it’s awesome for the fans to get a chance to see their favorite team play.
Redick referred to the games where the team had to play in a different arena. In their first exhibition game, they faced the Phoenix Suns at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California. It allowed fans to see the team in action.
Although Redick didn’t have a problem with the preseason schedule, he thinks it’s something that should be discussed next time.
“It’s something to be discussed I think going forward,” Redick told the media. “I think it’s awesome. I really do because we got to play in Palm Springs and I think it’s awesome that we get to play in Vegas and I recognize that there’s Lakers fans all over the world that maybe don’t get the chance to see us play.”
“You hope that we can find some sort of balance in the future to get more practice time, less travel time,” he continued. “I’m sure at some point we’ll be one of the teams going overseas, so then that adds another scenario.”
The head coach believes the right balance will allow the players to have enough rest, while the fans still have the chance to watch the team play.
JJ Redick gave an update on Luka Doncic’s preseason appearance for the Lakers
In the first three preseason games for the Lakers, All-Star guard Luka Doncic hasn’t suited up for the team. The coaching staff is taking its time with Doncic, who spent the summer playing for the Slovenian men’s national basketball team at the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket Tournament.
After the team’s first exhibition game of the new year, Redick confirmed that the five-time All-Star will soon be on the court. Although he did not give an accurate timetable for Doncic’s potential return. But the head coach told the media that the star guard is ramping up his return at that time.
“Luka will play in the preseason,” Redick said.
“Luka will play in the preseason,” – JJ Redick said. He’ll have next week to “continue to get ramped up.”
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 4, 2025
Ahead of their game against the Suns on Tuesday, Redick confirmed that Doncic will play. He also revealed that the European star could also play in either the game against the Dallas Mavericks or the Sacramento Kings.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
