Lakers have a starting lineup dilemma on their hands

When first asked on Sept. 24 about the Lakers’ potential Opening Night starting lineup, coach JJ Redick provided clarity, humor and also uncertainty.

The obvious clarity: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler would make up 60% of the team’s first unit.

Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic are obvious starters. Getty Images

The humor: Redick saying the two other starters “will not be two white guys”.

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And the uncertainty came from Redick openly acknowledging both of the final two starting spots were up for grabs.

Nearly 2 ½ weeks later, the Lakers are still figuring out who’ll fill those two final starting spots for the regular season opener against the Warriors on Oct. 21 at Crypto.com Arena.

Walker Kessler is also an obvious starter for the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images

The nature of the Lakers’ first week of preseason has made it challenging for the team to assess who should fill those starting spots.

Reaves and Kessler both sat out of the preseason-opening win over the Kings on Oct. 5, in addition to Collin Sexton being sidelined, while Doncic, Reaves, Kessler, Sexton, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams sat out of the matchup against the Warriors on Oct. 6, which was the second night of a back-to-back.

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Reaves made his preseason debut, and Doncic and Thybulle played, in the Oct. 8 home win over the Kings, but Kessler, Williams and Sexton remained sidelined, with Kessler and Sexton yet to make their preseason debut.

Quentin Grimes is poised to be one of the Lakers’ starters come Opening Night. Getty Images

Kessler’s status for his potential preseason debut in Tuesday’s exhibition against the Warriors in Las Vegas hasn’t been determined yet.

Redick said Sexton, who’s dealing with a lower right left injury, is “probably a little bit further behind” Kessler.

The Lakers’ player-availability changes have made it difficult for Redick and his staff to determine starters with 1 ½ weeks before the games start to matter in the standings.

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“I would say we’ve certainly seen glimpses of the things we like,” Redick said. “It’s hard because we’ve just been a little disjointed with the guys being…

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Publish date : 2026-10-11 23:11:00

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