Luka Doncic has acknowledged that LeBron James' absence will significantly impact the Los Angeles Lakers as the NBA season begins. James, a four-time NBA champion and the all-time leading scorer, is sidelined for three to four weeks due to sciatica symptoms on his right side. This means he will miss the season opener against the Golden State Warriors on October 21.

Doncic, a five-time NBA All-Star, recognises the void left by James but urges his teammates to adopt a "next man up" mentality. "I don't view it that way [that I must do more in James' absence]," Doncic stated. "I just want to play basketball. If I do less, if I do more, whatever it takes for me to get a win. It's a big change. He's a great player. He can help us a lot. But at the end of the day, our mentality needs to be 'next man up.'"

The Lakers have been practising diligently, hoping for James' swift return. Coach JJ Redick expressed optimism about James rejoining soon but acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding their starting lineup until then. "We've got a group of guys that have been practising and, hopefully, LeBron can join us as soon as possible. We are obviously going to need him," Redick said.Neither James nor Doncic has participated in preseason games for the Lakers so far. The team faced losses against both the Phoenix Suns and the Warriors during this period. Despite these setbacks, Redick confirmed that Doncic would play in two of Los Angeles' remaining four warm-up matches before the regular season kicks off.Doncic explained his limited participation in preseason games by citing his recent involvement with Slovenia's national team at EuroBasket. "I played for [the] national team [at EuroBasket]," he shared. "Playing one month or something of basketball [for Slovenia]. Obviously, it's a long season ahead, so just because of that."The Lakers face challenges without their star player but remain focused on adapting and performing well as they await James' return. The team's ability to adjust and maintain competitiveness will be crucial in navigating this early-season hurdle effectively.As they prepare for upcoming games, maintaining morale and readiness among players becomes essential for sustaining performance levels until James can rejoin them on court once again.