Despite playing five games thus far in the NBA preseason, the Los Angeles Lakers have yet to offer a proper preview of how the team will operate at full strength in the regular season. That will be coming in Friday's finale against the Sacramento Kings.
Jovan Buha reported, "JJ Redick said that the Lakers will use Friday’s preseason finale against Sacramento as a dress rehearsal with their full healthy rotation. He said the Lakers will likely have a similar rotation to Dallas [Mavericks] ... (most of the rotation playing deep into third/early fourth)."
The plan for the regular season should be a bit more obvious after Friday, minus the pivotal piece that is LeBron James. Shams Charania reported James will be taking a 'patient approach' with returning to the lineup from his sciatica injury. That could mean his debut does not come until mid-November.
Reporting for ESPN NBA Countdown on LeBron James expected to take a patient approach before his Lakers season debut: pic.twitter.com/Z2INLMGhfZ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 16, 2025
Jarred Vanderbilt also left the game against the Mavericks with a left quad contusion. That could mean the Lakers forward is held out for precautionary reasons if the injury is deemed serious enough. Even when considering both of those points, any Lakers fan who wants their best sneak peek before their opening night matchup against the Golden State Warriors should be watching.
Redick will roll out regular rotation — offering first real glimpse of 2025 Lakers
One of the most interesting reasons to watch the Lakers' game against the Kings will be to see what the starting lineup looks like. With James set to miss a chunk of action to start 2025-26, Redick has a few several combinations to explore.
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton will be locked into starting spots beyond any reason of doubt. Vando, Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart will be the players battling for the other two spots.
Redick showed no qualms about starting three players generally perceived as guards in their preseason clash with the Phoenix Suns. Doncic, Reaves, and Smart all got the nod, showing that the Lakers head coach could care less about traditional designations.
However, it is also worth noting Vanderbilt and Hachimura were both rested during that matchup. That is what makes the Kings game so intriguing. What direction does Redick go with his options plentiful?
Other components of the rotation will also be worth monitoring. Has Gabe Vincent officially wrapped up the backup point guard battle? How does Redick stagger his minutes to ensure enough star power and playmaking is available at all times? How does the Lakers head coach alter his tactics based on the personnel on the floor?
A lot of these questions could need a larger sample size for a definitive answer. However, the first real glimpses will be available against the Kings.