LOS ANGELES — Wednesday’s Lakers practice had a few notable differences. The season ticket holders were in attendance, viewing some of the action and NBA Entertainment was also in the building doing some work with the players.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick said the presence of some additional people didn’t change the intensity level or focus for his guys.
“I thought the attention to detail and the professionalism for this environment was 10 out of 10, and if nobody was in the gym, it would have been
a 12 out of 10,” Redick said after practice. “It was very good.”
Having championship habits has been a thesis for the 2025-26 Lakers. They’ve discussed it and demonstrated it throughout training camp. However, it must be challenging to apply it when your biggest stars, LeBron James and Luka Dončić, remain out for team practices.
Sure, those players are uber stars and will be playing at their usual level whenever they are available. But what about the supporting cast?
How can new players adjust not only to Redick’s system but also to playing alongside LeBron and Luka, if they aren’t getting any reps with the two best players on the team?
Deandre Ayton is one of those new players trying to fit in and master his role. When asked how he has worked with Luka or LeBron, he made it crystal clear that it hasn’t occurred yet.
“I haven’t,” Ayton said. “It’s something I’ve just been waiting on and just got to prepare. JJ and the coaching staff probably have something where, they can put stuff together for all of us to really grow chemistry.”
Again, these are all professionals and perhaps complaining about a lack of reps in early October is making mountains out of molehills. However, other teams have the age the Lakers have and are demonstrating a willingness to have everyone put in the work.
The Warriors, for example, had all of their key players participating in their preseason game against the Lakers. Golden State has a myriad of valid excuses, from age, experience and already built chemistry to use as justification for resting their players.
Instead of doing that, they all played this past Sunday and destroyed Los Angeles. That’s championship-level effort. That’s action over words.
While the Lakers wait for their stars to return, the marathon continues. Redick mentioned installing sets like Horns Double on Wednesday and working on ways to execute it on the offensive side of the ball, as well as options to counter it on the defensive end.
As camp progresses, they’ll delve more into their playbook, especially in a week like this, where they have no games until Sunday.
Lakers like driving Porsches
If there is ever a time to do some team bonding events, it’d be now, before regular season action begins. Luka arranged a day at the Porsche Driving Experience for the team and it was as fantastic as it sounds.
“Even if you weren’t a car person, I think that you really enjoyed yourself,” Gabe Vincent said. “They do a good job of explaining what’s going on, how the car is different, and then once you get inside of it, it’s a different feel than what you may be feeling driving down the 405.”
Redick also discussed the event, but he talked more about how it builds chemistry beyond the basketball court and how it’s another example of Luka’s leadership. He also jokingly mentioned his disappointment in not being invited, as it was a players-only event.
For those who are wondering how these enormous players get into these tiny sports cards, Ayton has you covered.
“They had some cars where they could hold a seven-footer,” Ayton said. “I don’t know if it was custom or that’s how they’re made at the factory. Just seeing LeBron James in a sports car pushing I was like, ‘Yo, he knows cars.’”
Not many people have seen LeBron in the driver’s seat of a car, much less one in an environment like the Porsche Driving Experience. Perhaps that’s another skill of his, along with golfing, that he will master when his playing days are done.
Notes and updates
- Marcus Smart did not practice with the team. He had flu-like symptoms and it doesn’t sound like anything major. It was just a precaution, and it’s better to have him away than to get other players sick.
- Other players who didn’t participate besides Luka and LeBron are Adou Thiero and Maxi Kleber. It seems Thiero will be out until a bigger update is announced. Thiero is on the court doing individual work, so hopefully a return is coming sooner rather than later.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
