SACRAMENTO — Outside of brief clips posted on social media, there’s been a mystery surrounding how exactly the new-look Lakers will look against another team.
There’s still another two weeks before the Lakers play a game with stakes, but this week will bring clarity.
After a weeklong training camp, in which several team members have spoken highly of the intrasquad competition, the Lakers will finally be able to test themselves against another team when they play the Kings on Monday night at Golden 1 Center.
The matchup will be the first night of a back-to-back set, with the Lakers also playing the Warriors on Tuesday night at Chase Center in San Francisco, knocking out the first two of five preseason games before the regular-season opener against the Warriors on Oct. 21 in Los Angeles.
Everything the Lakers have been working on behind the scenes from over the last week — and even longer when counting small-group workouts during the summer — won’t be on display during the preseason.
And with coach JJ Redick saying the team was “still working through” who’d be available on Monday against the Kings, there’s no guarantee the lineups used against the Kings will reflect what the team is thinking for the start of the regular season.
But preseason games are still meaningful.
For the reps the Lakers will be able to get in preparation for the next two weeks.
For the opportunities for players to showcase why they should be the ones to start alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler.
Or even be in the rotation in the first place.
Here are a few things the California Post will look for Monday:
Star availability
It isn’t clear how many games Doncic will play during the preseason.
Last year, he played in two of the six preseason games, but that was coming off a summer in which he was with the Slovenian national team for the 2025 EuroBasket through August and September.
After having his 2025-26 season end in early April due to a severe hamstring injury and not playing with the Slovenian national team this summer for the first time in several years, this is the longest stretch of time Doncic has gone without playing competitive basketball since he entered the NBA.
Doncic typically plays 2-3 preseason games per year.
Reaves played in four preseason exhibitions in both 2024 and 2025, but that was also when the Lakers were playing six preseason games.
With a mostly new cast around them, getting the stars and role players acclimated with each other will become crucial, starting this week.
Defensive intensity
The Lakers wing picking up full court defensively in practice was highlighted throughout camp.
How does that transfer to when they’re playing against another team?
And who’s the best equipped to carry out and implement this strategy?
Adou Thiero, Cameron Carr, Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, Quentin Grimes and Matisse Thybulle are all competing for minutes on the wings — and even at least one starting spot, maybe two.
The answers to the aforementioned questions will provide clarity on who’ll be relied on the most.
The bigs
The Lakers have multiple options for their big man minutes behind Kessler.
Will Kevon Looney have a solidified spot in the rotation? It seems like that’ll be the case based on comments made during camp.
Looney playing more will limit how often the Lakers lean on small-ball looks with Sandro Mamukelashvili at the 5.
