Lakers Announce Full Starting Lineup Ahead of NBA Cup Game vs Mavericks

The Los Angeles Lakers have unveiled their full first five ahead of their Emirates NBA Cup showdown against the Dallas Mavericks.

Thanks to starting center Deandre Ayton's announced return from a right calf contusion that cost him the Lakers' 135-118 Tuesday win against the LA Clippers (Jaxson Hayes started capably in his stead), Los Angeles will have access to head coach JJ Redick's preferred starting unit once again.

Lakers Starters Revealed

With Ayton manning the middle, the Lakers will start five-time All-NBA First Team superstar point guard Luka Doncic (who was, until February, a Maverick) and shooting guard Austin Reaves in the backcourt, plus small forward Rui Hachimura and 21-time All-NBA power forward LeBron James in the frontcourt.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, will be bringing back the 10-time All-Star big man who served as the centerpiece of their misguided Doncic deal last season.

For Dallas, former 2020 Lakers champ Anthony Davis is set to return from a lingering calf injury, although it is Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports that Jason Kidd will be playing Davis on a minutes restriction.