Luka Doncic’s Status for Lakers-Warriors Preseason Game Could Upset NBA Fans

According to multiple reports stemming from a Lakers release, Luka Doncic will be sidelined for the Lakers' upcoming preseason games against the Phoenix Suns on Friday and the Warriors on Sunday. The reason for his absence is being cited due to his involvement in the 2025 EuroBasket tournament, and the team is looking to be cautious as he returns to play.

After being acquired by the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks last season, Doncic only matched up against the Warriors once. Doncic scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out seven assists as the Lakers fell 123-116 to the Warriors. While the rivalry really stems from Curry vs James, Doncic hasn't seen much action in the series.

Doncic is coming off a 2025 EuroBasket run with Slovenia that saw their run end against Germany in the quarter-finals. Doncic scored 39 points while adding 10 rebounds and seven assists in the loss, which helped him end as the tournament's leading scorer at 34.7 points per game.

However, it doesn't appear that this is anything other than rest, so no injuries to worry about for the multi-time All-NBA First Teamer.

What To Look For On The Golden State Side?

Whether or not Doncic played, the reality is that it's a preseason game and neither team is going to play the same rotations that they will come the season opener. But for Golden State, a major focus of this game and the preseason in general should be about acclimating the new pieces to the roster.

Given that Al Horford, Gary Payton II, De'Anthony Melton, and Seth Curry weren't signed till recently, Golden State should prioritize getting them involved so they'll be ready to go once the season starts. Seth is expected to be waived and signed near the middle of November, but the other players are expected to play early roles in the rotation.

Additionally, with a full offseason under his belt as a Warrior, attention will be on Jimmy Butler and how he looks, such as potential defensive matchups against either LeBron James or Austin Reaves.