Luka Dončić is Expected to Make His 2025 Preseason Debut Against the Suns

The court in Phoenix is about to get a visit from Luka Dončić, a ghost of playoffs past. For Suns fans, it’s a name that still echoes in the rafters of the Footprint Center, a specter of a Game 7 that many would rather forget. That name is Luka Dončić. And he’s coming to town.

The Phoenix Suns, weary from a grueling 13-hour flight back from a preseason game in China, are bracing for their final preseason contest against the Los Angeles Lakers. Rest is a luxury they can’t afford, with only a single day to shake off the jet lag before stepping back onto the hardwood. It’s a brutal end to a whirlwind preseason, a final test of endurance before the real marathon begins.

This isn’t just any preseason game, though. This is the moment the league has been waiting for. According to a report from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Luka Dončić is set to make his preseason debut against the Suns. The Slovenian sensation, a perennial MVP candidate and the Suns’ personal boogeyman, has been resting for the Lakers’ first three exhibition games after a demanding summer playing for his country at EuroBasket. Now, he’s ready to lace up.

The weight of that name, Luka Dončić, hangs heavy in the Arizona air. It carries with it the memory of masterful performances, of clutch shots that silenced an entire arena, and of a rivalry that has only intensified with each passing season. Even in a game that doesn’t count, his presence changes everything.

The Rivalry Rekindled

Let’s be honest, there’s no love lost between Dončić and the Phoenix faithful. It’s a rivalry born from high-stakes playoff battles and fueled by on-court swagger and trash talk. Every time he steps on the floor against the Suns, it feels personal. He thrives on the boos, using the crowd’s energy as fuel for his seemingly endless bag of tricks. A step-back three, a no-look pass, a shoulder shrug after an impossible shot—it’s all part of the Luka experience.

For the Suns, this game represents an early, albeit low-stakes, chance at redemption. It’s an opportunity to face down the player who has become their arch-nemesis. While key players for Phoenix might sit out to recover from their intercontinental journey, those who do play will get an early taste of the intensity that defines this matchup. It’s a dress rehearsal for the battles that will undoubtedly come when the games truly matter.