The Los Angeles Lakers’ first preseason game of 2024 will take place on Friday evening in the Inland Empire against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It will offer a first glimpse of what they will look like and how they will function under new head coach JJ Redick, who has vowed to shift their emphasis toward several new areas.
One of the big questions for the Lakers as the preseason unfolds and the regular season approaches is how Redick will manage the load for LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Both superstars are coming off a successful stint in the Olympics with Team USA men’s basketball, and thus their risk of fatigue and injury will need to be minimized as much as possible.
At the same time, it is important for both to get some reps in preseason games.
Redick said that James and Davis are “going to play this weekend.” After Friday, L.A.’s next preseason game will be on Sunday versus the Phoenix Suns.
With preseason games coming on Friday and Sunday in Palm Springs, JJ Redick said LeBron and AD are “going to play this weekend”, but Redick and staff are still deciding how to optimize their playing time to build up to the regular season.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 3, 2024
In past years, James has been known to sit out numerous preseason games. He may be able to get away with sitting out one of them this year, especially since the team will play a back-to-back set in two weeks, but he needs to be out there enough for everyone to develop enough chemistry to be ready for opening night.