JJ Redick looks “confident” at Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves

LOS ANGELES – S LeBron James did not start the 2025/26 season due to a nerve injurymost of the playing and ball handling duties for Los Angeles Lakers will fall on Luka Doncic will fall on Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves. After Doncic played the first three preseason games, the duo made their first start together on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns.

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves each had 25 points during the Lakers’ preseason game against the Suns, showing just how effective the pair can be to start the regular season without James in the lineup. Before the Lakers’ final preseason game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, head coach JJ Redick talked about pairings and how impactful they can be.

“They’re both just dynamic offensive players. I talk about Austin’s ability to play on and off the ball all the time, but his ability to touch the paint, draw fouls, Luka’s ability to draw two, the whole staff, their teammates, they feel really confident that those two guys have the ball,” Redick said.

“And I think last year was a great first run for those guys playing together,” Redick continued. “And I think this year will be better because there’s a level of comfort and continuity with those two.”

When the Lakers traded Doncic before last season’s deadline, he stepped in as a guard next to Reaves as a point guard. Doncic has always been an elite playmaker since coming to the NBA, and Reaves has steadily become one of the better playmakers in the league.

Doncic and Reaves played a total of 26 regular season games together. During that stretch, Reaves average 21.0 points4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists, according to StatMuse. Doncic average 28.1 points8.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists.

During the playoffs, Doncic averaged 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 34.8 percent from the three-point line and 89.1 percent from the free throw line. Reaves averaged 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 41.1 percent from the field, 31.9 percent from the three-point line and 85.7 percent from the free throw line.

The Lakers will open the 2025/26 season next week on Tuesday, October 21 at home against the Golden State Warriors.