The Lakers’ 7-0 run and 11-2 start still have them sitting on top of the Western Conference, but Wednesday night in Milwaukee came with a couple of nervous moments that quickly shifted the conversation from another win to the health of Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.
Reaves was the bigger concern after he came down awkwardly on his left leg following a dunk and was listed with a left heel injury. The initial fear was that he might have hurt his Achilles, but head coach JJ Redick shut that down after the game, saying it was not an Achilles issue and that the X-rays came back clear.
The update got a little more encouraging on Thursday. After practice, Redick said Reaves is now “day-to-day” and added that the Lakers will list his status for Sunday’s game against the Phoenix Suns on the injury report.
Doncic, meanwhile, appears to have avoided anything serious with the ankle tweak he picked up on a play where former Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma may have been a little too close on the landing. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Doncic woke up with no pain in his ankle.
Redick echoed that optimism, saying Doncic is fine and that the expectation is he’ll be on the floor Sunday in Phoenix. That would put him in line for the final game of the Lakers’ four-game road trip at Mortgage Matchup Center.
For now, the bigger question mark is Reaves, especially with the team still waiting on a clearer read before the trip wraps up.
In Other News...
Lakers Rookie Suddenly Looks Like A Real Fit Next To Luka And Reaves
Arthur Kalumas strong summer has earned him a real foothold with the Lakers, enough to turn a promising camp run into a two-way contract and a longer look in the organization. The undrafted rookie forward impressed during NBA Summer League play, then got into preseason action as the team sorted out its back end of the roster and looked for players who could stay ready for bigger opportunities.
For now, Kaluma is expected to do most of his development work with the Coachella Valley Lakers while remaining on call for the NBA club, which is exactly the kind of path a young player has to embrace in a crowded system. He has not played in a regular-season game yet, but the early signs suggest the Lakers see a useful blend of energy and adaptability, the sort of profile that can matter when a team is trying to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. [Read more 🡒]
Bronny James Is Facing A Lakers Decision Fans Never Expected
The Lakers strong start has not stopped the conversation around the back end of the roster, where every minute and every mistake is getting magnified. NBA insider Jovan Buha recently raised the question of whether Bronny James should keep his spot, pointing to the guards limited production and the uneven play that has drawn criticism from some of the teams reserves in late-game situations.
Los Angeles has opened 11-2, so the focus has shifted from survival to fit, and that is where the discussion gets uncomfortable. Buha argued the Lakers could use a steadier ball-handler, which is why the idea of bringing in a more established veteran has entered the conversation while James remains under the microscope for what he has, and has not, provided so far. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Hot Start Puts One More Defense-First Move In Focus
The Lakers strong start has only sharpened the focus on how they want to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and defense remains the clearest priority. With the team already leaning into a more balanced identity, any move that adds a versatile stopper naturally gets attention, especially when it could help shore up the kind of perimeter resistance that matters most in the West.
One name now circulating in that conversation is Derrick Jones Jr., a familiar face to Doncic from their run together in the 2024 Finals. The Clippers could be willing to listen if Jones wants a change of scenery, which gives the Lakers a potential opening if they decide the fit is worth pursuing, and it is easy to see why a defender with that kind of athletic profile would appeal to a team trying to keep its early momentum going. [Read more 🡒]