The 2025 offseason will be a complete transformation for the Lakers’ Luka Doncic. After receiving criticism for his weight and diet, Doncic is determined to make changes before the 2025-26 season.
That’s exactly what Doncic can accomplish this summer. His conditioning and diet were taken to another level. Luka Doncic is in his best form since entering the league as a rookie in 2018-19. The five-time All-Star missed Los Angeles’ first three preseason games due to rest. Luka Doncic will make his 2025-26 Lakers preseason debut against the Suns on Tuesday, October 14th.
Luka Doncic will play in his first Lakers preseason game on Tuesday night
🚨 Luka Doncic is scheduled to take the court tomorrow to make his preseason debut against Phoenix
pass: @McTen pic.twitter.com/sQlp2tQ1wt
— LakesMuse (@LALMuse) October 13, 2025
The Lakers will host the Suns on the road on Tuesday night in their fourth preseason game of the 2025-26 season. Los Angeles is 1-2 in three games. The team has already lost Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Doncic is coming off a month-long run with Slovenia at the European Championships. As a team, the Lakers are very cautious with Doncic. They’re not going to rush him back just to play in the preseason. However, the 26-year-old is healthy and will make his preseason debut when the Lakers take on the Suns.
This is Luka’s first full season with the Lakers after the big trade in 2024-25. Head coach JJ Redick noted that Donik will play in two of the team’s final three preseason games. Los Angeles will play a neutral site game against the Mavericks on 10/15 before hosting the Kings on 10/17. Given that Dallas will be playing back-to-back games, Doncic likely won’t play on Wednesday.
BREAKING NEWS: Marcus Smart and Luka Doncic will debut in Tuesday’s preseason game against Suns, JJ Redick reports pic.twitter.com/EVZIVJKbvg
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) October 13, 2025
JJ Redick said Doncic’s minutes will “increase” in his first and second preseason games. The head coach noted that the team will work with Doncic’s coach Javi Barrio to determine Doncic’s playing time. Along with Doncic, Marcus Smart will make his preseason debut for the Lakers on Tuesday night.
Smart signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract with Los Angeles. He is worth $5.3 million in the 2025-26 season, while Smart has a player option of $5.9 million in the 2026-27 season. Marcus Smart missed the Lakers’ first three preseason games with Achilles tendinopathy. The Lakers opener on Tuesday, October 21 at home against the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers have a 1-6 record in first games over the past seven seasons.
