Lakers Reveal Bronny James Update Ahead of Kings Matchup
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to face the Sacramento Kings in their final preseason game. The matchup will take place on Friday, following a challenging preseason where the Lakers hold a 1-4 record, while the Kings are 0-3. This game is crucial for the Lakers as they prepare for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA regular season.
Lakers Missing Key Players
Unfortunately for the Lakers, they will be without two significant contributors: LeBron James and Bronny James. LeBron James is sidelined due to right-side sciatica. The team announced he will be evaluated in the coming weeks, with hopes of a mid-November return.
Bronny James, the second-year guard, is dealing with an ankle sprain. His status is being managed on a day-to-day basis, and he was ruled out for Wednesday’s preseason game. With Friday’s contest being his last opportunity for exhibition play, his absence is notable.
Impact of Player Absences
The Lakers have struggled to find consistency during the preseason, largely due to injuries. Aside from LeBron, other starters such as Deandre Ayton and Austin Reaves have had limited playing time. This has forced the team to rely on depth players including:
- Gabe Vincent
- Jarred Vanderbilt
- Jake LaRavia
Despite the preseason outcomes not impacting standings, the absence of LeBron and Bronny reminds fans of the team’s struggles to gain momentum.
Looking Ahead to the Regular Season
The Lakers will open the regular season at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, October 21, against the Golden State Warriors. With LeBron unavailable, the team’s focus will shift to players like Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, and new addition Marcus Smart to carry the load.
The Warriors enter the season opener with a 3-1 preseason record. However, they have their injury concerns as well, particularly with forward Jimmy Butler. Despite this, Butler, Draymond Green, and guard Steph Curry are expected to be ready for the opener.
As the Lakers approach the start of the new season, the performance in the matchup against the Kings will be closely watched, particularly in light of the ongoing injury situation.
