Why is Luka Doncic not playing for Lakers against Suns? LA star sidelined for preseason game explored

As the LA Lakers are set to face the Phoenix Suns in their first preseason game, the team announced that Luka Doncic wouldn't suit up for the contest. According to ESPN's Mike Trudell, Doncic will sit out the first two preseason games.

The decision by the team was taken because of his recent participation in the 2025 EuroBasket. Doncic represented Slovenia in the high-profile FIBA tournament and played for over a month. Despite Doncic putting up great numbers on the offensive end, Slovenia lost to Germany in the quarterfinals.

Luka Doncic was expected to suit up for the first game and play limited minutes. He joins four other Lakers players who have been listed out from the first game. As per ESPN, Doncic's fellow superstar, LeBron James, was out with a nerve irritation in his glute. Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber and rookie Adou Thiero have also been ruled out with injuries.

After their first preseason game against the Suns on Friday, the Lakers will play two consecutive games against the Golden State Warriors from the preseason schedule. Doncic is expected to play the second preseason game against the Warriors.

In total, the Lakers will play six preseason games. They will play two games each against the Suns and the Warriors, and one game each against the Sacramento Kings and the Dallas Mavericks. They will play the Warriors in their season opener on October 21 later this month.

Austin Reaves reveals Luka Doncic offensive game that made him dangerous

Luka Doncic is one of the best scorers in the NBA, if not the best. After playing alongside him for a few months, Lakers star Austin Reaves figured out what made his teammate so lethal on the offensive end.

"He's really strong. ... His strength is very underrated," Reaves said on "The Young Man and The Three" podcast on Friday.

Reavs revealed the first-time experience of one of the Lakers' assistant coaches. After the practice, Reaves said that the assistant coach told him that his "ribs were f**ked up." However, for the Lakers shooting guard, there were other aspects of Luka Doncic's game that made him so dangerous with basketball.

"His ability to stop and be on balance is like one of one. And then the bumps and shots fakes. ... And then a basketball IQ, when you're able to make any pass in basketball, that makes you harder to guard as a scorer," Reaves added.

With a transformed physique, Luka Doncic could be entering arguably his best NBA season. Just a month ago, Doncic averaged 34.7 points and 7.1 assists in the 2025 EuroBasket.