- Recapping the Lakers’ wildly successful offseason and an in-depth preview of the upcoming 2023-24 NBA campaign
- Report: Golden State Warriors turn down signing Dwight Howard in favor of extra wing
- Shams mentions Lakers as he lists potentials landing spots for Buddy Hield
- Jason Kidd dishes on Kobe Bryant inspiring him to create basketball program for young women
- Jeanie Buss speaks out on death threats she got when Lakers were struggling last season before trade deadline
- Orlando Magic head coach says Paolo Banchero is combination of LeBron James, Jayson Tatum and Carmelo Anthony
- Chandler Jones brings LeBron James into the equation as he continues bizarre barrage of messages
- Damian Lillard claps back at haters who discredit Lakers 2020 bubble title: ‘Everybody else had the same opportunity’
- LeBron James sends prayers to Nick Chubb after Browns RB suffers devastating injury
- Report: Lakers waive guard ahead of training camp
Report: Several key Lakers to miss preseason opener vs. Nets
- Updated: October 1, 2021
When the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Brooklyn Nets in their first preseason game, fans won’t be seeing the Lakers trio of LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Trevor Ariza.
Frank says Russ/Bron/Melo/Trevor Ariza will not play on Sunday. Anthony Davis will play "likely just the first quarter."
Trevor Ariza missed practice again today.
— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) October 1, 2021
The absence of Ariza is simply an effort to make sure that he fully recovers from an ankle injury, while James and Westbrook are getting some time off in preparation for the start of the regular season.
Given the Lakers’ veteran-laden roster, it makes no sense to have players risk injury in what serves as merely the first of multiple tuneups for this year’s schedule.
The Lakers watched their chances of winning back-to-back titles disappear last season because of injuries. One of those key injuries was to Anthony Davis, which is why he’s likely to see only limited time on the court.
In the case of Carmelo Anthony, his status for this game is largely unimportant, though Frank Vogel’s expectations of the veteran could be interesting to follow over the course of the year.
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