JJ Redick said that he was monitoring Luka Doncic’s workload during the preseason as the point guard sat out the Los Angeles Lakers’ matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
Doncic is set to sit the first two preseason games for the Lakers.
“Our expectation, Luka will play in the preseason,” said Redick following the Lakers’ 103-81 loss. “We’re gonna use next week to continue to just get him in a good spot, with his body and his energy and all that stuff.
“He was great the first two days at camp, (but) it was a lot. I think it made sense, given his workload this summer, to just kind of pull back. And he’s in a great place physically and mentally.”
LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber also missed Friday night’s game.
Redick said he was focused on improving the team’s communication and conditioning throughout the season.
“Those habits of communication and shape, particularly for a new group, those things take time … the hope is that after 195 days from the start of training camp to the end of the regular season that we’ve stacked enough good days for all of those things. There will be accountability to all of those things. But we’re not expecting it overnight.”