Doncic Emphasizes Next Man Up Mentality Amid LeBrons Absence as Lakers Seek Unity

LeBron James is set to be sidelined for a minimum of a month, but the Lakers are not focusing on his absence.

Luka Doncic, on the other hand, believes this development won’t significantly alter the team’s overall dynamic.

“It’s a significant adjustment,” Doncic remarked regarding playing without James. “He’s an exceptional player who contributes a lot. Nonetheless, we need to adopt a ‘next man up’ mentality. We’ve got a solid group that has been practicing together, and we hope to have LeBron back with us soon. We will certainly need him, but we must stick to the ‘next man up’ approach. That’s the bottom line.”

When questioned about whether he feels the need to step up in James’ absence, the Slovenian star asserted that this isn’t his perspective.

“I don’t see it that way,” Doncic said after practice on Saturday. “I just want to play basketball. Whether I do less or more, I’m focused on whatever it takes to secure a victory.”

Currently, without both James and Doncic, the Lakers have failed to win in the preseason, holding a record of 0-2 against the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors.

“I played with the national team,” Doncic shared about his current form. “I spent about a month playing basketball. It’s a long season ahead, so that’s just part of it.”