Dončić Urges Lakers to Boost Physicality After Preseason Struggles Ahead of Season Opener

Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up their preseason with a close 116–117 loss to the Sacramento Kings, finishing their preparation with a record of 1–5.

The Slovenian sensation showcased another impressive outing, scoring 31 points and dishing out nine assists. In the aftermath of the game, he shared his thoughts on the team’s performance and the areas that require attention as they gear up for the 2025/26 season.

“Clearly, practice sessions differ from games. I believe we exhibit more physicality during practice. We definitely need to enhance our physical play,” Luka remarked during the post-game press conference.

He further emphasized that there are still improvements to be made, particularly with LeBron James currently recovering from an injury.

“There are times when we’ll have fewer players on the court and other times when we’ll have more. We have some areas to polish up — particularly in terms of physicality,” he stated.

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to kick off the season against the Golden State Warriors on October 21.