Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick signaled uncertainty over the team’s starting lineup for the regular season following the conclusion of their final preseason game on Friday night. Facing the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena, Redick deployed a starting five that included Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Walker Kessler, leaving out Quentin Grimes, who had started the first four preseason contests.
When questioned about whether this lineup would carry into the Lakers' season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Redick refrained from making a definitive commitment. “I know that there’s a chance Quentin is gonna have an opportunity to start,” Redick said, noting that the team planned to use this lineup specifically because Collin Sexton was out due to injury. “We just wanna get a look on that tonight, and we’ll see. But nothing definitive for next week.”
Grimes, who has averaged 12.3 points and 2.5 assists while shooting 53.3% overall, including 41.2% from three-point range during roughly 24 minutes per game in the preseason, remains a key figure in the Lakers’ rotation. Despite not starting Friday, he entered the second half and added 11 points in the 121-106 loss to Denver.
Redick commented on the ongoing search for optimal lineup balance, particularly highlighting the role of the fourth ballhandler, an area the team has identified as needing improvement. “That fourth ballhandler for us hasn’t been great,” Redick said. “I don’t say anything out here that I don’t tell my players. So Quentin is also going to maybe have some looks as a ballhandler.”
In Grimes’ five NBA seasons, he has primarily come off the bench, starting 146 of 318 games. Redick acknowledged that Grimes will likely start a significant number of games this season, though the exact configuration of the starting group remains undecided. “I don’t know who our base starting group is yet, but we’re going to look at this tonight,” he said.
Regarding the injury situation, Sexton has missed the entire preseason recovering from a lower right leg injury but has recently increased his practice workload. Redick described Sexton’s progress as positive, adding, “He continues to trend in the right direction.” Additionally, forwards Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr were sidelined Friday due to maintenance and a contusion, respectively.
On Friday, Doncic scored 15 points before sitting out the second half, while Reaves led the team with 19 points. Williams contributed 14 points, Kessler six, and Thybulle seven in the preseason finale. As the Lakers finalize their roster and rotations ahead of the regular season, questions remain surrounding the starting lineup and the distribution of ballhandling duties.