- Oct 16, 2026
- 0
- 0
Lakers coach JJ Redick unveiled an unexpected starting five Friday, benching projected starter Quentin Grimes in favor of Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle alongside Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler.
Redick had offered what he called a "tongue-in-cheek promise" that the Lakers would not field an all-white starting unit, a remark that hinted at possible lineup variations. Grimes will now spell Dončić or Reaves to maintain two capable ballhandlers on the court.
The experimental group struggled from the opening tip against the Nuggets. With Collin Sexton unavailable, the Lakers were forced to dig deeper into bench ballhandling options, including Bronny James, whose minutes have "gone poorly."
Opponents are expected to blitz Dončić and Reaves in ball-screen situations while sagging off Williams and Thybulle to clog the paint. The pair must convert enough three-pointers to command defensive respect. Whether Redick will gamble on this configuration when the regular season begins remains uncertain.
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).