Camp day one: El Segundo, private sessions
Training camp opens Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the UCLA Health Training Center after Monday’s player media day. Workouts are private; the public window was yesterday’s podium. The club carries a 21-man camp group (16 standard contracts plus two-ways and Exhibit 10s) and must get to 15 by the Oct. 21 opener vs Golden State.
AP / NBA.com (Beacham, Sept. 28–29) · Yahoo Sports (Benjamin, Sept. 29) · LA Times (Turner, Sept. 28)
Dončić: healthy, honored, co-leading with Reaves
Luka Dončić told reporters he enters camp with no restrictions after the left hamstring strain that ended his 2025-26 season (missed the final five regular-season games and all of the playoffs; last NBA game April 2). He said he rehabbed carefully in Europe so he would be ready when camp opened.
On the post-LeBron role: “It’s like a new challenge. I like challenges… I wouldn’t say I feel different, but I would say I feel honored.” He also said he feels “great… excited… ready to go.” Austin Reaves framed leadership as one-on-ones first, group voice when needed—not copying James or Dončić. Jake LaRavia described them as easy co-leads: Dončić by example, Reaves more vocal. The August Slovenia trip remains the chemistry exhibit (golf, bowling, rowing, pickup).
Stats context from LA Times / AP: Dončić led the NBA in scoring last season at 33.5 PPG (also 8.3 APG, 7.7 RPG); Reaves career-highs 23.2 PPG / 4.7 RPG. Reaves’ June deal is cited by the Times as four years, $180 million (undrafted-player record)—treat earlier ~$185M figures as reporting variance.
LA Times · AP / NBA.com · NBC Los Angeles · Lakers Daily
Grimes wants a start; two spots still open
Redick has locked three starters—Dončić / Reaves / Kessler—and left two open for camp and a five-game preseason (Sacramento ×2, Golden State ×2, Denver ×1).
Quentin Grimes said he wants to start and is ready to earn it (Hoops Rumors citing Dan Woike; Yahoo paraphrases “100 percent wants to start”). He also stressed defensive pride and guarding the other team’s best (CBS / Lakers Nation notes). Jake LaRavia said he is fine starting or coming off the bench. Columnist projections often put Grimes and LaRavia in the other two spots, with Sexton / Williams as alternatives—projection, not a Redick announcement.
Hoops Rumors (Cohen, Sept. 28) · Yahoo Sports · Silver Screen & Roll · CBS Sports
Health notes & Kessler ask
Beyond Dončić’s clearance: Kevon Looney said he is healthy with no restrictions (Hoops Rumors / Khobi Price); Matisse Thybulle said he feels great after limited availability the last two seasons in Portland. Dončić told AP he had advocated for Walker Kessler—rim protection plus improved offense—and called it “an amazing fit.”
Yahoo Sports · AP / NBA.com · Hoops Rumors
16→15 and the camp roster
Sixteen guaranteed standard contracts; league max 15 by opening night. Pelinka last week left room for a two-out, one-in consolidation trade while competition plays out. Yahoo frames Bronny James / Dalton Knecht / Jaden Hardy among the last-slot competitors and floats Knecht–Vanderbilt (or similar) as possible trade pairs—reporter speculation, not a club announcement.
Camp depth still includes Exhibit 10 forwards William Kyle III and Cole Swider (signed after waiving Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross). Two-ways reported as Arthur Kaluma, Chris Mañon, AK Okerie.
Ownership: still pending
Mark Walter → Joshua Kushner / Bob Iger at a reported ~$12.5B valuation remains unapproved—no Board of Governors vote yet. Day-to-day ops unchanged per Pelinka’s prior remarks. Jeanie Buss remains governor pending the family stake fight (hearing framed Dec. 8 in prior reporting). Treat sale as pending, not closed.
Lakers Nation · prior Pelinka comments via Lakers Nation
Watch next
- First full camp practices this week (private).
- Preseason: Oct. 5 at Sacramento; opener framed Oct. 21 vs Golden State.
- Two open starter spots; 16→15 / possible consolidation trade through opening night.
- Kushner/Iger: next BOG window; Dec. 8 Buss stake hearing.