Lakers vs. Kings Preview: The long wait ends

EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Collin Sexton #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to the media during NBA Media Day on September 28, 2026 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

At last, the Lakers will play their first preseason game on Monday against the Kings in Sacramento. It will be the front end of a back-to-back and the first of three games in four days this week.

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings

When: 7:00 p.m. PT

Where: Golden 1 Center

Watch: NBA TV

After lots of talk during training camp, the Lakers finally take the court on Monday to kickstart a busy week of preseason action.

Despite controlling their own scheduling, LA will open with a back-to-back this week before playing a third game on Thursday. It’s a bizarre choice, and one that head coach JJ Redick doesn’t seem to love, but it will give fans plenty to digest in a short period of time.

It also means, however, that there will very likely not be full rosters available for any of these games. In previous preseasons, the team has played their superstars in just one of the three games. With a younger team looking to build chemistry, perhaps that changes. But there is a precedent of how things could play out.

Still, starting on Monday, we’ll have our first chance to see lots of new players donning the purple and gold for the first time.

• Because it’s the preseason, teams are not required to release injury reports, meaning we almost certainly won’t know who is and isn’t playing until the pregame pressers for coaches.
• We have an exciting new feature in our app this season. It’s easier than ever to chat in our game threads. Each game, this post will become a live chat and will be easy to find at the top of the Lakers community page, so be sure to download the app and give it a try this preseason!

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.