43+12+9! Doncic appears to have a groin injury! The Lakers enter a new era once again

LeBron missing due to injury cast a shadow over the Lakers vs. Warriors season opener, with him staring blankly at the team's deficit, seeming a bit downcast, leaving everyone wondering about his thoughts...

At the conclusion of the game,the Warriors beat the Lakers 119-109 to claim the opening victory of the season.

Four Warriors players scored in double digits,Butler was perfect from the line with 16-for-16, tallying 31 points along with 5 rebounds and 4 assists, Curry scored 23 points with 4 assists, Kuminga contributed 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Hield added 17 points.

Undoubtedly, acquiring Butler from the Heat has been one of the Warriors’ most successful trades in recent years, as last season proved, and this season they are clearly continuing to push forward.

Surprisingly, Kuminga started the game while Horford came off the bench, which was quite unexpected. In his debut for the Warriors, NBA champion and All-Star big man Horford played about 20 minutes, shooting 2-for-7 and finishing with 5 points and 5 rebounds.

As for the Lakers,Doncic shot 17 of 27, an efficient roughly 63% shooting, racking up a near triple-double with 43 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists, losing weight really made a difference, boosting his performance; Reaves shot 9 of 16, contributing 26 points and 9 assists for a near double-double, though he committed 5 turnovers.

Statistics show Doncic became only the third player in Lakers history to score 40+ points in a season opener, joining legends Kobe and Baylor, but unfortunately, the team couldn’t secure the win and ended up empty-handed.

What’s worrying is that medical expert Evan Jeffries statedDoncic appeared to have suffered a groin injury during this game.

Back to the point, this summer Doncic signed a three-year, $165 million max contract extension with the Lakers, and nearly simultaneously the Lakers’ management and coaching staff promised he would be the absolute core of the team; LeBron’s contract this season pays him $52.63 million, while Reaves might decline his player option next summer to enter free agency.

Simply put, the 25-26 season is very likely the last year the Lakers will build around the trio of Doncic, LeBron, and Reaves; after next summer, only Doncic will remain. According to earlier reports, the Lakers plan a major move in the summer of 2027, aiming to pair Doncic with either Giannis or Jokic to quickly restore the purple and gold’s glory.

In summary, cherish this Lakers season as the countdown officially begins with the opening game!