Lakers Stumble Without LeBron as Warriors and Jimmy Butler Steal the Spotlight
Jimmy Butler shines in Warriors debut while Luka Dončić’s 43-point night can’t save the LeBron-less Lakers in an emotional 119–109 opener.
Los Angeles, October 22 EST: The lights were bright, the crowd was hungry, the banners shimmered like gold in the rafters and yet, LeBron James’ empty seat on the bench said everything. The Los Angeles Lakers, without their north star, opened their new era with a familiar heartbreak: a 119–109 loss to the Golden State Warriors, a team that once again reminded the league that muscle memory and pride are worth a dozen training camps.
A Statement from the Old Guard
It wasn’t subtle. Jimmy Butler marched into Crypto.com Arena like a man with something to prove, and by the time he checked out, he had 31 points, a handful of snarls, and an entire arena’s respect. His first game in a Warriors jersey looked less like an introduction and more like a takeover.
And then there was Stephen Curry, still smooth, still devastating, still Steph dropping 23 points, smiling like he already knew how the third quarter would go before it started. Because when it did? Boom. An 18–4 run. The Warriors turned the Lakers’ halftime optimism into a smoldering pile of turnovers and long faces.
The San Francisco Chronicle nailed it: Jonathan Kuminga looked “ready for the spotlight.” No kidding. He flew around like a man who’d been waiting two years to show this version of himself 19 points, swagger intact, patience gone. The once-overlooked kid from Congo played like he’d finally kicked the door down.
Luka’s Lone Fire
Let’s be clear: Luka Dončić didn’t come here to lose. The man dropped 43 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, and if basketball were a solo act, he’d have walked out with the trophy. But basketball isn’t poetry it’s a chorus. And when Luka sang, no one harmonized.
Without LeBron, the Lakers’ offense looked like a band without its drummer. The rhythm was off. The timing, worse. Deandre Ayton’s debut was supposed to give the team balance, a reliable finisher, a modern big to replace the ghost of Anthony Davis. Instead, Ayton stumbled through the motions 10 points, six boards, four turnovers, and a handful of frustrated glances from teammates who couldn’t figure out where he wanted the ball.
To his credit, Ayton didn’t duck from it. “I’m probably a confusing big,” he told Fadeaway World, which might be the most self-aware thing he’s said in months. But awareness doesn’t erase bad spacing or missed rolls.
Redick’s Rough Start
First-year head coach JJ Redick looked like a man trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces. He called the third quarter “terrible” and that’s putting it mildly. The Lakers came out of halftime like they’d forgotten there was another half to play. Every misread turned into a Golden State fast break. Every turnover felt like déjà vu.
The Los Angeles Times summed it up best: “New faces, same problems.” And that’s the part that stings for Lakers fans. Because this team new coach, new center, new co-star was supposed to look new. But when it mattered, the same script rolled out: blown leads, disjointed sets, frustrated stars staring at the scoreboard as the clock ran down.
The Missing King
No LeBron. No leadership, no spacing, no voice in the huddle. His absence wasn’t just medical it was emotional. For the first time in 23 seasons, the man missed opening night, nursing a sciatic nerve flare-up that has no firm timetable for return, per AP News.
Without him, the Lakers looked like they were auditioning for an identity. Austin Reaves couldn’t find his rhythm. Gabe Vincent couldn’t buy a shot. The swagger evaporated the minute Golden State turned up the defensive pressure.
Luka tried to fill the void, barking at teammates, waving his arms in disgust when a pass sailed wide, but this was LeBron’s stage and without him, the moment swallowed them whole.
Warriors Reborn
Let’s give it up for the other side. The Warriors might’ve looked tired on paper, but on the floor they looked alive. Draymond Green was barking again, orchestrating the chaos, holding everything together like a guy who refuses to let the dynasty die quietly.
And Jimmy Butler my God, what a fit. You could feel it. The snarls, the fouls he drew, the way he slowed the pace when the Lakers started running that’s leadership you can’t teach. As TalkSport pointed out, the Curry-Butler chemistry looked instant, like they’d already been through wars together.
You could see it in Curry’s grin when Butler hit a late-game three and turned to the bench. This wasn’t nostalgia. This was a reboot with purpose.
Early Lessons, Familiar Pain
For the Lakers, this isn’t the end of the world but it’s a gut check. Dončić said it himself postgame: “That was on me. I’ve got to get Deandre more touches.” Fair. But touches won’t fix timing, and chemistry doesn’t grow overnight.
Redick’s next job? Find some accountability and pace before Minnesota rolls in later this week. Because right now, the Lakers look like a team still in rehearsal and the league doesn’t wait for opening-night nerves to fade.
As for Golden State? Don’t call it a comeback just yet. But watching Butler flex, Curry laugh, and Kuminga explode off the floor you could feel a flicker of that old fire. And for the first time in a while, the Warriors looked like they might just believe again.
So yeah, it’s only game one. But it sure didn’t feel like one. It felt like the passing of a torch from the star who wasn’t there, to the ones who refused to fade.
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A former college-level cricketer and lifelong sports enthusiast, Arun Upadhayay brings the heart of an athlete to the sharp eye of a journalist. With firsthand experience in competitive sports and a deep understanding of team dynamics, Arun covers everything from grassroots tournaments to high-stakes international showdowns. His reporting blends field-level grit with analytical precision, making him a trusted voice for sports fans across New Jersey and beyond.
