With opening night of the 2023-24 regular season just hours away for the Los Angeles Lakers, perhaps the biggest question hanging over the team is what its starting lineup will look like when it plays the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Namely, who will be its fifth starter?
D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves will be the Lakers’ starting backcourt, and, of course, LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be two other starters.
The candidates for their third and final frontcourt starter have been forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who held the spot for much of last season after arriving in the Russell Westbrook trade, newcomer Taurean Prince and Rui Hachimura. Prince started the Lakers’ last five preseason games, partly because Vanderbilt missed all those contests with a heel ailment.
Head coach Darvin Ham has confirmed that Prince will be the team’s fifth starter, at least for opening night on Tuesday.
Darvin Ham says Taurean Prince will start on opening night. Calls the start “circumstantial.” Jarred Vanderbilt remains day to day with his heel but Ham says “in all likelihood” Vando will not be available on Tuesday.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 21, 2023
It remains to be seen how long Prince will retain his starting spot, especially once Vanderbilt is cleared to return to game action.