With Ayton manning the middle, the Lakers will start five-time All-NBA First Team superstar point guard Luka Doncic (who was, until February, a Maverick) and shooting guard Austin Reaves in the backcourt, plus small forward Rui Hachimura and 21-time All-NBA power forward LeBron James in the frontcourt.

The Los Angeles Lakers will use their normal home court for their NBA Cup game against Dallas on Friday after Luka Doncic complained about the condition of their league-issued special tournament court.

The Los Angeles Lakers' court for the NBA Cup is a late scratch for Friday's game.

A missive from five-time All-NBA First Team Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic may have prompted a big change from the league, prior to the Lakers' Emirates N

The Lakers will not use their special NBA Cup court during a group stage game Friday against the Mavericks after the team flagged concerns that it was too slippery.

The Los Angeles Lakers' NBA Cup court was deemed unplayable by technicians after Luka Doncic called it out for being a "dangerous" surface.