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[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Luka Doncic ‘Dedicated Himself To Transforming His Body’ This Offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers have been out of the playoffs for a few weeks, but Luka Doncic still had social media buzzing on Sunday when he showed up to Real Madrid’s game and appeared to be in great shape.

Doncic’s body and conditioning was a big topic of conversation this past season as it was the main reason the Dallas Mavericks shockingly decided to trade him to the Lakers. Luka has dealt with some calf injuries in recent years and has struggled to stay in good shape, which also led to some criticism for the Slovenian superstar when he and the rest of the Lakers ran out of gas in the fourth quarters of their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

JJ Redick said afterwards that the goal for this offseason is for players to get into “championship shape,” and Doncic seems to be on board with that.

According to Martin Pavcnik of Sportklub, Doncic is staying out of the spotlight for now and is working hard behind the scenes to transform his body:

No public appearance is expected for several weeks. You will also search in vain for clues about sports activities on social networks, and even those close to him have fallen silent at his initiative. But the fact is that he has already started working. It is as if, away from the cameras and attention, he is preparing a sharp response – both to the unfortunate past season, which was marked by a wide range of health problems and an unplanned move from Dallas, and to all the criticism. There was not a few of these, also due to his faltering fitness and allegedly unsportsmanlike life.

In the first phase of the long period between the seasons, Dončić, now without basketball, dedicated himself to transforming his body in Ljubljana, which includes both guided indoor conditioning and a modified diet. The first physical results are already very clearly visible, and the measurement results are also encouraging, but the time for real answers will come under the basket.

The Lakers were eliminated less than a month ago, but Doncic already looks to be making significant progress in his body transformation as was evidenced by how he looked at the Real Madrid game.

Doncic is easily one of the best players on earth but this body transformation may be the final step in taking him over the hump to being perhaps the best player and a future NBA Champion with the Lakers.

With Doncic expected to play for the Slovenian National Team later this summer, it will be interesting to see just how much progress he’s made and how much it affects him on the court.

This isn’t the first report about Luka Doncic’s transformation​

All of the reports about Luka Doncic’s offseason have been positive as it recently also came out that the Lakers star is “changing a lot about himself” in order to be the best player he can be.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...self-to-transforming-his-body-this-offseason/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Markieff Morris Reacts To Luka Doncic Weight Loss

Luka Doncic is coming off a humbling season after unexpectedly getting traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers.

In the aftermath of the blockbuster deal, the Mavericks made it clear that they didn’t think Luka’s work ethic and conditioning were good enough to build around him long-term.

Then after a first-round playoff exit, Doncic was again the subject of a lot of scrutiny for his poor defense and conditioning against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

It appears Doncic took all of that criticism to heart as he showed up to Real Madrid’s basketball game on Sunday and looked like he was in great shape. Reports then came out from Slovenia that Doncic is using this offseason to transform his body and get in better shape.

One Lakers player who knows Luka better than anyone is Markieff Morris after playing with him in Dallas and coming over in the trade. Morris appeared on ESPN’s First Take on Monday morning and defended Doncic while reacting to the photos that emerged on Sunday:

“That’s my guy, Luka. Like Stephen A. said, that regiment in the season you would think we’re in better shape because of the season, but when you’re eating hotel food, you’re getting in at 3 o’clock in the morning in different cities, you have to eat at 4 o’clock in the morning with a back-to-back. All that stuff takes a toll on your body. The stress of being in a long season, the stress of being traded mid-season. It’s just the things he went through last year. He’s back in Madrid, I know how he likes Madrid, we were in Madrid last year with the team. He’s back in his environment, he’s having a great time, and right now I don’t even think he’s worried about anything. I just think he’s happy this season is over. I don’t think he’s happy how this season ended, but I think he’s happy it’s over. He’s going to regroup. Like Stephen A. said, when you’re in the summer, you’re eating that good food, you got that regiment, you got that chef, anything is possible when it comes to losing weight.”

Doncic is one of the best players in the NBA and that doesn’t happen without a strong work ethic. With him being called into question though, it’s nice to see someone like Morris who was in the gym with Doncic every day this past season come to his defense.

It remains to be seen how Doncic will look when training camp rolls around, but all indications are that he is off to a great start to the summer and should continue improving his conditioning as time goes on.

NBA rookies give Luka Doncic more motivation​

As if Luka Doncic wasn’t motivated enough going into the offseason, a video recently emerged of 2025 NBA Draft prospects picking between the Lakers star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards. All of them had Doncic ranked last, which is certainly recency bias but also the reality of where things stand for the Slovenian guard coming off the season he had.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-markieff-morris-reacts-to-luka-doncic-weight-loss/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: LeBron James Likely To Pick Up Player Option For 2025-26 Season

After wrapping up his 22nd season in the NBA, LeBron James has some decisions to make when it comes to his future with the Los Angeles Lakers and in the league overall.

James was noncommittal about returning for a 23rd season and eight in L.A. after the Lakers were eliminated from the postseason, wanting to take time to talk it over with him family before making any decisions.

LeBron has a player option for the 2025-26 season worth $52.6 million that he has to make a decision on by June 29. If he picks that up then he will be under contract for another season with the Lakers. If he declines it though, he will become an unrestricted free agent where he can negotiate a new deal with L.A. or other teams.

While no decision has been made official with still a month to go until the deadline, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on the Pat McAfee Show that James is likely to pick up that player option:

“I’m told he’s likely to opt in. He’s got a player option of about $54 million, a massive player option. That’s likely. That’s the plan. But again, his option date is June 29. So he still has about a month to figure it out. He still has to have some hard conversations that are gonna happen between him and the Lakers to see what this team looks like. Because listen, LeBron James, whether he plays one more season or a few more seasons, he wants to be in a competitive environment. And I said it when I came on when their season ended, he’s probably gonna opt in because the option is so big and then that gives you flexibility to figure out, do you extend off that number, or this is the final year if this is the last hurrah essentially. Year 23 for No. 23, they have All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. So to me, it’s very storybook if that’s the way it goes. But, that’s a decision that he’s gotta make.”

Rob Pelinka has made it clear that the Lakers want to put together a roster to James’ liking, so they clearly are under the impression that he will be back for at least one more season.

At this stage of his career though, LeBron is only in the business of competing for championships so what moves Pelinka is able to make could play a big factor in what the 40-year-old ultimately decides to do this summer.

If James picks up his player option and doesn’t take a discount though, which is the current expectation, then the Lakers only spending power in free agency would be minimum contracts and the taxpayer mid-level exception of a little more than $5 million.

Rich Paul unsure about LeBron James’ future​

While all indications point to LeBron James returning to the Lakers, his agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports recently said he is not sure what the future will hold as far as how much longer the 21-time All-Star will play.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...-to-pick-up-player-option-for-2025-26-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Discusses Increased Physicality In Postseason

One of the things that becomes apparent every year once the playoffs start is that the officials allow for a lot more physicality. Calls that would normally be fouls in the regular season are allowed to play through and that usually benefits stronger, more physical teams as the LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers struggled with in these playoffs.

The Minnesota Timberwolves used their size and physicality to great effect against the Lakers in the first round this year, but throughout the playoffs, it always takes younger, less experienced teams some time to adjust as it is simply a different style of play in the postseason.

Of course, none of this is new to LeBron who has played more playoff games than any player in NBA history and he enjoys the physicality. On the latest episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash, the Lakers star called the postseason style of play fun, though he wishes the officials could give the players a month or so to get used to how the playoffs are called:

“If they’re going to allow it to be as physical as it is, you got to give us a little time to prepare for it… Post All-Star break is usually like 30 games left, so maybe like 12 to 15 games left for the regular season. Like a month. Give us a month to prepare for it, because it goes from 0 to 100. It goes from us to be able to no body check, no hand checking, no pushing a guy off their spot, no rerouting guys at all for 6.5-7 months and then, two months straight, have at it. No holds barred. And it’s fun. We don’t have a problem with it, it’s just a contrast of not being able to get into that flow. It’s definitely, over the last like you said, 10-15 years they’ve allowed us to do it, and it’s fun. I personally wish we could do it all year. But I also have the body makeup for it to do it all year too. It wouldn’t be beneficial to the product to, you know, run a sprint during a marathon.”

The rule changes over the years have certainly made for a more wide open product throughout the NBA, allowing this new era of stars to really shine and show off their skill level. But when things slow down in the postseason it is a massive shift and often times players struggle with that change.

As James noted, he understands why its beneficial for the league as a whole to have these rules the way they are and officiate things in that manner. But there’s a reason why so many talk about the difference in playoff basketball and only those teams who can adjust can make those deep runs.

Lakers’ LeBron James likely to pick up player option for 2025-26 season​

LeBron James and the Lakers weren’t able to match physicality in this year’s playoffs, but in all likelihood the all-time great will be back next year looking to make another run.

James is expected to pick up his player option for the 2025-26 season worth $52.6 million, though he and the Lakers will likely still have some conversations about the makeup of the team and he doesn’t have to make that decision until June 29.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-discusses-increased-physicality-in-postseason/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James To Appear In Live Taping Of ‘The Shop’ In Partnership With Fanatics

Fanatics announced a comprehensive partnership with Fulwell Entertainment’s “The Shop” at Fanatics Fest NYC, which will feature a live taping of the show headlined by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

James will host the episode alongside Paul Rivera and Maverick Carter and feature guests such as NFL legend Tom Brady, NBA All-Star Victor Wembanyama and popular Twitch streamer and online personality Kai Cenat. Fanatics Fest NYC is from June 20-22 and the live taping of “The Shop” will be on June 21.

The episode will launch on “The Shop’s” official YouTube channel on Thursday, June 26 with more episodes of the popular series to be released later this summer.

The Shop is coming to the big stage at Fanatics Fest this June. You don’t want to miss this these conversations

Tickets in bio. pic.twitter.com/KnUSkwuD3M

— Fanatics (@Fanatics) May 28, 2025

“It’s been incredible to see The Shop grow from an award-winning series into a cultural touchstone that brings audiences into the conversation and the experience. We saw that meaningful interaction with the success of The Shop’s product line launched last year and we’re always looking for new ways to bring it to life,” said Maverick Carter, co-CEO of Fulwell Entertainment and co-host of The Shop. “Fanatics Fest is the perfect partner for this first all-encompassing fan experience as they are at the intersection of sports fans and culture, just like The Shop.”

James and Carter have worked hard over the years to produce a show like “The Shop” that tackles several topics alongside athletes, artists and other celebrities. Their unique perspective offers an inside-look at how the top talents in their respective fields view the world while providing excellent content in the meantime.

Now, James will now have an opportunity to speak with Brady, Cenat and Wembanyama about a variety of subjects that fans will surely enjoy.

Aside from the live taping, fans in attendance for Fanatics Fest NYC will be treated to the true barbershop and manicure experience. They’ll also be able to purchase “The Shop” grooming products while also being afforded an opportunity to take a photo in one of the barber chairs.

LeBron James discusses increased physicality in playoffs​

LeBron James has been busy with his own podcast “Mind the Game” where he talks basketball-related items such as the increased physicality in the postseason.

“If they’re going to allow it to be as physical as it is, you got to give us a little time to prepare for it… Post All-Star break is usually like 30 games left, so maybe like 12 to 15 games left for the regular season. Like a month. Give us a month to prepare for it, because it goes from 0 to 100. It goes from us to be able to no body check, no hand checking, no pushing a guy off their spot, no rerouting guys at all for 6.5-7 months and then, two months straight, have at it. No holds barred. And it’s fun. We don’t have a problem with it, it’s just a contrast of not being able to get into that flow. It’s definitely, over the last like you said, 10-15 years they’ve allowed us to do it, and it’s fun. I personally wish we could do it all year. But I also have the body makeup for it to do it all year too. It wouldn’t be beneficial to the product to, you know, run a sprint during a marathon.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...ing-of-the-shop-in-partnership-with-fanatics/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Magic Johnson Apologizes For Underestimating Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder sent a message in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, dominating the Minnesota Timberwolves from the beginning and never letting up as they punched their ticket to the NBA Finals. As the postseason began there were some doubts about whether the Thunder were ready to make a championship run, but they have silenced those doubters, including Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson.

Last year, the Thunder had the best record in the West, but were eliminated in the second round by the Dallas Mavericks. Even though they were even more dominant this season, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capturing his first MVP Award and Jalen Williams making his first All-Star and All-NBA appearance, many still wondered if they were ready to take that leap. And Johnson has now come out and admitted he was wrong.

Following the Thunder’s Western Conference Finals victory, Magic took to social media to apologize to the Thunder for not thinking they were ready to compete for an NBA Championship:

I want to apologize to the Oklahoma City Thunder for underestimating them and not thinking they were ready to compete for a Championship.

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 29, 2025

The Lakers legend would also turn his attention to Thunder general manager Sam Presti, adding that all Thunder fans should be applauding him for the job he has done in constructing this roster:

Oklahoma City Thunder’s fan base needs to give their GM Sam Presti a standing ovation for putting together an amazing roster!

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 29, 2025

The praise from Magic towards the entire Thunder organization is well deserved. Presti did an outstanding job in adding former Lakers guard Alex Caruso and former New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein this offseason to fill the holes this roster had. Not to mention the excellent job of drafting and finding talent Presti has shown over the years and all of the extra draft capital he has acquired which has this team well set up for the future as well.

But the players had to come out and deliver and they did just that as Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren have all been outstanding while the role players like Caruso, Lu Dort and Cason Wallace have shined as well. And now they are just four wins away from the first championship in franchise history.

Lakers legend Magic Johnson congratulates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on winning award named after him​

Of course, Magic Johnson also took some time to congratulate Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on winning the Western Conference Finals MVP Award named after the Lakers legend himself.

Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.8 steals in the five-game series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-magic-johnson-apologizes-for-underestimating-thunder/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Sean McVay Appreciates JJ Redick Visiting Rams Practice

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick’s first year manning an NBA sideline went better than most expected as he led the team to a 50-32 record during the 2024-25 season and captured the third seed in the process.

While Redick’s head coaching playoff debut didn’t go as smoothly as his regular season one, his overall performance should give the Lakers organization confidence that he’s their long-term answer for head coach. There were certainly times where Redick looked the part of a rookie head coach, but he largely corrected shortcomings throughout the year and was honest about where he could improve.

With a full offseason ahead of him, Redick will have an opportunity to reflect on his first year as Los Angeles’ head coach and what he can do to better himself. His journey to improve eventually led him to a Los Angeles Rams practice where he was able to speak with members of the organization including head coach Sean McVay.

Following Redick’s visit, McVay expressed his admiration for the Lakers head coach and how much he enjoyed seeing him on the field, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:

Lakers coach JJ Redick was in attendance watching the Rams' OTA workout today. He also spoke to Rams players today.

Sean McVay said he first connected with Redick prior to him taking the Lakers job.

"Always respected him from afar. A well-thought-out guy, a great willingness…

— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) May 28, 2025

Thank you Coach Redick for stopping by today!

@Lakers pic.twitter.com/Sw3zxbDFpX

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 29, 2025

Like Redick, McVay is a younger head coach in a highly competitive market like Los Angeles that always expects their teams to win championships. The Rams won their most recent Super Bowl in 2021, and are gearing up to make another run during the upcoming 2025 season so McVay understands the kind of pressure that Redick has on his shoulders.

The two head coaches are well-known for their tactical acumen and ability to connect and communicate with their players, so it makes sense that Redick would seek out McVay and his team during his down time. Although basketball and football are two entirely different sports, there’s always something Redick can learn from a kindred spirit in McVay.

The two previously spoke before Redick took the Lakers job and during the 2024-25 season he expressed an interest in reconnecting with McVay, which he now got the chance to do at Rams practice.

Jeanie Buss was initially worried about hiring JJ Redick​

JJ Redick was reportedly the number one candidate for the Lakers’ head coaching job despite his lack of experience. It was a valid concern, one that governor Jeanie Buss was initially worried about when president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka hired Redick.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-sean-mcvay-appreciates-jj-redick-visiting-rams-practice/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Danny Green Opens Up About Pressure Of Playing With LeBron James

When the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Championship in 2020 it was not just the superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis who stepped up, but also a number of role players. One of the most important of those was 3-and-D wing Danny Green whom the team had signed the prior offseason after he helped the Toronto Raptors win a ring.

Green immediately stepped into a starting role doing what he does best and the wing, at that point, had plenty of experience playing next to star caliber players. But playing next to LeBron was different altogether.

The former Lakers wing recently appeared on the All the Smoke podcast and spoke about the players he played with who made the game easier for him, and how LeBron was different from the rest:

“There’s a couple guys that I got a chance to play with that make the game real easy and he’s one of them. Timmy [Duncan]’s one of them for sure, he was good. Tony [Parker], in different ways, he made it easy too, because so much attention to the paint, I’m a shooter, I get open looks. Kyle Lowry was one, he was good at kicking the ball ahead and finding guys. But Bron, he draws so much attention. His IQ too. Even if coach is like ‘I want Danny to cut here,’ he’ll be like ‘Yeah, but I like him over here better, this is where his spots are.’ He knows everybody, what they can do, where their best spots are, ‘He shoots 48% from here, this is his wing’ or ‘this is his corner.’ He wants you where you’re at, where you’re best at and he’s gonna find you there too. He knows they’re gonna double him and if they don’t, he’s gonna kill. He made the game very easy. But also there are times where it’s not as easy because there’s so much pressure, even if you’re wide open, to execute the play because you’re playing with LeBron James. And that’s more so on the outside than it is on the inside, because Bron ain’t putting the pressure on you. But all the LeBron fans are like ‘Who is this bum? Why is he playing with Bron? He can’t make a damn shot.’ It’s a gift and a curse, but he made the game easy and it was a lot of fun learning from him early on. A lot of fun playing against him. And then even better playing with him and then, it was the bubble, but winning a championship with him. It was great. I couldn’t ask for a better scenario.”

The best playmakers really know their teammates and how to best set them up for success and that is what LeBron does at the highest level. As Green noted, LeBron understands where every player thrives and wants them to be in that position to succeed.

Of course being a teammate of LeBron also comes with a lot of pressure, and even more so when on the Lakers, but Green was able to do his job at a high level and, because of that, won his third NBA Championship in L.A.

Danny Green doesn’t think Lakers can win Championship with Luka Doncic & LeBron James​

While Danny Green has all the love and respect for LeBron James, he doesn’t quite see success on the horizon for LeBron and Luka Doncic as teammates on the Lakers.

Green said that the duo will be explosive offensively, but lacks a lot defensively. And with LeBron at this age and stage of his career, he doesn’t see the Lakers winning a championship with that duo at the forefront.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...-about-pressure-of-playing-with-lebron-james/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Explains Origin For Love Of Basketball

Luka Doncic and LeBron James grew close after unexpectedly becoming teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers, although they obviously still have a lot to learn about each other.

They got the chance to do that though with James’ “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash announcing that Doncic will be a guest on Sunday’s episode.

In a conversation that will likely include a variety of topics, Doncic touched on his upbringing and how he fell in love with basketball despite playing a bunch of other sports, via the “Mind the Game” podcast:

“Well for me, I wasn’t good at any other sports. Except soccer, I was not like you, but (OK). I was playing a lot of other sports, tennis, soccer and basketball were the main ones. I played volleyball, so for me it was just fun to do sports. And then I went outside, after school I went outside every time and played basketball… Anything, but mostly basketball.”

Luka’s dad Sasa Doncic was a professional basketball player and coach in Europe, so he explained how he got hooked on basketball from a young age:

“Yeah, for sure. I went to his games and I started being the ballboy… In Euroleague games, I was ballboy for Olympia. So that’s how I used my time to just get on basketball. They let us play before the game, halftime and after the game. I was just shooting.”

Doncic was extremely talented from a young age with a rare combination of size and skill, which he likely developed while playing constantly at his dad’s games. Luka made his professional debut for Real Madrid at age 16 and was eventually selected third overall by the Dallas Mavericks when he came over to the NBA in 2018.

Now 26 years of age, Doncic is already one of the most accomplished European players in NBA history with a Rookie of the Year, five First Team All-NBAs, five All-Stars and one NBA Finals appearance on his resume.

JJ Redick wants to bring out best version of Luka Doncic​

The Lakers brought Luka Doncic over in a blockbuster trade to lead them into their next era, hopefully getting back to winning championships. In order for that to happen then Doncic will need to be at his best, which head coach JJ Redick hopes to bring out of him.

“I was only in Dallas for two and a half months. We both had an immediate bond to each other despite our age difference, despite he wasn’t a father then, I had two kids,” Redick noted about his relationship with Doncic. “We’ve kept in touch, we’ve spent a little bit of time together in the last three years so I think that bond that was already there gave us a great starting point as a player-coach.

“I think our first conversation when flew into LA that night, he wants to be coached, he wants to be held accountable. He’s expressed to me and what I’ve expressed to him is very similar, I want to bring out the best version of Luka and that’s what he wants from me. And so that’s the partnership going forward, that’s the expectation and that’s sort of the baseline of what we’re trying to do. Lets try to bring out the best version of Luka, and hopefully win a championship doing that.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-explains-origin-for-love-of-basketball/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Reveals How He Fell In Love With Basketball

During the latter stages of his career, LeBron James has all the accolades and does not have anything else to prove. But, 22 years later, that fun of playing professional basketball is what keeps him going.

Through an 82-game season and at 40 years old, there is a more intensified preparation to make sure James is ready to play. However, his routine is the gold standard as he has played 70-plus games the past two years.

Again, the amount of preparation he puts into the game would take a toll, especially this late into his career. Although James’ love for basketball keeps him motivated, he revealed when it came into his life, via Mind the Game:

“I don’t know the exact moment, but I think I was able to watch it. When I got to see some of the greatest that played the game, I was inspired by them. Like, I was inspired by MJ, by Anfernee Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill and those guys. Like, their sneakers inspired me, the commercials they used to do back then inspired me and then just being outside. I was always a kid that just wanted to play, whatever it was. If we was playing tag, if we was playing football, if we was playing baseball, if we was playing basketball, everything, kickball. That was very popular in my community, just running around and just exerting as much energy as possible till the lights on the street came on. And it was time to get in the house. Like, I just wanted to do whatever and then I think once I started to get in the youth leagues where it started being competitive, I actually love the competitive nature of basketball. Being out there five on five and we’re playing for something, we’re playing to see who can score the most points and win the game. Then ultimately, it got to if we win the majority of the games, we can win something, we can win a championship, have a banquet and have medals and have little trophies. That stuff inspired me cause I watched NBA guys and college guys at the end of the season, they get to hoist a trophy or whatever. I thought that was pretty inspiring, so as a kid, you just always inspired by the ones that’s already doing it. I think that was a big moment for me, for sure.”

Every NBA player has a key moment that inspired their love of the game, and James’ answer was detailed, but also presumably similar to how other greats got into basketball and kids around the world.

DeMar DeRozan defends LeBron James from criticism about play in Year 22​

With becoming an all-time great, if not the greatest of all-time, there comes the spotlight of media attention. Since entering the NBA, LeBron James has faced criticism seemingly every day of his career.

While James tends to pay no mind to the outside noise, which can wear on a person’s mental state, DeMar DeRozan spoke out against the criticism towards James and pointed to how dominant a player he has been over 22 years.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-reveals-how-he-fell-in-love-with-basketball/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Rui Hachimura Appreciates Trust From JJ Redick & Coaching Staff

When JJ Redick was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers, Rui Hachimura was a player who needed to be unlocked more in his system, particularly on the defensive end of the floor.

When L.A. acquired Hachimura from the Washington Wizards, he became an intriguing scoring option next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But this season presented a challenge as the Lakers lacked the necessary frontcourt defensive talent.

No one could deny Hachimura’s talent though, particularly in adapting his game to shoot more 3-pointers with Redick at the helm. Hachimura arguably made the biggest sacrifice this past season and in return, he appreciated the trust from the coaching staff.

“From the start, they trusted me on offense, defense, everything,” he said during his exit interview. “They kept telling me to shoot more 3s, be aggressive on defense, be aggressive on rebounds, basically everything. I think that stuff helps me as a basketball player of course and I think I was able to help the team get to this point. So I’m thankful for them.”

Adapting to a new coach’s style and schematics is daunting for every player and presents skepticism, but Hachimura was fully bought in. As a 6’8″ forward, he was often tasked with playing up and defending bigger centers, which admittedly came with some challenges.

But it was still a season of growth for Hachimura, who shot a career-high in 3-point attempts at a 41.3% rate to go along with averaging 5.0 rebounds. That rebounding number does not sound like a lot, but it was the highest average since arriving in L.A.

Redick never needed the forward to become an All-NBA defender, but he needed him to embrace the challenge defensively. Notably, when Luka Doncic arrived, there was no Davis to erase mistakes and Hachimura played well in those revised schemes.

JJ Redick: Rui Hachimura had ‘outstanding’ season for Lakers​

The Lakers had a roller coaster season with three different iterations and for a player like Rui Hachimura to adjust and adapt to new personnel must have been challenging. JJ Redick also needed to put these pieces together on the fly, which was a challenge in its own right.

Following a disappointing first-round exit, everyone got a chance to reflect on an abnormal season. A bright spot that stood out to Redick was Hachimura, as he became a vital role player to what the team was building with Doncic.

In totality, Hachimura experienced his role changing plenty of times this season, but Redick believed that he had an ‘outstanding’ year for L.A.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-rui-hachimura-appreciates-trust-from-jj-redick-coaching-staff/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Breakdown Of Luka Doncic Contract Extension Options With Lakers This Offseason

There are many things the Los Angeles Lakers must take care of this offseason, but arguably the most important is locking down superstar guard Luka Doncic to a long-term contract extension. It has already been rumored that the Lakers will go whatever route Doncic prefers in terms of a new deal, but which way the guard will go is unknown.

There are three different options for an extension between Doncic and the Lakers this summer and ESPN analyst Bobby Marks broke them down, and ultimately expects Luka to choose the route that will allow for him to re-enter free agency and make back the money he lost when the Dallas Mavericks traded him:

Doncic and the Lakers can agree to a three-year, $160 million extension after the NBA Finals conclude. But because he was traded Feb. 2, the Lakers have to wait until Aug. 2 if the goal is to extend him for the maximum allowed: four years and $229 million.

There are multiple variations of a new extension for Doncic:

A four-year, $229 million max, where the $51 million first-year salary for 2026-27 replaces the player option for that season. And, more likely: a three-year, $165 million extension that includes a player option in the third year. The short-term extension would allow Doncic to reenter free agency sooner and potentially recoup the $345 million he lost when he was traded from the Mavericks.

Doncic, for his part, confirmed to ESPN’s Malika Andrews in an interview before the postseason that his intention is to remain with the Lakers. But while there should be confidence in Doncic extending, showing him what a post-LeBron James roster could look like is a major priority.

What to expect: Doncic signs a three-year, $165 million deal with a player option for 2028-29.

The three-year extension would get Doncic to 10 years of service in the NBA, which would then allow for him to sign the biggest supermax contract. He has certainly earned that and if Doncic is going to sign a three-year deal, than getting the extra $5 million by waiting until Aug. 2 just makes the most sense. But Luka could just prefer to lock in as much money as he can get right now and he would certainly still be in line for a supermax a year later.

Whether it is a three of four-year extension, the Lakers simply want to make sure that Doncic is locked in with the franchise for the foreseeable future and they will do whatever it takes to make that happen this offseason.

Lakers’ Luka Doncic reveals pros and cons of living in L.A.​

It took some time for Luka Doncic to process being traded to the Lakers as it was completely unexpected. But one thing he is enjoying is living in Los Angeles.

The Lakers superstar recently spoke about what he loves about L.A., saying that he loves the ocean and this is the first time he’s played in a city that has one. He also enjoys all of the celebrities that attends Lakers games, however, like everyone else in the city, he does not enjoy the L.A. traffic.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/breakdown-...extension-options-with-lakers-this-offseason/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Praises Pacers Star Tyrese Haliburton As ‘Great Kid’

The 2025 NBA Finals features a matchup of two of the best point guards in the NBA today in Oklahoma City Thunder star and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Indiana Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton. Both also took part in last summer’s Olympic Games with Haliburton playing a minor reserve role on Team USA where he got the opportunity to team with Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, among others.

While Haliburton didn’t get a bunch of minutes on what was arguably the most talented basketball roster every put together, he did get to be around and learn from some of the greatest players ever. And in the latest episode of the “Mind the Game podcast” with Steve Nash, James had a lot of praise for the Pacers star:

“Just a great person man, great kid. Didn’t matter if he was playing or if he got the opportunity, he was the same guy every single day. And you could see that his mainframe was soaking in all the knowledge and the details, being around all of us. And he was just super appreciative every single day. Never changed his mood. When we had practices and we was doing 5-on-5 and maybe it was a practice where some of the older guys didn’t go that day, he was ready to go. If it was a moment in a game where he was called, he was ready to go. But just a great kid, like every single day was the same person, joking, laughing, high-spirited. You look at what’s going on with the Pacers throughout the regular season and now, throughout the postseason, you get it. You get why they are the team they are and it stars with the head of the snake, we know that, and that’s with Hali. You can gravitate and bring energy and love and would run through a wall for certain guys. And he’s a guy that you would do that for just because of how he plays the game. I’ve seen a couple guys like, ‘they’re going into a hostile environment, he shouldn’t have a smile on his face,’ and I’m like this is who he is. Why are we always trying to change people because this is what you say the narrative, or this guy should look like this? Everyone’s preparation is different. Everybody is different. But Hali is one of them ones. And the success is not happening just because it came out the blue, it’s happening because of Hali and that team, they’re built perfectly for that group.”

Some may look down on players who are on the Olympic roster but barely play, but there is still a lot that can be gained from being around the likes of James, Curry and Kevin Durant. Learning how they train, certain tricks of the game, there is plenty that can benefit someone like Haliburton and he took advantage, learned and improved, and now has the Pacers on the brink of an NBA Championship.

They are certainly underdogs against the Thunder who had the best record in basketball this year. But Haliburton has led the Pacers against plenty of favored teams before and it sounds like LeBron wouldn’t be surprised at all if he is able to lead his team to an upset.

Lakers superstar LeBron James trolls critics of Mind the Game podcast​

LeBron James started the “Mind the Game” podcast, initially with now-Lakers head coach JJ Redick, but now with future Hall of Famer Steve Nash, as an alternative to much of what basketball coverage in the media has become. Many were skeptical about the podcast succeeding, but LeBron has proved many wrong and now he is basking in that success.

In fact, the Lakers star took to social media, posting a video in which ESPN’s Brian Windhorst is explaining why the podcast wouldn’t work, followed by all of the comments and views from fans loving that they are talking about the game of basketball itself, and not all of the extra stuff.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...s-pacers-star-tyrese-haliburton-as-great-kid/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Video: Chris Paul Hints At Retirement Or Wanting To End Career In L.A.

Chris Paul concluded his 20th NBA season in 2024-25 as a member of the San Antonio Spurs, serving as a mentor to Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle while still starting all 82 games and averaging 7.4 assists per game. Now, the 12-time All-Star faces an intriguing offseason decision, and one that might involve the Los Angeles Lakers.

Paul is still a relatively effective player, but is obviously in the phase where any season could be his last. Retirement is certainly an option he could be weighing, but there could also be some interest around the league for a veteran point guard if he wants to play another season.

But it seems as though, regardless of retirement or not, Paul’s preference is to make a return to Los Angeles where his family has lived without him for the last six seasons. He spoke about this decision and the family factor with Pat McAfee on ESPN:

"I still love to play basketball and I'm in the gym every day..

My decision is about my family more than anything"@CP3 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/G9sEprpPH1

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 5, 2025

Paul and the Lakers have been linked numerous times in the past, beyond the nixed blockbuster back during Kobe Bryant’s tenure. He also has a close personal friendship with LeBron James and Lakers head coach JJ Redick. Paul gifted a jersey to Redick’s sons after the Pacific Palisades fire this past season and also picked his brain about getting into coaching.

So if Paul wants to return to L.A. to finish out his career, a bench role on the Lakers makes some sense. They currently are not short on ball-handlers, but things can also changes with trades. If the Lakers were to deal away either Austin Reaves of Gabe Vincent this offseason, for example, then a role could open up for a backup point guard like Paul.

Lakers expected to be extremely aggressive this offseason​

This will be a very important offseason for the Lakers as they look to build the ideal roster around Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Rob Pelinka and the rest of the front office will be working all summer, using all potential options to improve this team and contend for the NBA Championship next season.

Whether it is through free agency, the NBA Draft or trades, the Lakers must identify and acquire the right pieces to take this team to the next level and ESPN’s Bobby Marks believes the franchise will be very aggressive in doing so.

In an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up, Marks said he expects the team to be extremely aggressive this offseason, using their expiring contracts to acquire a center and other depth pieces, while also eyeing an extension for Doncic.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-vid...t-retirement-or-wanting-to-end-career-in-l-a/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Dominique Wilkins: Lakers Are Luka Doncic’s Team Now

This summer is another important one for Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, as he is tasked with building around a new star and franchise face in Luka Doncic.

However, Pelinka is in an interesting position due to LeBron James’ presumed return for his 23rd season. The front office needs to find a balance between acquiring pieces to accompany Doncic for years to come and meshing with James in the short term.

Despite an upcoming offseason filled with crucial decisions, NBA legend Dominque Wilkins believes that the Lakers are ‘definitely’ Doncic’s team, regardless of James being in the picture, via Kyle Odegard of Esports Insider:

“It’s definitely Luka’s team. A 25-year-old guy compared to a guy who is 40. You should be willing to hand over those ranks to him. I don’t think that’s even a question. I think that’s what the plan is.”

When talking about his initial feelings about the trade, Wilkins expressed the same reaction as everyone else:

“Like everybody across the world, I was shocked. Luka, 25 years old and one of the top five or six players in the league. You trade a player like that? That’s a tough one to digest. Everybody was shocked, and maybe there was something there we don’t know. Who knows? But wherever he plays, they are going to be a team that has a chance.”

The sentiment that Wilkins shared is the mentality Pelinka needs to have. But again, he also needs to walk that line of putting together a roster sustainable for Doncic’s future and winning now with James.

Both of L.A.’s stars share the same mindset of wanting to win a championship but also build something sustainable, which is the goal this offseason. No years should be wasted, especially when trying to convince Doncic to extend long-term this summer.

Nonetheless, Pelinka possesses more of a runway to build a winning roster with a 26-year-old star in comparison to a 40-year-old who is likely to play one to two more seasons. Wilkins is right on the money with his thoughts on the Lakers and time will tell how Pelinka handles these circumstances.

LeBron James on what makes Luka Doncic so special​

Before their partnership, Luka Doncic and LeBron James shared a mutual respect. As James watched Doncic grow as a young star, he routinely called out how special he is.

Now, the Slovenian guard is a Laker and will be handed the keys of the franchise when James retires. Through 28 games in the purple and gold, fans saw what Luka Magic is like and the four-time champion recently noted what makes Doncic so special.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/dominique-wilkins-lakers-are-luka-doncic-team-now/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Explains Why He Said It’s Easier To Score In NBA Than Europe

Current Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic made headlines early in his career when he said it is easier to score in the NBA than it was in Europe.

So far though, Doncic has proven that be true as in seven seasons, he has been named to five All-Star teams and collected five First Team All-NBA nominations while averaging 28.6 points.

Doncic’s career is off to a historic start from a scoring perspective, and he explained why he has had so much success and feels it’s easier to score in the NBA on the latest episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron James and Steve Nash:

“Especially when I was I would say about 15 and I had a coach that was hard on me. But hard on everybody, from 1-12, he did the same thing to everybody. It wasn’t like it was just one person. So that’s really when I started to play. When I was 15, I started my first practices with the first team and I was scared. I was nervous. But at some point you get used to it. I competed when I was 16, I was shaking. I still remember the moment. But I think in Europe, watching the Euro League now and before, it’s more about the team and teamwork. But it’s different rules in the NBA, I’ve always said that. The reason I said it’s easier to score in the NBA is because it’s just different rules. You have a lot more spacing, you have more minutes. It’s eight more minutes, anything can happen in eight minutes. So it’s just because of that. In Europe if you get a big guy, for example like Edy Tavares, he plays in Madrid. He’s just standing in the paint and he can stand in the paint and he’s [7’3″], it’s hard to score on that. It’s impossible. Here, you can’t do that because it’s a three-second violation.”

There’s no arguing with Doncic that NBA rules make it easier to score. He pointed out the most egregious example of that as in Europe, there is no defensive three-second calls so centers can just camp out in the paint.

NBA rules involve some give-and-take though as playing defense is as hard as ever, which is an area Doncic and the Lakers will need to improve on if they want to get back into championship contention.

LeBron James on what makes Luka Doncic so special​

LeBron James has been a fan of Luka Doncic since he entered the league and he recently discussed what makes his Lakers co-star so special.

“It’s always his pace. It’s always been his pace. It’s never been a game where it’s like ‘you can speed me up, he can speed me up, this bigger guy can be more physical, this smaller guy can get underneath me.’ It’s like, he moves at his own pace. And he’s never ever been on the floor, where he’s allowed someone to dictate where they’re going to put him on the floor. It’s always been the opposite. And for us, we all working off of that, we’ve just got to stay ready. We’ve seen throughout his career, there’s plays and passes that only certain guys in league history have ever been able to make. And for us, we just have to make sure that we continue to stay ready, especially when you’re going against handsy teams, athletic teams and teams that try to speed you up. We always have to keep our head on a swivel, because you just never know when the ball may find you. And that’s a good thing, that’s keeping the defense off balance and it’s a great thing to have that.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...-said-its-easier-to-score-in-nba-than-europe/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Criticizes People Saying He Has ‘No Bag’

Even though Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, he has also received criticism for the style in which he plays. Naturally, James uses brute force as he is one of the most physically gifted players of all-time.

Many people feel James does not have the offensive skill of a lot of other Hall of Fame level players, although there is no denying the 40-year-old worked extremely hard in the back half of his career to develop other parts of his game.

In the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash and Luka Doncic, LeBron talked about people saying he and others don’t have a back and why that isn’t as important as people make it out to be:

“When I was growing up, it wasn’t talked about. The least amount of dribbles to get to where you need to get to was what I grew up watching. Michael Jordan wasn’t dribbling 1,000 times to get to his spot and raise. Isiah Thomas, as great of a handle as Isiah Thomas had, Isiah would get to his spot and raise. All these guys that I grew up watching, Grant Hill can get to his spot and bury you. [Glenn] Robinson, I get to my spot and I’m burying you. Allan Houston, all these great players that I grew up watching and admiring, Penny Hardaway. They could dribble the basketball, yes. Tracy McGrady, even as great as Tracy was, it was I’m bigger than you, I’m gonna get to the spot in the least amount of dribbles. Kevin Garnett, just good footwork and getting over the top, if I’m bigger than you and I get you on my shoulder or get you on my hip, I’m gonna use my size. I see it all the time, I be on social media and it’s like ‘LeBron has no bag.’ LeBron has no bag and I’m sitting over there with 50 billion points… Just play the game the right way. And I hope that our younger generation doesn’t get swamped by saying OK, I need a bag, I need a bag. Work on your game, know what you’re gonna be good at in order to help the team and prove the next year to be a better player. You come in as a guy that’s offensive game is not deveoped, you come in and you defend, you get extra possessions, you get extra rebounders for the guys. OK, then next year you work on your game in the offseason. It’s only one or two, three guys maximum that’s gonna be handling the f—ing hold anyways. We don’t need you to have a bag. We have the luxury of having three guys with us two and AR, but not many teams have three guys that’s gonna be handling the ball like that anyways. You can make $200 million in the NBA if you defend and shoot a corner 3-pointer.”

There’s no denying that James has found a way to be successful no matter what people perceive as his “bag.” He has all of the accolades to back that up, including an ongoing scoring record that may never be broken.

LeBron James discusses importance of communication & listening​

On the other end of the floor, LeBron James has been a key defensive piece for every team he has played for due to his ability to communicate with his teammates. On top of communication though, the Lakers star also recently expressed the important of listening.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-criticizes-people-saying-he-has-no-bag/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Jaxson Hayes Denies Rumors He Wants To Leave Lakers

Jaxson Hayes went from a regular backup bench big to an important starting center for the Los Angeles Lakers following their blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic.

The Lakers traded away Anthony Davis to land Doncic and while it’s a deal the team would do every single time, it left the roster devoid of size and length at the five spot. Head coach JJ Redick elevated Hayes to be a starter and he thrived next to Doncic as a rim-running lob threat.

Hayes performed admirably in the second half of the 2024-25 regular season and looked the part of a real rotation piece. Unfortunately though, he was phased out of the rotation as the Lakers’ first round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Hayes was eventually benched in Game 5 and while he respected Redick’s decision, it stirred rumors that he’d leave Los Angeles in free agency this summer.

However, Hayes set the record straight on an Instagram comment saying he was planning on departing:

Lakers unrestricted free agent center Jaxson Hayes hasn’t ruled out a return to Los Angeles.

(

via @iamgabevincent2 on Instagram) pic.twitter.com/zdrnvqhhhN

— Lakers Better (@LakersBetter) June 8, 2025

Hayes has no reason to confirm or deny what his plans in free agency will be, especially right now as the Lakers still desperately need depth at the center position. Hayes might not be worth more than the veteran minimum because of his limited offensive game, but Los Angeles could use another body off the bench if he’d be open to returning to the same role.

As the playoffs have shown, teams still need size on the interior to rebound the basketball and block shots. Hayes is not particularly good at either, but his athleticism makes him a viable lob partner for players like Doncic and he even showed some switching ability on the defensive end last year.

While Hayes hasn’t shut the door on a return to L.A., the team will remain aggressive in free agency and the trade market to find meaningful upgrades. It was woefully apparent how undersized they were in the postseason so hopefully the team can bring back Hayes plus at least one other viable starting big man.

Jaxson Hayes pleased with growth during 2024-25 season​

Jaxson Hayes was forced to go from backup big to the starting center almost overnight and he responded to the new challenge well enough. Following the conclusion of the year, Hayes reflected on his growth during the Lakers’ 2024-25 season and came away pleased with his performance.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/jaxson-hayes-denies-rumors-he-wants-to-leave-lakers/