RSS Lakers Team Notes

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Video: 76ers Guard Jared McCain Excited To Swap Jerseys With Luka Doncic

For many years, NBA players have swapped jerseys after their games as a sign of respect towards their opponent. It also allows for players to be able to collect memorabilia from their biggest rivals or even players they looked up to prior to joining the league. Oftentimes this takes place with big stars and the Los Angeles Lakers have a couple of those with LeBron James and Luka Doncic regularly being asked.

That was the case on Sunday as the Lakers took on the Philadelphia 76ers on the final game of their road trip, coming away with a hard-fought 112-108 win. Afterwards, Doncic would swap jerseys with second-year 76ers guard Jared McCain and he was very excited to say the least.

In the parking lot after the game, McCain showed off the white jersey he received from Luka, noting that the Lakers superstar actually asked for his jersey as well while also posing for pictures, via Pickuphoop:

Luka and Jared McCain swapped jerseys after the game

pic.twitter.com/PmDdi1O2KP

— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) December 9, 2025

McCain is a piece of the 76ers’ promising young backcourt alongside Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe. He got off to a strong start last season before a torn meniscus ended his season early and he is still getting back into a rhythm to start this year.

He is still regarded as an exciting prospect and clearly Doncic recognizes that in him as well, which is why he asked for his jersey when he didn’t necessarily have to. The Lakers star is a fierce competitor and sees a lot in what McCain can ultimately become in this league.

It is always great to see the biggest stars in the league recognize young talent and do little things like this as it can really have an impact. The jersey swaps may seem like a minor thing that players do just for a photo op, but those moments and recognition makes a big difference to many.

Luka Doncic shows love to LeBron James after performance in Lakers’ win vs. Sixers​

Luka Doncic was outstanding in the win over the 76ers on Sunday night, leading the Lakers with 31 points and posting a triple-double in his first game back after missing the previous two after going home to Slovenia for the birth of his second daughter.

But it was LeBron James who took over in crunch time and carried the Lakers to victory, and Doncic showed his teammate a ton of love after the game for his vintage performance.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-vid...ain-excited-to-swap-jerseys-with-luka-doncic/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Traveling To Suns On Sunday After Being Eliminated From Emirates NBA Cup

The Los Angeles Lakers won West Group B of the Emirates NBA Cup with a perfect 4-0 record, setting themselves up to host the San Antonio Spurs in the quarterfinals of the Knockout Rounds.

The Lakers entered the primetime matchup with the upper hand as they held homecourt and the Spurs were without Victor Wembanyama who isn’t quite ready to return from a calf injury. A win for Los Angeles would have meant a trip to Las Vegas to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals, but instead San Antonio is the one that punched its ticket.

On the other side of the bracket, the New York Knicks will take on the Orlando Magic after they beat the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat, respectively.

The Lakers lost to the Spurs 132-119, though the final score wasn’t indicative of how poorly the team played. Los Angeles looked a step slow in the first quarter as they failed to defend the 3-point line, but from that point forward San Antonio simply generated any shot it wanted.

Despite a fourth quarter rally where the Lakers got within single digits, the defense failed to stop the Spurs and they wound up getting eliminated from the tournament.

Lakers traveling to Suns on Sunday​

With Los Angeles out of the Emirates NBA Cup, they’ll head on the road to take on the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 5:00 p.m. PT. Interestingly enough, this means the Lakers will have played the Suns five times once the 2025-26 season concludes as they were already scheduled to play four times since they’re in the same division.

It’s disappointing to see Los Angeles out of the NBA Cup, but at least they’re afforded a couple extra days of rest. Several players on the team, including LeBron James, have been banged up so any additional breaks the players can get is definitely welcomed.

A healthy Lakers squad will be required to beat a Suns squad that ran them out of the gym in their last matchup. Phoenix punched first and never let up, continually coming at L.A. on both ends of the floor.

The purple and gold have been exposed the past couple of weeks, but a win against the Suns would help right the ship.

JJ Redick believes ‘Monstars’ took over Lakers’ brains in recent loss to Suns​

The Lakers looked completely out of sort in the recent loss to the Suns, with some attributing it to fatigue. Head coach JJ Redick was able to somehow find some humor in the defeat as he joked that perhaps his team was taken over by the ‘Monstars’ from Space Jam.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-tra...after-being-eliminated-from-emirates-nba-cup/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Dismisses Any Thoughts Of Playoffs At This Point In Season

Even though the Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the best teams in the West so far this season, there have been concerns about the team’s defense and whether or not they can truly compete with the elite of the NBA. To that point, Rich Paul, the agent of LeBron James, recently expressed his belief that the Lakers as currently constructed are not a championship contender.

The Lakers had the opportunity to quiet some of their doubters by going on a run in the Emirates NBA Cup, but after a 4-0 record in group play, they were dominated in the quarterfinals by the San Antonio Spurs. The defensive concerns were on full display as they gave up 132 points to a Spurs team without superstar Victor Wembanyama.

A performance like this seemed to lend further credence to those worried about the Lakers’ ability to compete when the playoffs come around, but James feels it is far too early to even think about that.

“It’s December. What? Are you talking about the playoffs? Nah, I can’t do that,” LeBron said after the loss. “It’s not OK. Not my mindset. I can’t think about what we can do in the playoffs in December. What I can say is that the habits that we built throughout the regular season each month, if we are in a position to make it to the postseason and be able to get to that point, well, we have to build it now. But as far as talking about what type of damage we can do in the postseason in December, that’s not right for the basketball guys, not for me.”

James is not wrong in that thinking about the playoffs in December is a bit premature. The Lakers have to focus on continuing to grow as a unit and building those habits and there is no guarantee that this roster will even be the same once the postseason comes around.

But the expectations of being LeBron, and being a member of the Lakers, are always about championships more than anything else and if that is the ultimate goal, this is what comes with it. The fact that James’ own agent is talking about the Lakers’ ability to compete for a championship just shows what is most important to this franchise regardless of what part of the season we’re in.

JJ Redick believes same Lakers issues are being exposed in losses​

While the Lakers haven’t lost much this season, when they do lose it tends to be by a large margin. And head coach JJ Redick feels his team’s same issues are continually being exposed in these defeats.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...thoughts-of-playoffs-at-this-point-in-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Future Draft Picks Viewed As Less Valuable After Luka Doncic Trade

The Los Angeles Lakers, at some point this season, might want to bring in new pieces to surround the core of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James. L.A. is 17-7 through 24 games, but there are some troubling statistics — especially on the defensive end — that show that perhaps the team is overachieving in the early part of the season.

Many within the Lakers, including head coach JJ Redick, seem to be aware of that. So with that, the Lakers may look to improve. When they do that, they’ll be very limited in the assets they can trade.

Any deal made before the trade deadline can only include the players currently on the roster and either the 2031 or 2032 first-round pick. At one point, those two picks had arguably even more value than the 2027 and 2029 first-rounders that were traded away in the Russell Westbrook and Doncic deals.

And because of that Doncic trade, the 2031 and 2032 picks may have decreased in value, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic:

According to league sources, that future Lakers pick, which could be in 2031 or 2032, is less valuable than it was viewed both before the Luka Dončić trade and since Mark Walter’s acquisition of the franchise. The belief is that since Walter has proven to be an effective owner with the Los Angeles Dodgers, that he and whoever he entrusts the franchise to will, at minimum, keep it from the kind of freefall that would truly make that future first-round pick less of a lottery ticket.

This is a double-edged sword for the Lakers. On one hand, the rumored decrease in value on the 2031 and 2032 firsts show that the Lakers are in a stable place and are likely to be good for a long time, something that wasn’t necessarily true prior to the Doncic trade and Reaves’ ascension. With the future flexibility they have and a star duo, L.A. is in a great spot for a post-LeBron world.

On the other hand, that means improving this year’s team will be all the more difficult. The Lakers need to do something if they want to be considered serious contenders this season, but might not be able to make that move if their 2031 pick can’t net them a difference-maker anymore the way it once could.

It remains to be seen if that will change the Lakers approach this season.

LeBron James discusses how Lakers can improve perimeter defense​

The Lakers are off to a 17-7 start to the 2025-26 campaign. But they are not content with where they are at, especially on the defensive end.

They have been one of the worst defenses in the NBA all season long, ranking 21st in defensive rating. The numbers get even worse, though, when focusing on the perimeter and fast-break opportunities. L.A. is the fifth-worst team in the league guarding the 3-point line, are 24th in opponent points off turnovers and 23rd in opponent fast-break points.

The numbers aren’t any better since James returned to the lineup. Since Nov. 18, the Lakers are 28th in defensive rating, 30th in opponent 3-point percentage and 30th in opponent fast-break points. These are very discouraging numbers despite the Lakers’ winning ways. And LeBron James spoke about what can be fixed on the perimeter.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...wed-as-less-valuable-after-luka-doncic-trade/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Update: Austin Reaves To Be Re-Evaluated In 1 Week With Mild Left Calf Strain

The Los Angeles Lakers announced that guard Austin Reaves is dealing with a mild left calf strain and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week.

While injuries are never ideal, the Lakers have a light schedule coming up as they play against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday and then don’t play again until Thursday. If Reaves is ready to return in a week then it’s possible he only misses two games, although considering it is a calf strain they will likely proceed with caution to avoid it becoming a long-term issue.

Reaves got off to an exceptional start to the season for the Lakers, carrying a heavy workload in the absence of other injured players. That may have caught up with him this past week as Reaves struggled offensively in the Lakers’ last two games, averaging 13 points while shooting just 28.1% from the field.

The 27-year-old had been hobbling a bit in the Lakers’ loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, but it’s unclear exactly how long he had been dealing with this calf injury.

Overall in 21 games to start this season, Reaves is having a career year averaging 27.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists while shooting 50.3% from the field and 36.9% from 3-point range.

With Luka Doncic and LeBron James healthy, the Lakers should have enough ball-handling in Reaves’ absence. The hope is that he returns soon though as Reaves has been one of the most impactful players in the NBA so far this season and is a big reason why L.A. is 17-7.

Austin Reaves: Lakers have a lot of room for growth defensively​

Austin Reaves’ recent struggles have also coincided with the Lakers struggling, although he believes it has more to do with the defensive end of the court and the growth that is needed there.

“I think there’s a lot of room for growth,” Reaves said after the recent loss to the Spurs. “We’re 27th in opposing 3-point percentage. That’s a weakness we got to be better at. And the spirit’s still high in here. We know we can do it. But we have to be a group that guards with five people. And once again, like Bron said, we got to be on a string and know rotations and just play hard on that end.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...aluated-in-1-week-with-mild-left-calf-strain/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Jarred Vanderbilt ‘Eager’ To Get Back In Lakers Rotation & Help With Defensive Struggles

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt has been out of the team’s rotation, sitting out eight of the last nine games despite being healthy.

Vanderbilt’s offensive deficiencies are well-documented, but there’s no denying that he could help the Lakers on the defensive end of the floor, where they have really struggled in recent weeks.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick recently commented on that and revealed that if the defensive struggles continue, he expects to give Vanderbilt another opportunity.

With that being the case, Vanderbilt is excited to get back on the court and help the team defensively.

“I’m pretty eager. I mean, obviously, I think a lot of the stuff we lack, I think I can help provide on that end. Yeah, that’s it,” Vanderbilt said after practice on Saturday.

Vanderbilt was then asked if he has had conversations with the coaching staff since he has been out of the rotation.

“Kind of here and there, I guess,” he said.

Vanderbilt added that he is doing his best to handle the situation while continue to be a good teammate.

“I’m good,” he said when asked how he is mentally. “Control what I can control, keep showing up to work, doing my work, supporting the team.”

The Lakers have been leaning into offense this year, which is why players like Vanderbilt have often seem themselves on the bench. With the team struggling as bad as they have defensively though, perhaps it’s time for Redick to make another change to see if Vanderbilt can help address those issues.

Jarred Vanderbilt reveals conversation in Lakers’ film session​

The Lakers really struggled defensively in their recent loss to the San Antonio Spurs and Jarred Vanderbilt revealed what the coaching staff said and showed them in their film session.

“They showed us our last 10 games and how we paired against the rest of the league. The main emphasis was that we haven’t been aggressive, haven’t been physical, haven’t been getting back on defense. So it’s like a lot of stuff we can control,” Vanderbilt said.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/jarred-van...akers-rotation-help-with-defensive-struggles/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick: Lakers Will Be Cautious With Austin Reaves But Should Return In One Week

Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Lakers received more injury news as it was announced that Austin Reaves will be re-evaluated in one week with a mild left calf strain.

Calf strains have seemingly become a common injury this season and teams have expressed extreme caution. Notably, Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton played through it last year, only to then suffer Achilles tears.

While a strain may seem insignificant, the potential for a more serious injury is there. On the bright side, L.A. only plays two games this week, meaning Reaves should not miss much game time.

After practice on Saturday, head coach JJ Redick revealed how the injury occurred and the plan for Reaves moving forward.

“For him, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact time during the game,” Redick said. “It had started to tighten up the day before even though he did very light work intentionally. Just one of those things and we’re obviously gonna be cautious with it.”

Redick added that Reaves shouldn’t miss more than one week of action, which is obviously great news.

“Yeah, it’s a mild strain, grade one. He’ll be out a week,” Redick said.

Given the ramifications that could come with playing through a calf injury though, the Lakers will not rush Reaves back.

“I would venture to say every player is a little different, but players now are becoming more cautious, to use that word again. More cautious when they get those diagnoses with the calf. But everything looks clean, it’s not in the deep part… It should be a week,” Redick said.

Considering how important Reaves has been for the Lakers this season, Redick knows he will need to make some changes with lineups to make up for his absence.

“Very. He kind of makes a lot of things work for us. For the next week, we’ll play different lineups.”

Thankfully, Luka Doncic is a Laker and he can inherit more of a workload without his backcourt mate. In previous seasons, Los Angeles lacked ball-handlers outside of LeBron James, but now that is not an issue.

Outside of Doncic and James, Redick also got Marcus Smart back from injury, along with Gabe Vincent. However, Reaves was averaging 27.8 points through 21 games and who picks up for that scoring punch will be interesting to see.

Currently, L.A. is last in bench scoring, only averaging 24.5 points, so in all likelihood, there will be more reliance on the starters putting up more points. Hopefully, Reaves returns sooner rather than later, but Redick will need to find ways to make up for his second-leading scorer on the sideline.

Austin Reaves: Lakers have a lot of room for growth defensively​

Before this season kicked off, defense was a concern for the Lakers due to the lack of two-way talent on the roster. But, JJ Redick made due last year as they were a No. 1 ranked defense following the Luka Doncic trade.

Sadly, that caliber of team defense has yet to present itself and Redick is currently searching for answers. Austin Reaves, from a player’s perspective, knows that there is plenty of room for improvement defensively as they are not on a string currently.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/jj-redick-...-austin-reaves-but-should-return-in-one-week/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Kobe Bryant & Shaquille O’Neal Championship Balls Sell In Auction

An iconic moment in Los Angeles Lakers history was Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal joining forces. Bryant, who was drafted out of high school in 1996, would grow into a dynamic pairing next to the most dominant center ever.

Despite differences off the court, they made it work for as long as they could to win championships. Notably, they achieved a 3-peat in the early 2000s, and Bryant averaged 28.5 points, 25.2 points, and 30 points through those title years.

Meanwhile, O’Neal averaged a 27-point double-double and opposing teams could not stop this tandem. With 3-peats becoming a rarity nowadays, the Lakers etched themselves in history and the star-studded duo signed basketballs following their 2000 and 2001 Finals wins, which eventually went on sale.

Each ball received a solid markup as they sold for $508,000 and $317,500, respectively in an auction by Sotheby’s, via Dan Hajducky of ESPN:

Championship-clinching basketballs from the 2000 NBA Finals — which marked Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s first title together and the Los Angeles Lakers’ first title since 1988 — and the 2001 NBA Finals, the second in the Lakers’ three-peat, sold for $508,000 and $317,500, respectively, at Sotheby’s.

The balls are both signed by at least a dozen Lakers; the 2000 ball is signed by both Bryant and O’Neal, and the 2001 ball is signed by Bryant. Both balls include photo-matching letters from companies MeiGray and Sports Investors Authentication as well as letters from Professional Sports Authenticator verifying authenticity of the signatures.

The $508,000 for the 2000 Finals ball is the most ever paid for a championship-clinching ball, according to Sotheby’s. The previous record belonged to the ball from the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first post-relocation title, which sold for $107,950 at Sotheby’s in July.

Memorabilia is endless when it comes to the Lakers, as they encountered numerous eras of winning basketball. Only trailing their rival Boston Celtics in titles, the purple and gold are trying to catch up.

Many have argued that the Bryant and O’Neal pairing was cut too short, which may have cost them more championships. As a hypothetical, it is certainly plausible they could have tacked on another ring or two.

However, the Black Mamba made up for it by winning two more titles when Pau Gasol came into town.

Klay Thompson compares Cooper Flagg to Kobe Bryant​

Kobe Bryant is a one-of-one talent and his impact on the game of basketball will be felt forever. He carved out his own lane and solidified himself as one of the most dynamic scorers.

Klay Thompson, who competed against Bryant, went so far as to compare rookie Cooper Flagg to the Mamba. He acknowledges that no one is like the five-time champion, but he sees flashes.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-kobe-bryant-shaquille-oneal-championship-balls-sell-in-auction/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: LeBron James Leads Lakers To Comeback Victory Over Suns With Late Free Throws

The Los Angeles Lakers traveled to take on the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night, looking to get back on track after losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals.

The Lakers were also looking to bounce back from a recent blowout loss to the Suns in L.A., and they were able to do exactly that, using a 24-0 spurt to come back and earn a 116-114 victory.

Marcus Smart got the start in the place of the injured Austin Reaves and made an immediate impact with a lob to Deandre Ayton and then a steal and layup.

As is usually the case, things got chippy between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks early with the latter picking up a technical foul. Deandre Ayton was active early on both ends of the court with the Lakers jumping out to an eight-point lead.

That was short-lived though as the Lakers got careless with the ball with LeBron James committing some silly turnovers. Led by Jordan Goodwin, the Suns took advantage and flipped the script with a 10-0 run to lead 36-31 at the end of the first.

Jarred Vanderbilt, who has been out of the rotation the last few weeks, got an opportunity to begin the second quarter and made an immediate impact defensively. He sparked a run to get the Lakers back within one.

Turnovers continued to be a problem for L.A. as Luka Doncic and James combined for 11 of the team’s 13 in the first half. James got fouled at the buzzer though, which was Brook’s fourth in the first half. After the free throws, the Lakers and Suns went into the halftime locker room tied at 62.

It continued to be chippy between James and Brooks to begin the third quarter, this time with the former picking up a technical after he was angry that the latter slapped the ball at him after the whistle. Shortly after, James took a charge on Brooks, who had to go to the bench with five fouls.

The Lakers were dominating the offensive glass, but they couldn’t take advantage as they missed a number of good looks. They eventually broke through with an 11-0 run powered by their defense with a three-point play by Jaxson Hayes on a monster dunk regaining the lead.

After Gabe Vincent beat the buzzer, the first triple by either team in the third quarter, the Lakers took an 86-77 lead into the fourth.

L.A. carried the momentum into the final quarter as Vanderbilt had a blocked leading to a layup by James to take a double-digit lead for the first time.

With the Lakers locked in defensively, the Phoenix offensive drought continued and all of a sudden the run had stretched to 24-0 after a James triple.

Hayes had another big dunk on an alley-oop from James and then Vanderbilt hit a corner 3 for good measure, although the Suns kept fighting and got it back to single digits. The Lakers were threatened as a Brooks midrange jumper and pair of triples by Colin Gillespie got the lead down to just two after a 12-0 run.

In need of a bucket, James drove the lane and scored at the rim. Phoenix fought all the way back though as after a pair of free throws, a miss by Marcus Smart, and a Brooks triple, they took a one-point lead.

When he was celebrating though, Brooks nudged James again and was called for a technical foul, getting ejected from the game.

James missed the technical free throw, but he then was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 3.9 seconds to play. He made two of three to go up by one point, and the Suns missed at the buzzer.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will get a few days off before they return to the court on Thursday night on the road against the Utah Jazz.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lebr...back-victory-over-suns-with-late-free-throws/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Dalton Knecht & Adou Thiero Assigned To South Bay

The Los Angeles Lakers announced they assigned Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero to the South Bay Lakers. South Bay will play against the San Diego Clippers on Tuesday night.

This is Knecht’s first time being assigned to South Bay, while Thiero has been shuffling back and forth on the parent team.

Knecht’s mostly ridden the bench during the 2025-26 season as head coach JJ Redick has opted to go with his more veteran options. Despite Knecht’s ability to shoot it from beyond the arc, he’s fallen out of the rotation largely due to his inconsistent defense.

The forward’s struggles date back to the summer where he and Redick both acknowledged he may have burnt himself out training too hard. Knecht couldn’t score in Summer League despite the dip in competition level and the volume of shots he got, raising some alarms regarding his development.

An assignment to the G League normally is a means to get a player practice or game reps, and with Knecht out of the rotation it makes sense to send him to South Bay. While Austin Reaves will miss at least a week due to a calf strain, the Lakers parent team has been getting healthier which takes away any minutes from players like Knecht.

As a former first-round pick, Knecht seemed poised to become a regular in the rotation but so far it hasn’t panned out. The Lakers have oddly struggled when it comes to hitting on highly-regarded prospects, but excel with players who are either drafted in the second round or signed in undrafted free agency.

For an organization that’s looking to develop young talent for the long-term, Knecht would be a huge miss if he isn’t able to show signs of improvement the rest of the season. To make matters more complicated is that he is considered a much older prospect, so his trade value also isn’t as high as players with his caliber.

Hopefully Knecht is able to rebuild his confidence and rhythm with South Bay because the Lakers could definitely use a player with his skillset. Outside shooting and scoring remains a premium skill in today’s NBA, so Knecht’s development progress is worth tracking.

JJ Redick maintains very high belief in Dalton Knecht​

JJ Redick has always had Dalton Knecht’s back, often times coming to the young forward’s defense. While Redick hasn’t shown a willingness to play Knecht this season, he still maintains a very high belief in him.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-dalton-knecht-adou-thiero-assigned-to-south-bay/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James ‘Just Competing’ With Suns’ Dillon Brooks

Whenever Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Phoenix Suns wing Dillon Brooks are on the court together, you can bet there will be some chippiness.

That was again the case on Sunday night when their two teams squared off and James and the Lakers ultimately came away with a close victory.

It did not take long for Brooks and James to start jawing at each other in the first half with the former picking up a technical foul after exchanging some shoves. The shoving match resumed in the third quarter, where this time it was James getting a technical.

Then in the final seconds, Brooks hit a 3-pointer to give the Suns the lead and immediately ran over towards James and started celebrating in his face, giving him a little shove once again. After the referees reviewed the play, Brooks was given another technical foul and ejected from the game with his team going on to lose after some free throws by LeBron.

James and Brooks have a rivalry that dates back a few years when the latter was in Memphis. When LeBron was asked about it after this recent matchup though, he chalked it up to them just competing, as seen on Spectrum SportsNet:

“We just like to compete. He’s gonna compete, I’m gonna compete, we’re gonna get up in each other’s face. Try not to go borderline with it, I don’t really take it there. But we’re just competing and did that almost all the way until the end of the game.”

James was also asked if he felt the second technical on Brooks was warranted, and he had no doubt in his mind after the technical he was given in the third quarter:

“It didn’t matter if he had one already or not. That was definitely a tech. If it was a tech on me in the first half then it was a tech on him right there.”

The Lakers and Suns will play three more times this season with the next matchup coming up next week, so there’s no doubt that this will likely continue between James and Brooks with neither willing to back down.

Dillon Brooks believes his trash talk agitates LeBron James​

Dillon Brooks is gonna keep up his antics with LeBron James as after their most recent matchup, he stated that he believes his trash talk agitates the Lakers superstar.

More often than not though, it’s James that gets the last laugh, as he did on Sunday.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-just-competing-with-suns-dillon-brooks/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Luka Doncic Gifted E-Bikes To Teammates And Lakers Basketball Operations Staff

It is the season of giving around the world as the holidays are approaching, and Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is certainly in the mood. The chemistry and camaraderie of this Lakers team has been noticeable all season long and Doncic made a beautiful gesture not just to his teammates, but the entire L.A. staff.

Head coach JJ Redick revealed after practice on Tuesday that Luka gifted everyone E-Bikes to celebrate the holiday season, via Lakers reporter Mike Trudell:

“Yep. He got everybody in basketball ops, I think it was 103 total gifts. A very, very high-end E-bike so I’ll be excited to drive that down to the beach. Looking forward to it. Very nice gesture from him. The guys all really, really enjoyed it.”

This says a lot about who Doncic is as a person as he is not only looking out for his teammates whom he shares the court with, but also all of the coaches and staff who makes this Lakers organization what it is. No one would have batted an eye had Doncic solely gave his teammates the gift, but he wanted to make sure everyone within this franchise was part of this.

pic.twitter.com/KRPD03r1zN

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 16, 2025

And this is something Doncic has shown throughout his short time with the Lakers as Redick also noted how quickly he was willing to give back to the community earlier this year following the horrific wildfires that spread throughout Southern California:

“Yeah, we saw that last year with the way he responded, basically a month after the fires to giving back. It’s just who he is. He’s cognizant of the platform and sort of place that he has within each community that he’s been in and L.A. has been no different and this team has been no different. The Porsche driving experience that he did with his teammates earlier in the year, just stuff like that it’s been awesome.”

Being the face of a franchise isn’t just about dominating on the court, but it is also things like this that really stand out. The Lakers have always talked about being a family and in doing things like this, Doncic is showing he is the right person to lead the way going forward.

Luka Doncic talks Lakers defense​

As far as on the court, Doncic is known for his offensive exploits and the Lakers have been explosive on that side of the court, but the superstar believes they must figure out their issues on defense sooner rather than later.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...d-entire-basketball-operations-staff-e-bikes/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Former Lakers Two-Way Center Christian Koloko To Play For Spurs G League Affiliate

The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2025-26 season with a better big man rotation after signing Deandre Ayton and re-signing Jaxson Hayes in free agency.

The Lakers’ lack of interior size was glaring in the playoffs, so landing Ayton and having Hayes behind him solved a huge problem. Meanwhile, Los Angeles was also hoping to see if Christian Koloko would sure any signs of marked development. Koloko was signed a two-way contract, offering some flexibility at the center position if the team ever needed extra depth throughout the regular season.

Koloko had shown flashes with the Lakers as a shot blocker and rim deterrent, but offensively he was fairly limited to putbacks or dunks. Defensively his length was useful, but the lack of size and weight made him an easy target for bigger centers. The Lakers eventually waived Koloko to sign Drew Timme to a two-way contract, ending his time within the organization.

While Koloko may no longer be with Los Angeles, he’ll get another crack at an NBA roster as his rights were acquired by San Antonio Spurs’ G League affiliate the Austin Spurs, via NBA insider Marc Stein:

The G League rights to former Lakers and Raptors center Christian Koloko were acquired Sunday by San Antonio’s G League affiliate, enabling Koloko to play for the Austin Spurs at the highly scouted Showcase.

The annual G League winter showcase is one of the most important events of the year for players like Koloko as it gives them an opportunity to compete in a tournament in front of numerous executives and scouts. Players who participate and perform well increase their chances of landing on an NBA roster either through a 10-day contract or even a two-way deal. There is also the possibility of signing professionally overseas, so it’s a massive event with plenty of eyes on it.

While Koloko hasn’t quite panned out yet, it’s important to remember that he missed significant development time due to a blood clot issue. A healthy player’s chances of sticking in the league are already slim enough, so Koloko’s missed time definitely didn’t help his case.

Lakers could look for fringe trade​

Up to this point in the season, the Lakers have exceeded expectations given the injuries and adversity thrown their way. With Luka and Reaves showcasing an extremely high ceiling as a backcourt, the Lakers have themselves in the top half of the West playoff picture.

Outside of those two, LeBron is starting to figure out how he fits in with each game under his belt. Then, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton provide secondary scoring punches when opposing defenses focus on the Big 3.

However, a noticeable flaw is the lack of defensive-minded personnel. That is a key need when the trade deadline rolls around, as adding one or two 3-and-D players could go a long way to create a bit more balance.

With uncertainty surrounding Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Wisconsin, the Lakers are not necessarily expected to make a splashy move. But, they are going to try and find a middle of ground in terms of meaningful upgrades to the roster.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/former-lak...-koloko-to-play-for-spurs-g-league-affiliate/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Deandre Ayton & Austin Reaves Out, Gabe Vincent Questionable, Maxi Kleber Probable Vs. Jazz

The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Thursday’s road game against the Utah Jazz and Deandre Ayton (left elbow soreness) and Austin Reaves (left calf strain) are listed as out while Maxi Kleber (lumbar muscle strain) is probable and Gabe Vincent (low back soreness) is questionable.

Reaves being out is not a surprise as he will miss his second straight game with a calf injury. He could be back as soon as Saturday, however, as it is not expected to be a long-term issue. He was getting shots up on the practice floor on Wednesday and appeared to be moving well.

This will be the first game Ayton has missed with the elbow injury. It’s unclear when it occurred or how long he will be out, but Jaxson Hayes will likely get the start at center in his absence.

Meanwhile, getting Kleber back in the lineup is suddenly essential with Ayton out. He missed the last two games but should get minutes off the bench in the Lakers rotation in Utah.

Vincent’s injury is also a new one and while he appears to have a chance to play on Thursday, the organization will surely be cautious as back injuries can be tricky. If Vincent is unable to play then Nick Smith Jr. could get backup point guard minutes, and perhaps the Lakers turn to Adou Thiero off the bench as well.

JJ Redick: Lakers have enjoyed getting to know Deandre Ayton​

Even though Deandre Ayton is out on Thursday against the Jazz, he has been a breath of fresh air since joining the Lakers.

He was recently given the Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for November for the work he did supporting hurricane relief efforts in the Caribbean. Lakers head coach JJ Redick congratulated Ayton on the honor and also expressed how much everyone in the organization has enjoyed his presence this season.

“I think we were in Memphis at shootaround when I found out about the gift he made for the relief in the Bahamas,” Redick said. “I think he’s clearly got an amazing heart and I think our guys have gotten to see him open up to the group. It’s been really fun for everyone. And he’s been very consistent. I’m happy that he was recognized by the NBA. There’s a lot of guys across the league that do things in their communities and it’s an important thing for him to get recognized and I’m happy for him.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...nt-questionable-maxi-kleber-probable-vs-jazz/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Suns’ Dillon Brooks Accuses LeBron James Of Being ‘Social-Media Junkie’

Throughout his illustrious career, LeBron James has had his fair share of rivals and opponents that would try to get in his head and throw him off by talking trash or being physical with him.

Even though James has taken a backseat to Luka Doncic during the 2025-26 season, he still draws significant attention from a defense because of his ability to score or play make. Against the Phoenix Suns, James saw Dillon Brooks most of the time and the two went back and forth at each other almost all evening.

James and Brooks have a long history of on-court dust ups and trading barbs in the media, and their recent matchup was no different as they had to be separated on multiple occasions. Brooks seemed to think that his trash talking agitated James in their previous matchup this season, though the latter had the last laugh as he knocked down the game-winning free throws to beat the Suns.

However, Brooks was up to his tricks again as he came out and accused James of being on social too much reading his comments, via Doug Haller of The Athletic:

“I guess he’s a social-media junkie,’’ Brooks said. “He be all over the socials, so he be seeing I guess what I’m saying. … Like I’ve (said) he thinks that people should think a way about him or not say nothing about him or play a certain way, and I’m not going to play that way. He gets in his moods or in his modes or whatever it is. I’m all for that.”

Brooks has zero shame trying to get a rise out of James and his recent critics were surely meant to try and plant the seeds for another situation the next time the two meet. To James’ credit, he has handled Brooks’ poking well as he downplays his comments publicly and focuses on the Lakers’ needs. In his career, LeBron is 17-8 against Brooks, including the playoffs.

For players like Brooks, they thrive whenever their targets take the bait so it would be wise for James to continue playing it cool. It’s feels inevitable that something will happen between James and Brooks again, but hopefully the former is even-keeled when it occurs.

LeBron James just competing with Dillon Brooks​

LeBron James has never shied away from a challenge, so it’s no surprise that he hasn’t been rattled by Dillon Brooks. While Brooks might think James has something against him, the Lakers star simply chalked it up to him competing against him.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...es-lebron-james-of-being-social-media-junkie/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Named To Emirates NBA Cup All-Tournament Team

With superstar guard Luka Doncic leading the way, the Los Angeles Lakers went undefeated in group play of the Emirates NBA Cup. And even though the run ended in the quarterfinals with a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, who made it all the way to the championship game, the tournament overall was an outstanding showcase for Doncic.

It seemed as if Luka just stepped things up even more when it was a Cup game and his performance did not go unnoticed.

The NBA announced the All-Tournament Team for the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup and Doncic was named to it alongside Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks, De’Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder:

The All-Tournament Team for the @emirates NBA Cup:

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks pic.twitter.com/J9WZ4Ag4AY

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 18, 2025

In five Cup games, Doncic averaged 36.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 10.0 assists while shooting 48.7% from the field and 44.2% from 3-point range. The Lakers superstar scored at least 35 points in four of those five contests, with two of those being 40-point games, and reached double-digit assists in three. Overall, he ranked second in the Emirates NBA Cup in scoring and tied for fourth in assists.

The overall list makes a ton of sense with Brunson, the Emirates NBA Cup MVP, and Towns leading the Knicks to the NBA Cup Championship. Fox was also huge for the Spurs in making the championship game, especially in the absence of Victor Wembanyama, who missed a couple of contests in the tournament, including their quarterfinal victory over the Lakers. And of course, Gilgeous-Alexander put on his normal consistently great performances in the Thunder’s run to the semi-finals.

Doncic finds himself in great company on this All-Tournament team, but now it is time to turn the page as he looks to continue to lead the Lakers to success throughout the remainder of the season.

Knicks won’t hang Emirates NBA Cup Championship banner like Lakers and Bucks did​

It was the Knicks who ultimately outlasted everyone to take home the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup Championship by defeating the Spurs in the best Cup championship game to date. They now join the Lakers and Bucks as the teams to win the tournament, but unlike the previous two winners, the Knicks won’t be hanging a banner to commemorate their achievement.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-named-to-emirates-nba-cup-all-tournament-team/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Pelicans Wing Herb Jones Remains On Trade ‘Wish List’

If there is one area that is in need of improvement on the Los Angeles Lakers roster, it is the team’s perimeter defense. The Lakers have a couple of players who specialize on that side of the floor such as Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt, but the team has struggled to contain quick, athletic guards for multiple years now and that has continued to be the case this year despite their strong overall start.

This is not lost on the Lakers front office, who have spoken about the desire to make the moves necessary to upgrade the perimeter defense and the team is exploring the trade market looking for answers. One of the best 3-and-D wings in the league is Herb Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans, a First Team All-Defense selection in 2024 who also shoots above 36% from deep in his career.

A player such as Jones would be the perfect addition to the Lakers alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James, so it should come as no surprise that he is someone the franchise is eyeing in the trade market, via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype:

“The Los Angeles Lakers are monitoring the trade market for a defensive wing upgrade, league sources told HoopsHype. Among the 3-and-D wing upgrades on their wish list is New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones, league sources say.”

Jones is an athletic and versatile defender who can guard multiple positions and is a legit gamechanger on that side of the floor. It would be safe to say that the Lakers aren’t the only team who would love to acquire him via trade, but that seems unlikely at the moment.

A recent report noted that the Pelicans, despite having one of the worst records in the NBA, are not looking to trade Jones at the moment. It was also noted that even if they were considering trading him, the assets the Lakers could offer in a trade may not be be appealing to them.

Something else to keep in mind is that the Pelicans traded away their 2026 first-round draft pick so the idea of tanking and trying to actively get worse for a better pick does not apply to them. In the end, while the Lakers are surely interested in Jones, it isn’t looking promising that they will actually be able to swing a deal for him.

JJ Redick outlines ideal role players to surround Lakers stars​

A big reason the Lakers would love to trade for Herb Jones is that he fits the exact type of role player head coach JJ Redick recently outlined would be ideal to surround the team’s star players.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-pelicans-wing-herb-jones-remains-on-trade-wish-list/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Austin Reaves & Deandre Ayton Out, Rui Hachimura Questionable Vs. Clippers

The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Saturday’s road game against the L.A. Clippers and Deandre Ayton (left elbow soreness), Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Gabe Vincent (low back soreness) remain out while Rui Hachimura (right groin soreness) is questionable.

Reaves has missed the last two games with the calf injury but the Lakers were confident that he wouldn’t miss more than a week of action.

Considering it is a calf injury though, the Lakers aren’t hesitate to sit Reaves out for at least one more game so he can get back to feeling 100% healthy and ready to go.

Meanwhile, Ayton is also out again after missing the Lakers’ win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night with the elbow issue. Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber both played well in his absence, but Ayton has gotten off to a tremendous start to the season with the Lakers and has been a key piece with his efficient scoring and defensive rebounding.

It remains to be seen how long the big man will be out, but Hayes and Kleber should see a bulk of the center minutes once again.

Hachimura is popping up on the injury report for the first time with a groin injury. It’s unclear when it occurred, but his status is now in jeopardy against the Clippers. Hachimura has been a sharpshooter for the Lakers this season, which won’t be easy to replace if he is unable to play.

LeBron James ‘dodged a bullet’ in Lakers win over Jazz​

LeBron James appeared to hurt his knee in the Lakers’ win over the Jazz but he was able to shake it off and finish the game.

“Just a little bump to the knee, like a sharp pain to the knee. I got kneed on the inside, kind of like the medial side of the knee,” James said of the incident. “Just kind of wanted to take my time a little bit as it calmed down or whatever the case may be, hoping it calmed down. I told Mike (Mancias), my trainer, I told him that we dodged a bullet there.”

Given LeBron’s age and mileage, these small injuries can linger so hopefully it is not an issue for him and the Lakers moving forward. It’s good to see that he is not listed on the injury report though, which signals he is good to go for the matchup with the Clippers.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...n-out-rui-hachimura-questionable-vs-clippers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Not Surprised By Luka Doncic’s 45-Point Triple-Double Against Jazz

The Los Angeles Lakers are always about their stars and Luka Doncic is next in line to carry on that tradition. After what appeared to be an uncertain future last year, Doncic fell into their lap, thanks to a stunning trade to the Dallas Mavericks.

As one year approaches from the blockbuster deal, the Slovenian star is in the mix for MVP, given his early-season production. Through 20 games, he is averaging 35.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 9.1 assists, which is truly absurd production.

Doncic is a walking triple-double whenever he walks on the court, but he made history on Friday night in Utah against the Jazz as he became the first Laker since Magic Johnson in 1981 and the fourth ever to record a 40-point triple-double.

LeBron James was asked about his thoughts on Doncic’s performance and he was not surprised at all, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

“It’s Luka,” James said. “‘Luka Magic,’ so there’s no surprise. He’s just so damn good. It’s ridiculous.”

With no Austin Reaves or Deandre Ayton in Salt Lake City, L.A. lacked offensive firepower, but the All-NBA guard is a one-man wrecking crew. Granted, Utah is a rebuilding team, but to put up 45 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists in today’s NBA is no easy feat.

It is also worth mentioning that Doncic is not even shooting great from 3-point range as he typically shoots around 35% from long range. But his offseason body transformation is working wonders and demonstrates that his condition last season was nowhere near his peak.

Offense should never be an issue whenever the 26-year-old is starting and only 26 games into his first full season in Los Angeles, more triple-doubles and historic performances are expected to follow.

Luka Doncic believes he can do ‘more’ for Lakers after big statistical night​

While Luka Doncic is a generational talent, he does have struggles when it comes to shooting and turnovers. However, when Doncic performs at his highest capabilities, he can be a top-five talent.

As time passes and the five-time All-Star continues to develop chemistry with his teammates, he can sustain more consistent production. After an impressive performance against the Jazz, Doncic believes that there is more he can do to help out his team, which is a great mentality to have as a leader and as a star that represents the Lakers.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...a-doncic-45-point-triple-double-against-jazz/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Update: Luka Doncic Ruled Out Vs. Clippers

The Los Angeles Lakers announced at halftime of Saturday night’s game against the L.A. Clippers that Luka Doncic has been ruled out for the rest of the night with a left leg contusion.

Doncic was noticeably compromised in the first half, playing 19 minutes and finishing with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and four turnovers on 4-of-13 shooting and 1-of-16 from deep. He came out slow and never really looked like himself.

Being without Doncic certainly is not ideal as he is the team’s primary source of offense, especially in the absence of other key injured players like Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent.

It remains to be seen how serious the left injury is and how much time Doncic will miss beyond Saturday night, if any at all. As they have with all of their other players though, the Lakers will be cautious to ensure it doesn’t become a long-term injury.

In the meantime, LeBron James will take over as the Lakers’ primary offensive initiator while other players will need to step up to keep the team afloat. The Lakers next take the court on Tuesday night, which will give Doncic a couple of days to rest to see if he will be able to play.

Luka Doncic made Lakers history in last game​

In the Lakers’ recent win over the Utah Jazz, Doncic became the fourth player in franchise history to record a 40-point triple-double, joining Elgin Baylor, Magic Johnson and Jerry West.

Doncic’s 40-point triple-double is the first by a Lakers player in over 40 years as Johnson had been the last to accomplish the feat when he did so on March 28, 1981. Ironically, that also came against the Jazz.

Doncic did not just land in the Lakers history books with this performance as he also became the fourth player in NBA history to record 10 40-point triple-doubles in his career. James Harden, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook are the other three, all of whom are perhaps the three players most synonymous with the triple-double.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-update-luka-doncic-ruled-out-vs-clippers/