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[Los Angeles Lakers]

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Highlights: Luka Doncic Leads Slovenia To First Win Of Group Stage Vs. Belgium

The story for Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic at EuroBasket was eerily similar between Slovenia’s first two group stage games. Doncic performed remarkably well — as he always does in international play — but he didn’t have enough help, losing to Poland and France.

That made Sunday’s battle against Belgium something of a must-win, as Slovenia must finish in the top four of Group D in order to move on to the knockout rounds.

Against Belgium, Doncic did not cross into the 30-point mark as he did in his first two games. But he didn’t have to, as he was an elite distributor and all-around superstar as Slovenia cruised to an easy 86-69 win over Belgium. Doncic recorded a triple-double, the fifth in recorded EuroBasket history.

The Lakers and Slovenian superstar finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists with three steals. He went 9-for-23 from the field, but much of that struggle came from 3-point range, where he finished 2-of-11.

Who is stopping Luka Doncic?

He led his Slovenia to their first win in #EuroBasket with a triple-double outing

pic.twitter.com/YTN3me4xtk

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 31, 2025

Doncic and Slovenia were in command the whole way, leading for nearly the entirety of the game. The first basket was Belgium’s only lead of the game. Luka had seven of Slovenia’s 16 first quarter points and 19 of their 43 points at halftime.

Belgium was seen as an easier win for Doncic and Slovenia as they are one of the teams at EuroBasket without any NBA representation. They were led on the scoreboard with 15 points by Andy van Vliet and 13 points from Emmanuel LeComte.

Slovenia is now in a four-way tie for first place of Group D with four points. However, France (2-0) and Poland (2-0) have yet to play their third game and will earn at least one extra point once they do. Israel (1-1) is also yet to play their third game and will tie Slovenia with a loss or pass them with a win.

What’s next for Luka Doncic and Slovenia​

There are two games remaining in the group stages for Doncic and Slovenia. Their next match up is with Iceland, which tips on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. PT. Iceland is 0-2 and at the bottom of Group D currently, and a win against them would give Slovenia very good positioning heading into the final game of the group.

They currently have a point differential of minus-1, something to keep an eye on with tiebreakers being a likely factor.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/fiba-eurob...venia-to-first-win-of-group-stage-vs-belgium/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Pau Gasol ‘Super Excited’ For Lakers Season With Luka Doncic Leading Way

The Los Angeles Lakers have essentially always been led by one of the NBA’s superstar players. From Jerry West, to Magic Johnson, to Kobe Bryant, to LeBron James, a superstar in purple and gold was a regular sight. But Luka Doncic represents one of the first Lakers superstars to hail from Europe. The Slovenian megastar joins Pau Gasol in that regard.

Gasol was the first true Lakers star from Europe. The Spaniard was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Lakers at the trade deadline in 2008, and he proceeded to lead — alongside Bryant — L.A. to three consecutive NBA Finals appearances and two championships. Gasol’s No. 16 jersey now hangs in the rafters next to Bryant’s.

In 2025, the Lakers made a familiar move, acquiring Doncic in a shocking deal at the deadline to massively improve L.A.’s championship odds. And Gasol, while sitting courtside at an L.A. Sparks game, spoke about his excitement to have Luka in town, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“It’s great. Obviously, we were all thrilled, shocked and excited last season when the trade happened. It’s great to have Luka in a Lakers uniform and having the anchor for the next many years to come. Super excited for the team, seeing how we can take advantage of the team right now and try to have another run at it.”

Gasol is a Laker for life, meaning their trade for Doncic was a win for him as well. Beyond just extending the Lakers championship window for years to come and bringing one of the best players in the league to Los Angeles, it gives L.A. another European superstar to carry on Gasol’s legacy.

The Lakers Hall of Famer is surely going to be a regularly-seen figure around the team in big moments over the next generation of L.A. basketball, and Luka will be at the forefront of that.

Luka Doncic hopes to learn defensive tricks from Marcus Smart​

Luka Doncic got into the best shape of his career this offseason and looks prepared to put on a show during the 2025-26 season.

Doncic was criticized on his way out from the Dallas Mavericks for his perceived lack of seriousness regarding his diet and conditioning, so the Lakers star took it upon himself to transform his body. As an added bonus for Los Angeles, Doncic made sure to do his part in signing key free agents to give him a better chance of capturing his first NBA title.

For example, Doncic took an active role in recruiting Marcus Smart after he was bought out by the Washington Wizards. Smart noted that Doncic’s recruitment helped sway him to Los Angeles and meant a lot the veteran.

When asked about the defensive side specifically, Doncic took the opportunity to crack a joke about Smart helping him out.

“I think way better. Obviously we added Marcus, so he’s gonna teach me some things but obviously that’s gonna help a lot.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/pau-gasol-super-excited-for-lakers-season-with-luka-doncic-leading-way/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Video: Nike Releases LeBron James ‘Forever King’ Ad For New Shoes

LeBron James is less than two months away from doing something that no player in the history of the NBA has ever done before. He is about to suit up for his 23rd season — his eighth with the Los Angeles Lakers — and play his age-41 campaign. Not only that, but he is doing so as undoubtedly one of the best players in basketball still, coming off an All-NBA Second Team selection.

James is also arguably the league’s most popular player. Even at 40 entering his 23rd season, it feels as though the league revolves around the Lakers superstar, ranking towards the top of jersey sales and incredible viral highlights throughout the season. In addition to this, he has one of basketball’s most iconic sneaker lines with Nike.

As LeBron and Nike prepare for the Forever King tour, they have released a teaser for the newest sneaker — the LeBron XXIII — with the forever king tagline:

He is the Forever King.

The LeBron XXIII arrives soon. Prepare to behold the greatness. pic.twitter.com/ovSMUdSVM8

— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) September 1, 2025

At this stage of his career, any sneaker that James releases is going to have some sort of historical significance. He is simply in uncharted territory when it comes to career length, ability and accolades. Nobody in league history has played this well for this long and reached his career figures.

So when the LeBron XXIII is ultimately released, it’s sure to be a hit among sneakerheads who want to have a piece of history when the Lakers star takes the court for his record 23rd campaign.

Details of the LeBron James’ Nike LeBron XXIII​

A new colorway of LeBron James’ shoe is called “40K Points” and it is set to drop on Oct. 3 to honor the historic day of James making a milestone in basketball history. This release features both adult and kid sizes, retailing for $210.

What makes this colorway special is a metallic, iridescent upper that changes between gold, orange and green. It also includes James’ crown emblem along the side panel, his signature engraved in gold on the tongue and a “40K” badge stitched at the heel.

Lastly, the shoes are included in special packaging to separate it from different releases, adding to that commemorative feel. Inside the box will be unique memorabilia, including a timeline booklet focusing on the star’s key moments leading up to his journey to 40,000 points and a “40K” pin packaged in a velvet pouch.

Overall, it’s a nice touch from Nike to celebrate James climbing the mountaintop of the NBA and reward for fans to get their hands on a commemorative pair of LeBron 23s.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-video-nike-releases-lebron-james-forever-king-ad-for-new-shoes/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Highlights: Luka Doncic & Slovenia Beat Iceland To Clinch Round Of 16 Spot

There was little room for error for Luka Doncic and Slovenia after dropping their first two group stage games at FIBA EuroBasket 2025. But now after picking up their second consecutive win, they have officially clinched their spot in the round of 16.

The Los Angeles Lakers star actually had his worst outing of the tournament, struggling with foul trouble in the first half, but still finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals as Slovenia defeated Iceland, 87-79. The win gives Slovenia six points in Group D and guarantees them a spot in the knockout stage.

Things were a bit dicey early on for Slovenia as Doncic played just 14 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, and struggled with his shot when on the court. Luka knocked down just 3-of-10 from the floor, missing all four of his 3-point attempts and had just nine points at the half while Slovenia held on to just a one-point lead over an Iceland team that has yet to pick up a victory at EuroBasket.

But Doncic and Slovenia would turn things up in the third quarter as they outscored Iceland 24-to-11 with the superstar pouring in 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers to push out to a big lead, which they would then hold on to down the stretch against a relentless Iceland squad.

Luka Doncic carrying his Slovenia

to the Round of 16

#EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/FIGwrrrKEB

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 2, 2025

Slovenia also got a strong performance from Aleksej Nikolic, who added 17 points and five assists in the victory. Iceland was led by Martin Hermannsson, who finished with 22 points and six assists but also had seven of Iceland’s 20 turnovers, a key issue in their loss as Doncic and Slovenia turned the ball over just eight times.

The most important thing is that Slovenia has locked in their spot in the round of 16 and anything can happen once those knockout stage games begin. So far, Slovenia is one of 12 teams to have clinched their spot and all four spots from Group D have been decided with Israel, Poland and France also qualifying from the group.

What’s next for Luka Doncic and Slovenia​

Luka Doncic and Slovenia will return to the court on Thursday at 8 a.m. PT when they take on Israel, who is led by Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija. This is their final group stage game in what is an important contest for both sides. A win for Slovenia could push them into a second-place finish in the group and a potentially easier draw in the round of 16 while a loss could drop them down and force a meeting with a tournament favorite such as Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic, or Germany, led by Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/fiba-eurob...enia-beat-iceland-to-clinch-round-of-16-spot/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Clippers May Have Illegally Circumvented Salary Cap To Pay Kawhi Leonard

The summer of 2019 was a major one in NBA history. The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Anthony Davis, but also had designs on signing free agent Kawhi Leonard to join him and LeBron James on what would’ve been an absolute super team. Leonard, however, chose to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, who then traded for Paul George to set up what looked to be a rivalry for Western Conference supremacy for years to come.

Many viewed Leonard joining the Clippers as him not wanting to be in the shadow of LeBron and not wanting to deal with all of the extra spotlight and publicity that comes with the Lakers as he is a very private person. However, there have been some rumors in the past about Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, making illegal demands that went against the CBA, which Lakers then-owner Jeanie Buss promptly denied.

Not much had come from those rumors until now as journalist Pablo Torre is reporting that Leonard signed a $28 million endorsement deal with tree-planting company Aspire which amounted to a “no-show job” in which the Clippers forward did no public endorsing of the company and which one employee was told was a deal designed to circumvent the salary cap:

Exclusive: Kawhi Leonard signed a $28M endorsement deal for a "no-show job" with a fraudulent tree-planting company funded by $50M from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, according to documents obtained by @PabloTorre.

"It was to circumvent the salary cap," an inside source says. pic.twitter.com/F6z5pNEkI1

— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) September 3, 2025

If this is true, it would be a major violation of the CBA and Leonard and the Clippers could potentially be facing serious discipline from the NBA. One of the things Robertson reportedly asked for from the Lakers and Buss was a guaranteed amount of off-court endorsement money and this $28 million deal would certainly seem to fall under that umbrella.

The fact that Torre has paperwork and a former employee speaking on the record about this would seem to be damning evidence, though the Clippers have already come out and denied any wrongdoing. Nonetheless, this could very well explain why Leonard ultimately joined the Clippers instead of the purple and gold.

Lakers to face Kawhi Leonard and Clippers during NBA Rivalry Week​

The rivalry between the Lakers and Clippers has grown since Kawhi Leonard signed there and that is why these two teams will face off as part of NBA Rivalry Week in January.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...ircumvented-salary-cap-to-sign-kawhi-leonard/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Sotheby’s To Auction Kobe Bryant No. 24 Debut Jersey

Kobe Bryant is one of the true legends in NBA history and the things he accomplished throughout his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers won’t be matched for a very long time. One of the things that made his career truly special was the fact that he had legit Hall of Fame careers both as No. 8 and No. 24.

Bryant came into the league wearing No. 8, but chose to switch to No. 24 ahead of the 2006-07 NBA season. This would mark the beginning of the second act of Kobe’s career where he would win two more championships and cement himself as one of the greatest basketball players to ever step foot on an NBA court.

These days, Kobe items are going for record prices in auctions across the country and now another piece of memorabilia is for sale as Bryant’s game-worn jersey from his debut with the No. 24 is set to be auctioned off by Sotheby’s.

“This jersey is not merely a relic of a single night, but a symbolic artifact from a career that bridged eras and identities,” said Brendan Hawkes of Sotheby’s Sports Strategy and Development. “Signed and inscribed to forever link it to the debut of No. 24, it stands as one of the most culturally and historically significant Kobe Bryant jerseys ever to surface — the tangible starting point of a chapter that would help define his legend.”

In this particular game, which was actually the Lakers’ third game of the season as Bryant sat out the first two while dealing with knee soreness from offseason surgery, he eased his way back in with 23 points and six assists in a victory.

This season was one of Kobe’s best in terms of individual performance as he won his second consecutive scoring title, averaging 31.6 points to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists. He also had 10 games with at least 50 points, including a stretch of four-straight 50-point outings with two of those being for 60 or more.

The jersey will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s New York in a live auction on Sept. 30, following the auctioning of the jersey worn by hockey icon and another L.A. sports legend, Wayne Gretzky, in the final game of his career. The Bryant jersey is estimated to sell for more than $1 million.

Mystery bidder for Kobe Bryant-Michael Jordan card revealed​

A trading card featuring both Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan was recently sold for $12.9 million. While the bidder for the card featuring the Lakers legend was initially a mystery, it was ultimately revealed to be Kevin ‘Mr. Wonderful’ O’Leary.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-sothebys-to-auction-kobe-bryant-no-24-debut-jersey/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Highlights: Luka Doncic & Slovenia Dominant Against Israel To End Group Play

Even though Slovenia had already locked up a spot in the knockout stage of FIBA EuroBasket 2025, their final group stage game against Israel was important as it could give them a better draw in the round of 16. It also featured a big time duel between two of the best players in the tournament in Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic and Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija.

But for as good as Avdija was in this contest, Doncic was just too dominant and wouldn’t be denied.

The Lakers star continued his excellent play at EuroBasket with arguably his best game of the tournament, finishing with 37 points on 12-of-21 from the field, 11 rebounds, nine assists and three steals as Slovenia took down Israel 106-96 to end group stage play with three straight wins.

Things started off rough for Slovenia as they dropped games to Poland and France to begin the tournament, but now they seem to have rounded into form at the right time. They shot 54.4% from the field as a team and had 28 assists on their 37 made field goals.

In addition to another ridiculous Doncic performance, Slovenia also got strong outings from Aleksej Nikolic who had 16 points and seven assists, as well as a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds from Alen Omic.

Luka vs. Deni. A showdown worthy of the last day in Katowice.

Luka Doncic: 37 PTS | 11 REB | 9 AST

Deni Avdija: 34 PTS | 9 REB | 4 3PM#EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/UjkPEFZ2w0

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 4, 2025

Avdija did everything he could to try and match Luka as he finished with 34 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals, but it just wasn’t quite enough. However, they did already qualify for the round of 16 prior to this game so they will still advance in this tournament.

It looked as if Slovenia had this game in the bag as they led by 13 at the half with Doncic pouring in 24 points, six rebounds and six assists in the first half. They still held a 14 point lead going into the fourth quarter, but Luka once again dealt with foul trouble and Israel was able to slice into the lead, cutting it to as low as five.

But once the Lakers superstar returned to the court he took over, pushing the Slovenian lead back up to double-digits and icing the game with a step-back 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 14 with around two minutes left.

What’s next for Luka Doncic and Slovenia​

Luka Doncic and Slovenia have qualified for the knockout phase of the tournament and their round of 16 game will take place this weekend, though their opponent has yet to be determined.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/fiba-eurob...ia-dominant-against-israel-to-end-group-play/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

FIBA EuroBasket 2025: Luka Doncic & Slovenia To Face Italy In Round Of 16

Prior to the start of FIBA EuroBasket 2025, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic made it clear that his goal was to lead his home country of Slovenia to a medal. Things got off to a rough start in the group stage, however, as Slovenia dropped their first two contests to Poland and France, leading some to wonder if they would even make it to the knockout stage.

But Slovenia was able to turn things around, due in large part to the play of Doncic, who has arguably been the best player in the entire tournament. Luka leads the tournament in both points and steals per game while ranking second in assists as Slovenia ended group play with three consecutive victories over Belgium, Iceland and most recently Israel to qualify for the round of 16.

But now things get really tough for the Lakers star as the knockout stage bracket has been revealed and Slovenia will take on Italy in the round of 16:

THE ROAD TO THE #EUROBASKET TROPHY

pic.twitter.com/WFhqxgP8xU

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 4, 2025

Doncic and Slovenia’s round of 16 game against Italy is schedule for Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8:30 a.m. PT in Latvia.

Slovenia and Italy weren’t in the same group, so they have yet to square off in EuroBasket. Italy went 4-1 in its five group play games, losing to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece but beating Georgia, Bosnia, Spain and Cyprus.

Simone Fontecchio, now of the Miami Heat, has been Italy’s best player to this point while Danilo Gallinari, Nicolo Melli, Mouhamet Diouf and Saliou Niang have been some other key contributors.

The winner of Slovenia-Italy will move on to the quarterfinals where they will play the winner of Germany-Portugal. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 9 and Wednesday, Sept. 10. The semi-finals will then be on Friday, Sept. 12, before the the tournament concludes with the third place game and final on Sunday, Sept. 14 when a new champion will be crowned with Spain not advancing past the group phase.

Knockout round games will continue to be broadcast on FIBA’s Courtside 1891 website as well as DAZN, although a paid subscription is needed.

Slovenia coach praises Luka Doncic after historic triple-double​

Luka Doncic has had to go to a whole other level to lead Slovenia through this group stage, which included posting just the fifth triple-double in EuroBasket history in their victory over Belgium. And after that performance, Slovenia coach Aleksander Sekulic had a ton of praise for the Lakers star.

“That’s what Luka does,” Sekulic said. “The thing is that I saw he made a triple-double, but what impresses me is the way he approached this game, knowing that we are a better team with better individuals. Even though he never underestimated anyone and he was locked in from the first to last minute. That only just shows the greatness, not only the stats, but his mindset.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/fiba-eurobasket-2025-luka-doncic-slovenia-to-face-italy-in-round-of-16/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

How To Vote For Lakers Star Luka Doncic As MVP Of FIBA EuroBasket 2025

Fan voting for FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Tissot MVP has begun and the award will be handed out at the conclusion of the tournament on Sept. 14. Some of the favorites for the award include Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic of Slovenia, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic of Serbia, Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen of Finland, Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun of Turkey and Orlando Magic star Franz Wagner of Germany.

Doncic has been arguably the best player in the tournament as he leads all players in points and steals per game while ranking second in assists. But with Slovenia going just 3-2 in group play, that may make it more difficult for the Lakers star to take home the hardware unless they make a deep run in the knockout stage.

As always, Jokic has to be considered one of the favorites and he ranks in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding this tournament for a Serbian team that many expect to win the whole thing. They did, however, fall to Turkey in the final group stage game with Sengun putting on an outstanding performance for the undefeated squad. Sengun ranks sixth in points, fourth in rebounds and third in assists in this tournament.

Like Sengun, Markkanen has been outstanding for a Finland team that didn’t have major expectations coming into EuroBasket. Regardless, the Jazz forward ranks third in the tournament in points per game and eighth in rebounding. Wagner meanwhile ranks in the top 10 in points and steals per game for the undefeated German squad.

Whoever wins the award will join a list of some of the greatest international players of all-time including former Lakers big man Pau Gasol, who won it twice in 2009 and 2015, as well as Hall of Famers Dirk Nowitzki and Tony Parker, who took home the hardwear in 2005 and 2013 respectively. Spanish big man Willy Hernangomez was the most recent winner in 2022, but Spain failed to make it out of group play this year.

Lakers’ Luka Doncic to lead Slovenia against Italy in round of 16​

With group play officially over, the brackets for the knockout stage has been set. Lakers superstar Luka Doncic led Slovenia to a 3-2 record and he will lead his squad against Italy in the round of 16. Should they advance, Slovenia would then face the winner of Germany and Portugal in the quarterfinals.

Other first round matchups include Serbia vs. Finland, Turkey vs. Sweden, Greece vs. Israel, Poland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, and France vs. Georgia.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/how-to-vote-for-lakers-star-luka-doncic-as-mvp-of-fiba-eurobasket-2025/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Video: LeBron James Collaborates On Campaign With Indeed

The LeBron James and Maverick Carter founded storytelling company UNINTERRUPTED announced a collaboration with the LeBron James Family Foundation and global hiring platform Indeed to launch a national campaign that champions skills-first hiring.

The campaign officially kicked off with the release of a commercial featuring the Los Angeles Lakers superstar and narrated by the legendary Ernie Johnson of Inside the NBA, via UNINTERRUPTED:

This initiative plans on providing tools and resources designed to empower people to showcase their skills. This effort is a step towards advancing economic mobility, promoting equity, and expanding opportunities for career professionals regardless of their backgrounds.

“In the work my Foundation does to support families with resources like education and job training, we’ve seen how people can thrive when they’re given an opportunity,” said James in a statement. “I’m excited about this campaign with UNINTERRUPTED and Indeed that will hopefully open more doors for people to have that chance to show their skills and experience, which is incredibly valuable.”

Through this collaboration the organizations plan on integrating Indeed’s job-matching technology, career tools, and skills training with LJFF’s education and workforce development programs. Additionally, they will launch an online job seeker resource portal in October and an in-person Job Event will be hosted at House Three Thirty in Akron, Ohio, including skills training and career development workshops.

“We believe people should be hired for what they can do, not just their credentials,” said James Whitemore, CMO of Indeed. “By teaming up with UNINTERRUPTED and the LeBron James Family Foundation, we’re using the power of storytelling to highlight how lived experience and practical skills can lead to real career opportunities — and giving people the resources to seize them.

UNINTERRUPTED and Indeed will also debut The Main Thing, a new four-part limited series led by LeBron, premiering Oct. 1 on UNINTERRUPTED’s YouTube channel. The series will feature the Lakers superstar sitting down with icons such as skateboarding legend Tony Hawk as well as singer-songwriter and actress Teyana Taylor, amongst others.

Charles Barkley blames LeBron James & Kevin Durant for NBA salary cap rules​

LeBron James is not only one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, but also one of the most powerful as he fundamentally changed the way players control their own destiny in the league. Recently, however, NBA teams have had to adjust to the new rules in the CBA that make it more difficult to keep teams together and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley puts the blame on these rules existing on the Lakers superstar and fellow future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-video-lebron-james-collaborates-on-campaign-with-indeed/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Video: Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony & 2025 Class Receive Hall Of Fame Jackets

The 2025 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class is officially being inducted this weekend, and there are some members of the Los Angeles Lakers family involved.

NBA legends Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony both wrapped up their Hall of Fame careers wearing the purple and gold. Howard won a championship with the team in 2019-20, and then returned for a third stint in 2021-22 when he was joined by Anthony.

While that season didn’t go as planned, there still is a lot of love in L.A. for both Howard and Anthony, making this a special weekend as they get inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The festivities kicked off on Friday night when Howard, Anthony, the 2008 Redeem Team and the rest of the 2025 Hall of Fame class received their orange jackets:

Dwight Howard receives his @Hoophall orange jacket

Watch the Class of 2025 Enshrinement Ceremony Saturday, 9/6 at 7:00pm/et on NBA TV. pic.twitter.com/VonEyH8QuQ

— NBA (@NBA) September 6, 2025

That father & son bond

Kiyan Anthony presents Melo his @Hoophall orange jacket! pic.twitter.com/N4hHPNhoVA

— NBA (@NBA) September 6, 2025

The @Hoophall Class of 2025

pic.twitter.com/Lk6TXNMyy6

— NBA (@NBA) September 6, 2025

Dwight Howard shows off his @Hoophall orange jacket

pic.twitter.com/SOKlQ8NayA

— NBA (@NBA) September 6, 2025

Secure the orange jacket

Secure the flicks

Congrats to the @Hoophall Class of 2025! pic.twitter.com/TkqozJCIz9

— NBA (@NBA) September 6, 2025

The official Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. PT on NBA TV, but receiving their orange jackets is a huge honor to kick off the weekend.

In 18 NBA seasons, Howard was named an All-Star eight times while making eight All-NBA teams. He was one of the most dominant defensive forces to ever step on a court, winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards while being named to five All-Defensive teams.

Howard and Anthony showed that there are different paths to greatness as the latter was largely known for his offense in his 19-year career. Anthony was named to 10 All-Star teams and six All-NBA teams, winning the scoring title in 2012-13.

Both are not only being inducted as individuals, but also as part of the 2008 Redeem Team that brought home gold in the Beijing Olympics. Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was a huge piece on that team, being inducted into the Hall of Fame for a second time.

Dwight Howard believes Lakers championship was cherry on top​

Dwight Howard has a Hall of Fame resume even without any championships, but he believes breaking through and winning one with the Lakers was the cherry on top of his career.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-vid...hony-2025-class-receive-hall-of-fame-jackets/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Video: Highlights From Carmelo Anthony’s Hall Of Fame Induction

The Los Angeles Lakers are known for the star power that has come through their organization, which includes Carmelo Anthony in the final season of his 19-year career.

Unfortunately, Anthony did not come to the Lakers during his prime, but he still provided some highlights in an otherwise disappointing 2021-2022 season.

The 2003 No. 3 draft pick was a 10-time All-Star, the 2012-13 scoring champion, a six-time All-NBA selection and named to the 75th Anniversary team. As a gifted scorer, Anthony averaged 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists for his career, playing a total of 1,260 games, most notably for the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks.

While he did not win a championship, there was no doubting how great of scorer Anthony was, especially in the mid-post area. With that, he was slotted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 class with a fellow teammate in Dwight Howard. Two Hall of Famers in Allen Iverson and close friend Dwyane Wade presented Anthony with this incredible honor and he was formally inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Among the highlights were him thanking his father and the game of basketball itself:

Allen Iverson & Dwyane Wade welcome @carmeloanthony to the Hall of Fame

Class of 2025 Enshrinement Ceremony on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/lSx6kZKsYG

— NBA (@NBA) September 7, 2025

"The dogs are barking."

Memorable moment as Melo delivers his @Hoophall speech

pic.twitter.com/a75H3AV8BF

— NBA (@NBA) September 7, 2025

"You left this world too soon but you never left me."

– Carmelo Anthony gives a shoutout to his father

Class of 2025 Enshrinement Ceremony on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/IBatQMDMc3

— NBA (@NBA) September 7, 2025

"You gave a kid from the projects a passport to the world… I gave [the game] everything I had."

Carmelo Anthony gives thanks to the game of basketball and reflects on his career

Class of 2025 Enshrinement Ceremony on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/Ks2dtdbrBL

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) September 7, 2025

When in doubt… Stay Melo

pic.twitter.com/Qsf1n3gnj9

— NBA (@NBA) September 7, 2025

Kiyan Anthony with his dad’s new hardware

Congrats on your @Hoophall enshrinement, Melo! pic.twitter.com/XhachgBQeW

— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) September 7, 2025

During his time in Denver, Anthony shared heated and entertaining playoff battles with Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. He then turned Madison Square Garden into a frenzy with his electric play and propelled the Knicks to a formidable Eastern Conference threat.

Ring culture is hotly debated in today’s NBA culture and whether or not championships truly impact a player’s resume to become a Hall of Famer. It is great to see Anthony get the respect he deserves despite not winning a title because he gave a lot to the game during his career.

Carmelo Anthony reveals he was almost traded to the Lakers in 2011​

As Carmelo Anthony navigated through his career, it felt like there were several instances of the Lakers trying to land the star forward. Unfortunately, he did not become a Laker until his final season, but Anthony recently revealed he was almost traded to L.A. in 2011.

An interesting what-if because forming a duo next to Kobe Bryant would have been something special, coming off a championship in 2010.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-video-highlights-from-carmelo-anthony-hall-of-fame-induction/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

FIBA EuroBasket 2025: Luka Doncic & Slovenia To Take On Germany In Quarterfinals

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic and Slovenia will have a rematch against Germany in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 quarterfinals on Wednesday at 11 a.m. PT

Notably, these two teams squared off early in exhibition play and the Germans came away with the win 103-89. Germany possess some NBA talent in former Lakers guard Dennis Schroder, as well as Orlando Magic forwards Franz Wagner and Tristan Da Silva and former NBA players in center Daniel Theis and Issac Bonga.

To get to this point, Slovenia and Germany each won their round of 16 matchups, which is the first round of the knockout stage of this EuroBasket tournament. The Slovenians faced off against Italy and came out on top thanks to another impressive offensive showing from Doncic, who put up 30 points in the first half and finished with 42.

That continued an impressive summer for Doncic as the 26-year-old is averaging 34 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.2 assists on 46.2% from the field, 32.2% from 3-point rang and 89.2% from the free throw line. He is getting to the charity stripe with regularity, putting up 18 attempts a contest.

On the other hand, Germany blew out Portugal 85-58 in the round of 16, demonstrating how formidable of a force they have become. Wagner leads the way for his country averaging 20.7 points per game and impressively Schroder is also averaging 20.2 points.

Theis and Da Siva also chip in a little over 10 points a contest, so the Germans have a deep team having four players averaging double figures. They are arguably the favorites of the remaining eight teams in the tournament so Slovenia’s defense will be tested, particularly trying to contain a speedy guard in Schroder and a physical point forward in Wagner.

In their exhibition game, Germany mainly played one-on-one defense with Doncic with occasional blitzing of ball screens. With only one player averaging double digits outside of the Lakers star, perhaps the Germans are more aggressive defensively, forcing other players to bet them.

Whoever advances, a date with with Finland or Georgia awaits in the semifinals, so expect an intense contest with a lot on the line.

Luka Doncic focused on winning medal with Slovenia at EuroBasket​

International basketball continues to breed intense competition as players take pride in representing their native countries. Particularly for Luka Doncic, he is looking to put Slovenia on the map and he is sending a message with his offensive play.

Trying to medal is not easy, but Slovenia is closer to putting themselves in that position. That is the main goal for Doncic as he is focused on proving people wrong by winning medal when many think they do not possess the talent to do so.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/fiba-eurobasket-2025-luka-doncic-slovenia-take-on-germany-in-quarterfinals/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Calls Kobe Bryant ‘Missing Link’ For USA Redeem Team

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is most well-known for his five championships with the purple and gold, but he’s also responsible for helping turn Team USA around.

Bryant agreed to join USA Basketball when the program started to slip in international play, most notably finishing third in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Bryant’s commitment to the Olympics was a game-changer for Team USA as he was at the peak of his powers and would bolster a young roster headlined by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony.

The 2008 Olympics team, dubbed the “Redeem Team,” was recently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025 and James was in attendance for the celebration.

During the ceremony, James called Bryant Team USA’s missing link and credited him for raising the bar for the program, via NBA:

“I think he was just the missing link that we needed in order to regain our dominance with Team USA. He brought a sense of seriousness to the team. He made us lock in and we knew once he joined and he was going to be committed that we couldn’t be doing nothing half-assed. Kob’ wasn’t going for that. So it made myself, CP, D-Wade, Melo, we all locked in even more cause we wanted to show him that we could get to that level as well. It was just an honor to be out there with him. I was 23 years old and being out on the floor with him he had already won championships before and things of that nature so it was levels that I was trying to get to. D-Wade had already won one, so we just wanted to get to his level and make him proud. By the end of that trip when we was hoisting that gold medal on top of that podium we for sure made him proud.”

James hadn’t quite reached his full potential yet, so Bryant stepped in and immediately led the Redeem Team to victory during the 2008 Olympics. What made Bryant’s run even more impressive was that he accepted the responsibility of guarding the best perimeter player on the other team, a sign that he was fully bought in on whatever it took to win.

It was sad not to see Bryant up on stage with James and other members of the squad, but his memory and legacy will live on forever.

Charles Barkley on differences between Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and LeBron James​

Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and LeBron James are widely known as three of the greatest basketball players ever. In the eyes of Charles Barkley though, the mentality of James on the court was different than that of Bryant and Jordan.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...kobe-bryant-missing-link-for-usa-redeem-team/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Looking To Upgrade Wing With Andrew Wiggins Remaining Possible Target

Training camp is less than a month away as the Los Angeles Lakers begin to prepare for the 2025-26 NBA season.

As is always the case in this franchise, expectations will be high. The Lakers are coming off a 50-win season and addressed their needs this offseason by bringing in Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia. With Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves leading the way, the Lakers will have a chance to do some damage this season despite the Western Conference being as loaded as ever.

While the Lakers’ roster is likely set for the start of the season, they have between now and the February trade deadline to continue making upgrades. One area they would still love to address is their wing defense, and according to NBA insider Marc Stein, they will continue that pursuit:

The Lakers are in win-now mode.

They signed Luka Dončić to a three-year max contract extension worth $165 million on the first day such a deal was permissible (Aug. 2). They have LeBron James under contract for one more season. And they will be on the lookout, I’m told, for the proverbial right deal to present itself to upgrade on the wing if possible and add to a list of newcomers headlined by Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia.

As I understand it: The Lakers’ reluctance in the early stages of the offseason to consider trades for contracts that stretch beyond the 2025-26 season has thawed somewhat.

I don’t think that means they’ll swing a deal for just anyone between now and the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but league sources say L.A. would indeed have interest in adding a two-way swingman who can raise their ceiling.

One player the Lakers have been linked to this offseason is Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat, and Stein believes they are still interested:

The sort of player who is likely to interest the Lakers?

My read (if Miami were to make him available): Andrew Wiggins.

Wiggins, 30, will earn $28.2 million this season and holds a $30.2 million player option for 2026-27. I wouldn’t have classified him as a potential purple-and-gold target before Dončić’s long-term future was secured, but things are different now. So my sense is that the Lakers would have interest if the Heat, in coming weeks or months, decide to prioritize financial flexibility and look to reduce payroll.

Wiggins would be a good fit for the Lakers, although the Heat have made it clear that they are not looking to deal him right now. Other reports have also indicated the Lakers are not interested in the 30-year-old.

These things can change at any time though and there’s no denying that Wiggins would make the Lakers better. With that being the case, it could be something to monitor going into the season if the Heat struggle and look to reset their roster.

Pau Gasol excited for Lakers season​

One person who is excited for the upcoming Lakers season is franchise legend Pau Gasol, especially with Luka Doncic now on the team.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...ith-andrew-wiggins-remaining-possible-target/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Dwight Howard: It Was ‘Big Slap In The Face’ To Not Make NBA 75th Anniversary Team

Former Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard received the biggest honor possible last weekend as he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. And to make it even better for the big man, Howard was actually inducted twice, both as a player and as part of the 2008 US Men’s Olympic Basketball Team known as the “Redeem Team.”

There is no doubt that Howard was the premier big man of his generation and one of the best defensive bigs in the history of the NBA. He won three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2009-11 and was a five-time All-NBA First Team selection. This is why it came as such a surprise to many that Howard was left off the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2022.

And Howard admitted that being left off the top-75 list felt seriously disrespectful, but now going in the Hall of Fame twice in the same year more than makes up for it, via NBA TV:

“The great part about it is, I’m going in two times. So it’s like the 75, yes it hurt. It was like a big slap in the face to not be on that team. But to go in the Hall of Fame, not only for what I did in contributions for myself, but to help the USA team win a gold medal and to go in twice in the same year, man, it’s like God said you know what, I’m gonna double-pound you with a blessing for being persistent, consistent and always thanking me for blessing you. So, again, all praises go to God.”

There is no reason for Howard to have been left off that top-75 list, but it is great to see the former Lakers big receiving the praise and recognition he is deserving off. He was an absolute force in his prime and there’s a reason Howard was selected for the Redeem Team in 2008 alongside the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Not to mention Howard’s comeback story, being a big part of the Lakers’ 2020 squad and winning his lone NBA Championship, capped off a truly outstanding career and one that is now being properly appreciated.

Dwight Howard was happy to squash beef with Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal​

One thing that may not have endeared Dwight Howard to many fans was his longstanding beef with Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal. But the two have since squashed any issues they’ve had and Howard was happy to do so.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/dwight-how...e-face-to-not-make-nba-75th-anniversary-team/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

FIBA EuroBasket 2025: Luka Doncic Has Opportunity To Make History Vs. Germany

It’s been a busy summer for Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic as he’s been in the thick of competing in FIBA EuroBasket 2025.

Doncic leads an underdog Slovenia roster devoid of NBA talent other than the Lakers guard, but the team has managed to advance in the round of 16 after a thrilling upset win over Italy. Luka was dominant in the win, erupting for 42 points to go along with 10 rebounds and three steals.

Throughout the tournament, Doncic has been nearly unguardable as he can score from all three levels as well as draw free throws at an elite clip. For an undermanned Slovenia team, Doncic is everything on both ends of the floor and is the main reason why they’re even being given a slight chance to upset Germany in the next round.

With the matchup against Germany looming, Doncic has a chance to make history if he can score 30 or more points, via Eurohoops:

Luka Doncic is just one game shy of tying Greek legend Nikos Galis for the most 30+ point games in a single EuroBasket tournament since 1989!

Will Luka tie—or even surpass—Galis?

In 1987, Galis scored 30+ points in all 8 games he played #Eurobasket pic.twitter.com/7d13NZNwW4

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 8, 2025

Doncic has already cemented himself as one of the best scorers in international play as he already ranks within the top 50, via FIBA EuroBasket:

Generational bucket getter.

Luka Doncic has entered the TOP 50 of all-time #EuroBasket scorers. pic.twitter.com/cgyFRxSls2

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 7, 2025

Like LeBron James, Doncic is at his best when gets to facilitate but is a natural with a great feel of when to take over. In EuroBasket, Luka has either made teams pay at the rim or at the free throw line, but he’s also been solid from distance.

Slovenia is considered a long-shot to get past a German team featuring NBA players like Franz Wagner, Dennis Schroder and Tristan da Silva, but Doncic gives his squad a chance whenever he’s on the floor. Known for showing up in pivotal games, it’ll be interesting to see if Doncic has another EuroBasket upset in him.

LeBron James expresses support for Luka Doncic​

Like the rest of the Lakers fan base, LeBron James is heavily invested in how Luka Doncic performs in EuroBasket. The Lakers need the best version of Doncic to win a title, and so far he looks up to the task.

Following Slovenia’s win against Italy, James showed support for his Lakers co-star by posting on his personal Instagram account.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/fiba-eurob...c-has-opportunity-to-make-history-vs-germany/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Highlights: Luka Doncic & Slovenia Fall To Germany In Quarterfinals

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic and Slovenia were always in for an uphill battle against tournament favorite Germany in the quarterfinals of FIBA EuroBasket 2025. But for much of the contest, it was Doncic and Slovenia holding the lead and looking primed for yet another upset in the tournament.

Unfortunately, despite Luka’s best efforts, Slovenia was unable to hold on to their lead in the fourth quarter, being outscored by double-digits and seeing their upset bid come up just short in a 99-91 loss to Germany.

Doncic was once again outstanding as the Lakers star dominated with 39 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, giving everything he had despite dealing with foul trouble throughout the contest. Luka picked up his third foul late in the first half and his fourth early in the third quarter, forcing him to play very carefully for the remainder of the contest as it only takes five fouls to foul out in international play.

Even still, Slovenia went into the fourth quarter holding on to a four-point lead after Tristan de Silva banked in a half-court buzzer-beater for Germany to end the third. But Slovenia struggled to keep their offense going in the fourth, scoring just 17 points as Germany was finally able to take control and hold on for the victory.

Doncic's incredible #EuroBasket run comes to an end but he had another scoring spree against Germany.

39 PTS | 10 REB | 7 AST pic.twitter.com/tVoTQxlv32

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 10, 2025

Orlando Magic wing Franz Wagner led Germany with 23 points and seven rebounds while former Lakers and current Sacramento Kings point guard Dennis Schroeder finished with 20 points and seven assists. Germany also got a strong showing from former NBA big man Daniel Theis, who contributed 15 points and nine rebounds.

Klemen Prepelic finished with 13 points for Slovenia while Gregor Hrovat added 11 points, four rebounds and three assists, but it just wasn’t enough to keep their run going.

Despite the loss, it was an impressive run for Doncic and Slovenia, especially considering how things started for them in EuroBasket. Slovenia won just one of their exhibition contests coming into the tournament and then proceeded to drop their first two games in group play against Poland and France. But they would rally to win their final three games and then defeat Italy in the round of 16 behind Luka’s impressive play on both ends of the floor as he leads the tournament in both points and steals.

Germany will now go on to face Finland, led by Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, in the semifinals with the winner facing the winner of Greece-Turkey in the FIBA EuroBasket Finals on Sunday.

Next up for Luka Doncic and Slovenia​

Unfortunately, this ends the run of Luka Doncic and Slovenia at FIBA EuroBasket 2025. The next time Luka will be on a court will be when the Lakers take the floor in the preseason in a few weeks.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/fiba-eurob...ic-slovenia-fall-to-germany-in-quarterfinals/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Shaquille O’Neal Launches Sneaker Shaped Shaq-A-Licious Gummies

Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal has always been willing to put his name and brand on the things that he really believes in. One of his more recent ventures has been his Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies, which he launched in 2024 in partnership with The Hershey Company. These gummies were ideated, developed and taste-tested by Shaq himself.

Now, O’Neal and Hershey have announced that Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies in sneaker shapes are now available nationwide.

“Shaq-A-Licious started with a big idea—make candy that’s bold, fun, and full of flavor. Now we’re stepping it up with sneaker-shaped gummies and three wild new flavors for gummy lovers everywhere,” said O’Neal. “I’ve been part of this from the start, from the flavors to the shapes, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come. This is just the beginning.”

These gummies are a nod to his SHAQ Footwear brand, made in the shape of his sneakers and inspired by his time on the court and fierce dedication to the sneaker and basketball community. This new line of sneaker-shaped gummies will come in three flavors: mango (orange), lime (green) and strawberry (red).

Since its launch in 2024, Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies have sold more than 11 million units, making it Hershey’s top sweets launch of the year.

“Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies isn’t just a candy, it’s a brand with serious momentum. The response to our first launch was huge, and the new sneaker-shaped gummies are our way of keeping that energy going,” said Vivek Mehrotra, Senior Brand Manager, Shaq-A-Licious, The Hershey Company. “This is about more than flavor; it’s about building something fun, lasting and larger than life.”

Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies in sneaker shapes are the newest addition to Shaquille O’Neals Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies line.

These new sneaker-shaped gummies join the Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies lineup that includes the original, which feature peach, berry punch and orange flavors and are shaped like the Lakers legend’s head, as well as the sour which come in pineapple, mixed berry and watermelon flavors and have shapes honoring the legendary nicknames of Shaq.

Shaquille O’Neal frustrated by Lakers icon Kobe Bryant being left out of GOAT conversations​

Many consider Shaquille O’Neal to be the most dominant player in NBA history, but he isn’t usually spoken about in the GOAT conversations that tend to boil down to Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James. But Shaq isn’t frustrated at himself not being in those debates, but instead the fact that his Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant is continually left out and the big man recently spoke on his frustration.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...es-new-sneaker-shaped-shaq-a-licious-gummies/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Luka Doncic Criticizes Officiating After Slovenia Loses To Germany In FIBA EuroBasket Quarterfinals

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic had his EuroBasket run with Sloevnia cut short with a 99-91 loss to Germany in the quarterfinals of the international tournament. Doncic was stellar yet again, finishing with 39 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. But the Germans — one of the favorites going into the tournament — advanced to the semifinals.

Luka getting Slovenia to the quarterfinals at all was seen as a massive shock. They did not have any NBA talent besides Doncic, and even their top EuroLeague players were ruled ineligible by their club teams. It took a Herculean effort from the Lakers star to get them where he did, but they still had a chance to defeat Germany and advance even farther.

After the loss, the 26-year-old superstar voiced his complaints about officiating, both for an early technical foul call and for the fact that he had to play most of the fourth quarter carefully because of foul trouble, as translated by Luka Updates:

Luka was asked about the refs:

"That can only… I won't say anything. First I got a tehnical 2 minutes into a game for yelling 'alo', but ok. In quarter-final that shouldn't happen no matter what player you are. If you don't even get a warning first, then I don't know. But it's… pic.twitter.com/nlfE7CR3HJ

— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) September 10, 2025

Doncic is certainly known for his candor when it comes to officiating, and while it’s something he’s often criticized for, his frustration from this game makes some sense. Getting a technical foul in the opening minutes of a quarterfinal match for yelling something is a bit harsh, and did appear to be the refs sending an early message to both teams.

But Luka is never going to change his style of play to match what the officials are hoping for, and he is never going to shy away from critiques when he feels they’re warranted.

Luka Doncic proud of Slovenia​

Luka Doncic showed the entire world that his body transformation wasn’t just for show as he led an underdog Slovenia team to the elimination rounds of FIBA EuroBasket 2025.

Doncic was at the center of Slovenia’s upset win against Italy, doing everything he could on both ends of the floor to ensure his team would win. Unfortunately for him and his teammates, they ran into Germany in the quarterfinals and were eliminated from EuroBasket after losing 99-91.

Doncic put up a valiant effort against the loaded German team featuring several NBA players, recording a near-triple-double of 39 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. The counting stats are absurd and it goes to show how much heavy lifting Doncic needed to do to drag Slovenia that far into the tournament.

Following the loss to Germany, the Slovenian star expressed he was angry and believed he could have done more. However, Doncic later showed how proud he was of Slovenia via his personal Instagram account.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...loses-to-germany-in-eurobasket-quarterfinals/