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[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Gives Update On Relationship With Drake

Last year saw the biggest rap beef in history completely take over the country and even the world. Kendrick Lamar and Drake traded diss tracks throughout much of the year and things got personal to the point where many were forced to choose a side, and that included Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.

The consensus is that Lamar got the best of Drake in those records, catapulting himself to a whole new level of superstardom. While James and Drake have been friends for a long time, LeBron did attend Kendrick’s famous ‘The Pop Out’ concert at the Kia Forum, which some took as him siding with the Compton native during the beef.

Drake has admitted to being affected by some people seeming to turn their backs on him during that time and LeBron seems to be part of that group. And in a recent interview with Complex Sports, the Lakers superstar admitted that he and Drake are in different places at the moment, but that he will always have love for the hip-hop artist:

“Always. Always. Always wish him the best obviously. Different places right now currently. He’s doing his thing, I’m doing mine. But it’s always love for sure.”

While Drake’s beef with Lamar was the focal point, there were many others throughout the music industry who took shots at Drake during that time as well, likely leading to him feeling that people abandoned him. Seeing a friend like James at that concert singing along to songs that tear him down was surely a punch to the gut, even though LeBron likely just wanted to be in attendance to what was truly a historic show.

Regardless, all friendships go through ups and downs, even those involving two of the most famous people on earth. Drake was hurt by the actions of LeBron and others such as DeMar DeRozan, and time will see if they are able to re-connect.

Lakers’ LeBron James rules out coaching in his future​

As he is set to enter his 23rd season in the NBA, LeBron James at some point soon will be retiring from playing the game of basketball and will have to turn his focus towards other endeavors. And for as much as he loves the game of basketball and will continue to be around it for the rest of his life, one thing the Lakers superstar will not be doing is becoming a coach.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-gives-update-on-relationship-with-drake/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Were Impressed By Luka Doncic’s Defense In EuroBasket

Luka Doncic was simply incredible during Slovenia’s unlikely run to the EuroBasket quarterfinals. The Los Angeles Lakers star led the entire tournament in points per game (34.7) and efficiency rating per game (36.6), while finishing second in assists (7.1).

The most impressive of these stats, though, might be his tournament-leading 2.7 steals per game. Doncic has never been known as a good defender. In fact, his defense is one of the main things the Dallas Mavericks cited when they dealt him to the Lakers at the trade deadline in February.

But the Lakers star slimmed down significantly over the summer, and it’s possible that has led to an increase in athleticism on both ends of the floor. That’s something the Lakers certainly noticed when watching Luka at EuroBasket, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

The Lakers’ coaching staff, team sources said, was impressed with how Doncic was moving compared with how he played in the second half of last season, when he was slowed because of a lingering calf strain. His improvement showed in Doncic’s quickness in splitting double-teams. It showed in his lift off the floor.

It even showed defensively, long a wart on what is already a Hall of Fame résumé.

At one point during the tournament, sources told ESPN, St. Jean showed a video edit of Doncic’s defensive effort to Slovenia’s coach, Aleksander Sekulić. St. Jean believed that Doncic, beyond his offensive brilliance, was the team’s best defensive player, too. The edit showed — possession by possession — Doncic’s proper placement, communication with teammates and overall commitment.

Doncic is never going to be an All-NBA Defense type player. However, the Mavericks have already proven that great defenses can be built around the Slovenian superstar. And part of that is because of his high IQ leading to great off-ball defensive instincts.

But if his newfound athleticism will allow him to do a better job jumping passing lanes and have continued stamina on both ends of the floor, the Lakers may have an easier time doing that same thing.

Luka Doncic’s performance convincing Lakers to invest more in roster​

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka went into the summer of 2025 with a clear plan. They wanted to build a competitive team around Luka Doncic while maintaining flexibility to add star talent in one of the two future offseasons. It’s why only four of the 15 players on the roster have guaranteed deals beyond 2025-26.

It has been an eventful few months for Doncic since Pelinka ideated that plan, though. He slimmed down significantly, signed a three-year extension to stay with the Lakers and led Slovenia on an unexpected run to the EuroBasket quarterfinals. Luka was by far the best overall player at one of the best international competitions.

Pelinka was a witness to Doncic’s entire summer, and it may have had an impact on how the Lakers choose to do business this upcoming season.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-were-impressed-by-luka-doncic-defense-in-eurobasket/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Rob Pelinka More Willing To Invest In Lakers Roster After Luka Doncic’s EuroBasket Performance

The Los Angeles Lakers and general manager Rob Pelinka went into the summer of 2025 with a clear plan. They wanted to build a competitive team around Luka Doncic while maintaining flexibility to add star talent in one of the two future offseasons. It’s why only four of the 15 players on the roster have guaranteed deals beyond 2025-26.

It has been an eventful few months for Doncic since Pelinka ideated that plan, though. He slimmed down significantly, signed a three-year extension to stay with the Lakers and led Slovenia on an unexpected run to the EuroBasket quarterfinals. Luka was by far the best overall player at one of the best international competitions.

Pelinka was a witness to Doncic’s entire summer, and it may have had an impact on how the Lakers choose to do business this upcoming season. The Lakers decision-maker explained why, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

“Luka’s play in EuroBasket made it clear to the entire basketball world that he’s on that incredibly short list of ‘best player on the planet’ candidates, if not at the top,” Pelinka said. “In terms of team building, we’ve talked about the importance of having optionality and when I use that word, it’s not to say in the future. I think optionality is also in the now. Having both Luka as arguably the best player on the planet and LeBron James, who is still in the mix of being one of the great players in our game, even at his age, continues to allow us to think carefully about the value of that optionality.”

Part of the optionality that Pelinka discusses here is all of the expiring contracts the team has, plus their tradable first-round draft picks, all of which could theoretically combine to give the Lakers a strong chance at a high-caliber player:

L.A. will open training camp with 14 players on the roster, including Rui Hachimura ($18.3 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million) and Maxi Kleber ($11 million) on expiring contracts. They can include one of their 2031 or 2032 first-round picks in a potential deal. And with Doncic signed long term, the Lakers are open to trading for a player on a contract that extends beyond 2026, sources told ESPN.

“If there are smart ways to pour into our championship aspirations for next year, we will execute on those,” Pelinka said. “And we see having those two players on our team next year [as] an important moment, and we’ll continue to try to do all we can to deliver this franchise its 18th championship.”

It’s unclear exactly what type of move the Lakers could be talking about here, as Andrew Wiggins is the only player L.A. has been remotely connected to in the last month to fit that description. However, the change in attitude could simply represent Pelinka being more proactive on high-level players with multi-year deals.

For now, it’s still seemingly more likely the Lakers enter the season and see what they have right now.

Luka Doncic unsure if he’ll get closure from Mavericks trade​

Luka Doncic has been very open about how shocked and hurt he was at finding out he had been traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers. While he has now accepted it and embraced being a member of the Lakers franchise, he considered Dallas home and planned on playing his entire career with the Mavericks.

The Mavericks pointed to their belief that Luka was not always in the best of shape and questionable work ethic as reasons they felt the need to move on from the superstar and the tension between the two sides remains present. In fact, Doncic feels things will always be strange between himself and the Mavericks and is unsure he will ever receive closure.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/rob-pelink...ter-after-luka-doncic-eurobasket-performance/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Rob Pelinka & Lakers Were Happy To Support Luka Doncic Playing In EuroBasket

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 saw a number of the best international players in the NBA today suiting up for their home countries. Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic was arguably the best player in the tournament, but Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Alperen Sengun, Lauri Markkanen and many others also took part in the prestigious tournament that ultimately saw Germany take home the gold medal.

It was also notable that the Lakers showed their full support of Doncic taking part in the tournament as team Governor Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka both traveled to Poland to watch their star player lead his country of Slovenia. And as far as Pelinka is concerned, it was an easy decision to support Luka fully, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

“Luka has a tremendous amount of heartfelt pride and appreciation for his roots and playing for his country,” Pelinka told ESPN. “I just think in the partnerships we have with our players, the Lakers want to be mindful of players’ passions and who they are as men and then lean in and support those things. So, around Luka, it was a very easy partnership decision that we wanted to support.”

The Lakers have always been a franchise that takes pride in fully supporting their superstars and with this being so important for Doncic to participate, they had no issues with him playing. In fact, Pelinka believes that having a bit more focus on team basketball, as opposed to the mostly individual work that takes place in the offseason, can be a good thing:

“Players playing basketball in the offseason is something that, from a leadership standpoint, I support,” Pelinka said. “I think you could say in some sense that some of the offseason and sort of the current basketball lens, especially in the States, is on individual work. And I think that sort of the team environment can get lost.”

Of course, the risk of injury is always a major concern with these tournaments, but Pelinka was not concerned about that and trusts that Doncic knows best how to prepare himself for the upcoming season:

“There’s risk in anything,” he said. “There’s risks in over-individualized training and wearing muscles down that way, or joints down that way. Luka’s incredibly thoughtful about how he approaches his way to improve as a basketball player. And I think you can tell he is the highest form of himself when he is in a competitive environment. That’s just what animates him.”

The Lakers have fully embraced Luka as the face of this franchise and are prepared to build around him for many years to come. He clearly has the complete support of the entire Lakers organization and that will only strengthen their relationship as the years go on.

Lakers were impressed by Luka Doncic’s defense at EuroBasket​

Luka Doncic wasn’t just dominant offensively at EuroBasket, he was also one of the best defensive players in the tournament, leading all players in steals. And his efforts on that side of the court impressed the Lakers.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/rob-pelinka-lakers-were-happy-to-support-luka-doncic-playing-in-eurobasket/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Lays Out Post-Retirement Goals

It was an eventful summer for Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James as he made noise upon opting into the final year of his contract. Despite entering his 23rd season, James expressed a desire to compete for another championship before calling it a career.

Currently at four titles, the 40-year-old is looking to capture his fifth one and time will tell if that will come in L.A. given its new direction with Luka Doncic. To James’ credit, he is still playing at an All-NBA level and finished sixth in MVP voting in 2024-25, so another chance at a championship feels deserved.

However, the Akron native’s time in basketball is dwindling, even though he is putting off Father Time. What life will be like after the NBA remains to be seen, but James laid out his post-retirement goals with his media company Uninterrupted, via Complex’s 360 With Speedy:

“I want to continue to build, I want to build the greatest storytelling company there is. We’ve been putting that work in, Uninterrupted, we’ve been doing it and we do all type of shows and we do podcasts now. We do movies and TV shows, everything, cartoons, everything. But, I want to build, like when people start like wanting to come up with ideas, they think of us. They want to pitch it to us, you know what I’m saying? And that comes from that Fresh Prince of Bel-Air moment that Will Smith, that Biggie, that Nas, that storytelling, that’s that inspiration right there. And I want to build that, not only for athletes but like shit, when you decide to do a show, you think Uninterrupted, man. We want to build, we want to build that. So, whoever, whatever, people want to create something, they think of us. I feel like Disney and all those, they’ve done enough, they got enough.”

The 21-time All-Star has already begun to dive into the media space with his podcast “Mind the Game” and starring in his own Space Jam movie. Uninterrupted has blossomed into its own brand and James is frequently promoting it to make it as big as possible.

LeBron’s competitive drive is one of a kind, so even when he decides to call it a career, the four-time MVP will find something else to obsess over. Hopefully, Uninterrupted turns into a titan that can compete with the likes of Disney, which would be a historic feat, something James is familiar with.

LeBron James reveals movement he knew he was special​

Coming into the NBA with absurd expectations as a high school prospect would be daunting for any young teenager. For LeBron James, it did not take him long to find his footing at the professional level, recently detailing the moment he knew he was destined for greatness.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-lays-out-post-retirement-goals/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Reveals Pregame Superstitions

One thing about Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is that he is a man of routine, which is a huge reason why he is playing All-NBA caliber basketball 22 seasons in. As he prepares for his 23rd season, nothing will change and that dedication is doing wonders for his case of being arguably the greatest of all-time.

The Lakers’ addition of Luka Doncic projects to be a positive in reducing James’ workload. At 40-years-old, he needs someone to relieve on-ball duties and the responsibility of manufacturing offense.

However, James knows he needs to be ready to play his game and do whatever is needed from him to win. While his workouts and remedies get him into peak game shape, the four-time champion detailed some superstitions he has before every game, via Complex’s 360 With Speedy:

“I am always the same unless I feel something is off. I will lay my uniform out, the same way before every game. I will pick a shoe that I’m going to wear according sometimes to either the opponent or the team. If I’m playing a certain player, a specific shoe may get worn that night just because of my competitive nature. Like a colorway… But, if I go out in warmups and I feel a certain way and the shoes don’t feel right, I will absolutely run back to the locker room and change before the game starts. Or if I’m shitty in the first quarter, they getting swapped out. I haven’t swapped out many shoes cause it’s not many shitty quarters for me.”

Most players are usually superstitious when it comes to on-court appearance and what they wear during a game. Things like pregame drills, routines or workouts are something James does not sway from.

It makes sense for him to be this self conscious about shoes he wears because every detail matters to him. Ultimately, stars want to feel comfortable and at their best when they are on the floor. Regardless of how trivial it may sound, sometimes wearing a pair of shoes that do not feel right may throw off a player’s performance.

Fortunately for James, he does not allow himself to ignore those thoughts and makes sure he is ready to go every single night.

LeBron James lays out post-retirement goals​

The inevitable end is coming for LeBron James despite it looking like he will be the first person to defeat Father Time. When that time will come has yet to be revealed, but James recently laid out his goals once he decides to hang it up.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-reveals-pregame-superstitions/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Luka Doncic Details First Moment He Felt Like Member Of Lakers

When the Los Angeles Lakers surprisingly traded for Luka Doncic, there was speculation on whether he wanted to remain in L.A. for the long term. Inherently, general manager Rob Pelinka took a risk because the Slovenian guard was due for a new contract in two years.

It was a tough adjustment for Doncic because he loved playing for the Dallas Mavericks and he truly wanted to bring a championship to the city. However, the NBA is a cruel business at times and he had to uproot his entire life midseason, which is tough for any player.

The only way Doncic would feel at home is if the Lakers front office and fanbase made it feel like one. When asked about the moment he felt like a Laker, the 26-year-old said his first home game due to the electric environment and support he received, via the Wall Street Journal:

“It was probably my first game, when I started. The way they welcomed me, all the shirts in the chairs and that was the moment I felt like a Laker.”

When he was dealt to L.A., Doncic was dealing with a calf injury since Christmas and anticipation was mounting for him to make his debut. For the Lakers to get a star of his caliber to help win now and lead the team into the future is a rarity.

However, that feeling he felt during his first game at Crypto.com Arena will not be the last. Lakers fans will continue to cheer him on so he can feel comfortable playing out the rest of his career in L.A.

This season is an exciting one because it is Doncic’s first full season as a Laker and no better way to begin that journey at home on Opening Night. In only a small sample size of 28 games last year, Doncic left fans with absurd highlights already, so more greatness awaits him as a member of the purple and gold.

Rob Pelinka & Lakers were happy to support Luka Doncic playing in EuroBasket​

The Lakers are a first-class organization that takes care of their stars. Luka Doncic is the next one to experience this treatment.

He notably put in a ton of work to improve his body and conditioning so the Lakers can hit the ground running this season. But an opportunity to represent his country presented itself in FIBA EuroBasket, which can admittedly be scary for an orgnaization considering an injury can happen at anytime. But Rob Pelinka and the Lakers organization were happy to support Doncic playing for Slovenia, even traveling to Poland to be there in person.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/luka-doncic-details-first-moment-he-felt-like-member-of-lakers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Carmelo Anthony Calls Lakers Season His ‘Best Year’

Carmelo Anthony is just one of a handful of NBA greats that were fortunate enough to don the Los Angeles Lakers jersey during their careers.

Anthony’s final season in the league came with the Lakers during the 2021-22 season, coming off the bench and playing a much lesser role than he was accustomed to. At that point in his career, he had accepted he was far past the star forward who used to be able to score at will. Although reduced to more of a spot-up shooter, Anthony thrived in spurts before deciding to officially walk away from basketball for good.

Los Angeles missed the playoffs that season, but it was still a joy to watch Anthony light it up for one season. There were numerous times in the past where it seemed like Carmelo would join L.A., but the two sides finally joined forces for his last go-around.

Because the Lakers missed the playoffs, most fans normally dismiss the 2021-22 season but Anthony called it the best one of his career, via CTRL the Narrative:

“New York was more refined and more intellectual, more of a student of the game and thought the game out more so than the physical game. In all honesty, my best year that I’ve ever had was with the Lakers. And people will be like how can that be, you only played one year with them? But when you look at the numbers and the efficiency and field goal percent, we’re in a game of numbers now and analytics. So if you look at analytics, the Lakers’ year was one of my best years out of 19 seasons.”

From an efficient field goal percentage standpoint, Anthony is correct in that his final season with L.A. was the most efficient of his career. He also shot 37.5 percent from the 3-point line, though that was good for the sixth-best shooting season of his career.

Anthony deserves credit for morphing his game to thrive on less shot attempts and contributing more as a floor spacer than primary option. At his peak, Carmelo could score with the best of them but he showed he was more adaptable in his later years.

Highlights from Carmelo Anthony’s Hall of Fame induction​

Because of career numbers and scoring acumen, Carmelo Anthony was a shoe-in to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Anthony earned his spot with the 2025 Class and highlights of his enshrinement include Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade welcoming him along with a heartfelt thank you to his father and the game of basketball.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/carmelo-anthony-calls-lakers-season-his-best-year/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Dwight Howard Wanted To Play Like Magic Johnson Growing Up

Dwight Howard was recently inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and for good reason as the big man was one of the most dominant centers during his playing days.

Howard was a defensive force throughout his entire career, capturing three Defensive Player of the Year Awards as a member of the Orlando Magic. Howard even led the Magic to a Finals appearance in 2009, though they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

After an unsuccessful run across multiple teams, Howard found himself back in Los Angeles where he helped the storied franchise win the 2020 NBA Championship. Howard served a key role off the bench as the primary backup center to Anthony Davis and JaVale McGee, though he also started games in the playoff run.

While Howard established himself as one of the best centers to ever play, he actually grew up wanting to play like Lakers legend Magic Johnson, via Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson:

“Well see, I grew up playing point guard so I watched a lot of Magic Johnson tapes. I wanted to be Magic Johnson when I grew up and then I got to the 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade… It started to be Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan and thought that their intensity and that power forwards handle the ball and shoot; I loved it and so I wanted to pattern my game after them.”

Johnson was one of the few tall guards and playmakers during his era and he went on to have one of the best and most exciting careers of anyone in NBA history. Johnson proved that taller players didn’t always need to play in the post, so for someone like Howard that must have been eye-opening growing up.

Most young players start out playing guard before moving up positions as they grow, so it sounds like Howard followed the same track. Things worked out for him as he was able to leverage his size, athleticism, physicality and instincts to be a menace defensively.

Howard deserves more respect in NBA circles for his contributions and he even admitted that it was a slap in the face to not be named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. He might not have been a pure scorer, but his game on both ends spoke for itself.

Dwight Howard explains what happened with Lakers in 2020 offseason​

Dwight Howard wanted to remain with the Lakers following the 2020 title, but he wound up signing with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency instead. Years later, Howard explained that he had a deal with L.A. on the table before they apparently took it off.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-dwight-howard-wanted-to-play-like-magic-johnson-growing-up/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Rich Paul Implores People To Appreciate Present & Not Worry About Future With LeBron James

There are a lot of questions surrounding Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James heading into his 23rd NBA season. He is not only set to become the first player in NBA history to ever play that many seasons, but he is also entering the final year of his contract with the Lakers and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Of course at this stage of his career, every season could be his final year in the league, but if he does choose to play beyond this season, people are wondering if James could be suiting up elsewhere. These are questions many around the league are asking, but his agent Rich Paul feels people’s focus should be elsewhere.

In an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today, insider Shams Charania revealed that he spoke to Paul with the agent saying that people shouldn’t worry about the LeBron’s future, but rather focus on appreciating him in the present:

“I think just seeing how this year plays out. I mean, it’s clear that he’s not sure. Does he have one year left? Does he have another season after that, so 2026-2027? I did speak to his agent Rich Paul at Klutch Sports today and he told me, ‘It’s important not to worry about the future when it comes to LeBron James, just appreciate the present.’ And also maximizing his present and that onus potentially falling on the Lakers and what team they put around him. But it’s obvious, how does he feel about the Lakers going into the season, as the year continues on can they be a contender moving forward? And I think the other thing that also sits here as well is, Bryce James is gonna start his freshman year at college. How does he look? How does he look at a prospect? How does he play into the 2026 NBA Draft? So these are all things I think LeBron James is gonna be open-minded about.”

As Charania noted, there are a lot of things at play on all sides. How the Lakers approach this year in trying to win immediately while also staying flexible for the future is important, and James will surely be keeping an eye on that. And the potential of his second son Bryce James entering the NBA a year from now is of the utmost importance to LeBron without a doubt.

But while all the questions about James’ future are valid, Paul is right in that it is important to really appreciate his greatness in the present while he is still playing at such a high level. It’s easy to get caught up in all of the drama, but if this is LeBron’s final year with the Lakers, or in the NBA period, everyone should enjoy it.

Lakers’ LeBron James congratulates A’ja Wilson on record 4th WNBA MVP Award​

Speaking of appreciating the present, LeBron James made sure to do so with WNBA star A’ja Wilson as the Lakers superstar took to social media to congratulate her on becoming the first player to win four WNBA MVP awards.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...ent-not-worry-about-future-with-lebron-james/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Explains Why He’s Always Prompt

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is a consummate professional on and off the floor, and that has helped him play this well so late into his career.

James is well-known for how much work he does to stay in top shape year-round, something players like Alex Caruso learned by just being around him.

However, not only does LeBron do whatever it takes to take care of his body, but he is also notorious for being early to things. In a recent episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash, James explained why he’s never tardy to things:

“I think I was born into it for some odd reason. I’ve always had a feeling of like…I don’t like being late to anything. It was always like…I feel like it’s a disrespectful thing. My stomach starts to hurt a little bit, my anxiety starts to ramp up if I’m late or tardy. It happened when I was even in like elementary school. If the bell rung before I was in my chair I guess my whole day would be messed up. I didn’t pick it up from my mom, I don’t think so. I don’t think I picked that up from my mom, I literally think I was just born that way. I’ve always been like…my anxiety…I can’t function when I’m late and it stuck with me throughout my…obviously now I’m 40 years old. But when I started playing organized sports it was like the perfect match for me because if you’re not on time to practice you will have to run. I played little league football. If you didn’t run, you’d have to run sprints or you’d have to run gashers or 17s and I know football people out there they know exactly what those are and that -expletive- is punishment. You do not want to be late to a football practice and have to run gashers or 17s or 100s. My mom didn’t have a car growing when we were growing up, so if I was late because of someone picking me up late or whatever the case may be and I couldn’t control that. Even though I would still have anxiety about being late, some things I couldn’t control.

“But to hear Grant say those words it’s just always been in me. I feel like especially when you start playing sports and you’re around other people and as you get older and older and older and you go from little league to middle school ball to high school ball and if it’s either college or the professionals wherever you are…I’ve always looked at it as like a disrespect to the people that you’re working with. You’re late and you’re disrespecting other people’s time and I never felt good about that. What other people that’s what other people do but for me personally being on time has always been late to me. So to be able to get to places early, I didn’t know I was setting the tone for the rest of the group whatever stage that was. But to be there on time I felt like it was late and I wanted to be there extra early, talk to the coaches. This past summer when we was with the Olympic team the coaches are always gonna be there a little bit early. They talk about what they want to do tonight versus the opponents or practice. I get there early and just kind of watch the film, or talk to them and see what’s going on and then the guys start trickling in and coming in. But it’s just always been me.”

For someone like James, routine and schedule is important so it’s no surprise that he does his best to arrive on time. Promptness goes a long way and it’s clearly helped LeBron become one of the best to ever do it.

More of today’s youth can certainly learn from that as promptness seems to be a thing of the past in all walks of life.

Luka Doncic believes LeBron James’ experience will help Lakers​

LeBron James forming the habits he has happened over the course of his 22-year career. He has seen and experienced basically everything, which Luka Doncic feels will help the Lakers compete for a championship this season.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-explains-why-hes-always-prompt/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Luka Doncic: New Season Feels Like Start Of Lakers Tenure

The Los Angeles Lakers begin the 2025-26 NBA season in less than four weeks when they face the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21. It marks the start of Luka Doncic’s first full season as a member of the franchise after being traded to L.A. in February of last season and signing an extension with the Lakers in August.

The Lakers go into the 2025-26 season with the general consensus being that they improved slightly on their team that lost in the first round of last year’s playoffs. Some of that improvement comes from Doncic himself, as the 26-year-old slimmed down significantly in the summer and had a historic EuroBasket showing for Slovenia.

Now he’s ready to take the floor for the Lakers for the first time to begin a new season. And for him, despite already debuting in L.A., this new campaign feels fresh for the European superstar, via Dan Woike of The Athletic:

“This,” Doncic tells The Athletic, “feels like a start for me.”

Many wondered how long it would take for Doncic to mentally and emotionally transition from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers, but it seems that transition has firmly been made:

“I’m way comfortable,” he said with a grin. “Especially going to training camp, you know, having practice with the guys — like I said, it’s a start for me.

“But I will feel way more comfortable now.”

A comfortable, slimmed down and motivated Doncic is a dangerous thought for the rest of the league. After all, this is the player with five All-NBA first team selections in the five seasons where he’s started and finished the year with the same team and wasn’t a rookie.

This feeling like a fresh start for the superstar means that the Lakers may get a version of him they didn’t see at all in their unexpected months together last season.

Luka Doncic details first moment he felt like Laker​

When the Lakers surprisingly traded for Luka Doncic, there was speculation on whether he wanted to remain in L.A. for the long term. Inherently, general manager Rob Pelinka took a risk because the Slovenian guard was due for a new contract in two years.

It was a tough adjustment for Doncic because he loved playing for the Dallas Mavericks and he truly wanted to bring a championship to the city. However, the NBA is a cruel business at times and he had to uproot his entire life midseason, which is tough for any player.

The only way Doncic would feel at home is if the Lakers front office and fanbase made it feel like one. When asked about the moment he felt like a Laker, the 26-year-old said his first home game due to the electric environment and support he received.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/luka-doncic-new-season-feels-like-start-of-lakers-tenure/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

ESPN NBA Rank: Lakers’ Luka Doncic Lands At No. 3

The 2024-25 season was the turning point of Luka Doncic’s career as he was surprisingly traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. The stunning move sent shockwaves throughout the NBA and the ripple effects will be felt for years to come as the Lakers can comfortably say they have a top-five player in Doncic leading the way.

Doncic understandably took time to acclimate to his new surroundings in Los Angeles, but eventually started to look more like himself. Luka helped lead the Lakers to the third seed, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 28 games.

However, he and the team were outmatched in the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves and eliminated in five games. Despite the disappointing end to the season, Doncic still finished near the top of ESPN’s annual NBA Rank survey. Last year, Doncic finished at No. 2 and dropped just one spot:

3. Luka Doncic, G, Los Angeles Lakers
2024 NBA Rank: 2

Doncic changed teams but barely budged from his position near the top of NBA Rank from last year, sliding from No. 2 to No. 3. The 26-year-old is coming off a successful summer during which he slimmed down, inked a three-year, $165 million contract extension with L.A. and led Slovenia all the way to the quarterfinals of EuroBasket while pouring in 34.7 points per game in the tournament. Last season was the first time since Doncic was a rookie that the 6-6 guard didn’t receive any votes for MVP, as a calf injury, plus the midseason trade, limited him to a career-low 50 games. NBA Rank voters are banking on Doncic to resume his Dallas trajectory now that he’s committed to the Lakers.

Despite everything Doncic had to endure, he still found ways to put up numbers and is poised for a career year. The superstar took the offseason to transform his body and he looked dominant in Slovenia’s run during EuroBasket 2025.

Doncic is being touted as an early MVP candidate and he should be motivated more than anyone to prove he belongs in the conversation for best player in the world.

Luka Doncic says new season feels like start of Lakers tenure​

Luka Doncic looked shellshocked at his Lakers introductory press conference and it was completely understandable given the circumstances. There were times Doncic flashed his normal smile on the court, but it was clear he was still hurting from the trade.

However, Luka seemed much happier this summer after taking time to process the season and get his body right. Now, Doncic heads into his first full year with the Lakers and he feels like it’s truly the start of his tenure representing the purple and gold.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/espn-nba-rank-lakers-luka-doncic-lands-at-no-3/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Sign Jarron Cumberland & Waive Arthur Kaluma

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Jarron Cumberland. In a related move, the team has waived forward Arthur Kaluma.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed but it is likely an Exhibit 10 signing to get a look at Cumberland during training camp and the preseason.

With an Exhibit 10 deal, if the Lakers waive Cumberland and he does not get signed to an NBA roster via standard or two-way contracts, he can join the South Bay Lakers roster for the 2025-26 G League season. The Lakers also have an open two-way roster spot he can compete for in camp.

Cumberland is a 28-year-old guard out of Cincinnati that went undrafted in 2021. He has spent time with a number of different organizations in the G League, including Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Raptors 905 and Delaware Blue Coats. He also played for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021-22 on a 10-day contract and appeared in three games, scoring two points with three rebounds.

In 68 career G League games (45 starts), Cumberland has averaged 12.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 38.1% from 3-point range. He appeared in 25 games (20 starts) for Delaware last season and averaged a career-high 19.6 points to go along with 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting an impressive 46.1% from deep.

Even at the age of 28, the 6’5″ guard is worth getting a look at in training camp to see if that shooting is legit.

Meanwhile, Kaluma gets let go before the start of training camp after playing well in limited minutes for the Lakers’ Summer League team. The 2025 undrafted free agent forward out of Texas should hopefully get a look elsewhere in training camp once he clears waivers this weekend.

JJ Redick noncommittal about Lakers starting lineup​

Lakers head coach JJ Redick held his annual press conference ahead of training camp and naturally was asked about his starting lineup, which is not yet decided.

“It’s not that important to me. I haven’t spent a ton of time thinking about it,” Redick said. “We certainly have a number of players, let’s call it seven or eight, that are starter-level players in the NBA. I do know this, I did say that last year, and that lineup started seven or eight games at the beginning of the season and we started 24 lineups throughout the year. So not gonna spend too much time banging my head against a wall on that before we have a practice.”

Redick will likely test out some different lineups in the preseason before making a decision for Opening Night.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-sign-jarron-cumberland-waive-arthur-kaluma/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Sale Of Franchise To Mark Walter Expected To Be Finalized In Coming Months

Earlier this summer, it was announced that Jeanie and the Buss family had agreed to sell the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter, owner of the L.A. Dodgers. The move came as a shock to many as it seemed as if the Lakers would remain within the Buss family forever.

Walter has a great track record with the Dodgers, turning that franchise into one of the most successful in all of baseball over the past decade and some are anxiously awaiting him to officially take over the Lakers and hopefully see that same level of success.

Any sale of a franchise doesn’t become official until the NBA Board of Governors votes to approve it and the sale of the Lakers is expected to be ratified by the owners in the next few months, via Dave McMenamin and Shams Charania of ESPN:

In June, the Buss family agreed to sell its controlling stake in the team at a $10 billion franchise valuation to Mark Walter, the Los Angeles Dodgers owner and CEO and chairman of TWG Global. The sale is expected to be ratified by the NBA’s board of governors in the coming months, sources told ESPN.

It has been reported that Jeanie Buss will remain in charge of the Lakers’ day-to-day operations for the foreseeable future. In doing this, there won’t be this massive shift and adjustment on the players and staff in the building and they can continue on with business as usual with the 2025-26 season set to get underway.

This change in ownership should bring a lot of positives to the Lakers’ franchise as, quite simply, Walter is capable of infusing a lot of money into the team. Obviously the NBA’s salary cap structure is far different from that of MLB where a salary cap doesn’t exist, but a potential investment into the team’s facilities, staff and research and other departments throughout the franchise can have a massive impact on this franchise overall.

Three-fourths of the NBA’s Board of Governors must vote to approve the sale, but by all accounts that won’t be an issue and this sale of the Lakers will soon become official.

Rob Pelinka announces contract extension for Lakers coach JJ Redick​

The Lakers entered last season with big questions surrounding head coach JJ Redick, who was a first time coach at any level. But Redick proved he was more than up to the task and, despite having three years left on his deal, the Lakers decided to give him a contract extension as Rob Pelinka announced at their press conference.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...er-expected-to-be-finalized-in-coming-months/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: JJ Redick Contract Extension Details

Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick held their annual press conference ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers’ season on Thursday afternoon and the big news coming out of it was that the head coach had signed a contract extension this summer.

The news came as a bit of a surprise considering Redick was only one year into the four-year deal he signed to be the Lakers’ coach last offseason. The organization obviously believes in him though, and rightfully so after leading the team to a 50-win season and the 3 seed in a loaded Western Conference in his rookie year as a coach.

Pelinka did not reveal the details of Redick’s extension, but according to Shams Charania of ESPN, it tacks on two years to put him under contract for five more seasons at around $45 million:

“I’m told the Lakers gave JJ Redick a two-year extension, so that’s gonna go for five years through 2029-30 at $45 million. So this makes it clear JJ Redick is the coach, not just now, but moving forward for the long-term beyond just the LeBron James era in Los Angeles. And as these coaching contracts continue to go up, as his deal is starting to end and as he has one year ticked off, they wanted to make sure they gave him two extra years. So he’s locked in there until 2030.”

For the first time in a while, the Lakers organization seems to be aligned from top to bottom on the direction they are heading. The Lakers now have a superstar in Luka Doncic to build around and a coach in Redick to guide them for years to come.

JJ Redick pleased with Lakers’ commitment to conditioning​

One thing JJ Redick stressed to the Lakers players after his first season was that they needed to get into championship shape. Now that the offseason has come and gone, he is pleased with how his team took that to heart.

“Well, I’ll say this, we’ve asked all our guys to be in championship shape,” Redick said. “And not starting on Tuesday. And so, the commitment level across the board from our team has been very high this summer.

“We’ve had organized workouts. The guys have played pickup, really every day. We’ve added conditioning at the end. They’ve all been committed to it. I think for me, that’s probably been the biggest thing. It’s not a basketball thing that he can or cannot do. It’s just all of us being in elite shape.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-jj-redick-contract-extension-details/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick & Rob Pelinka Discuss Pressure For Lakers To Win Championship

The Los Angeles Lakers are always aiming high, but that is especially the case going into this season.

After acquiring Luka Doncic to pair with LeBron James and then building out the roster with quality role players, the Lakers have championship aspirations in 2025-26. That is especially the case because James is entering his 23rd season, which could very well be his last with the Lakers and in the NBA.

Some people don’t like constant pressure surrounding an organization like the Lakers, but head coach JJ Redick is embracing it going into his second season at the helm.

“I think there’s always pressure with the Lakers. You come into this building every day, and you’re constantly reminded of what Lakers excellence is,” Redick said at his annual pre-season press conference. “That doesn’t change, for me at least, year to year. The other part of what people probably would consider the outside pressure of trying to win: I think you have to look at your own internal standards. I feel like we set those standards last year. This summer was a very productive summer not only for myself as a coach but my entire coaching staff. I intentionally created an environment for my young coaches – Beau Levesque, Lindsey Harding, Ty Abbott, Michael Wexler – all of them got opportunities to grow. Whether that was in pre-draft workouts, summer league, what we’ve done in the gym the last two months.

“And the guys, our players that have been in the gym every day since mid-August, getting ready for training camp. It’s the work they’ve put in, that’s the standard that we’ve set here. That’s the standard that we’re trying to live up to. It’s constant. It’s no different year to year or day to day.”

Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka echoed Redick’s comments about embracing the pressure and also did everything he could from a roster-building perspective to help ease it.

“I think JJ and I are both so much about process,” Pelinka said. “We had a process, we were very methodical about what we wanted to accomplish in the offseason. Now we’re going to dive into the process of having this team come together and be a great team. That starts on Monday with our first team meeting. So, that’s where we’re going to really put our attention and focus, into the process of making this team great and starting by coming together as a group on Monday.”

The Lakers have assets to improve the roster before the trade deadline in February, but even if they don’t, the expectations are high and they are not shying away from that going into the year.

Lakers extend JJ Redick​

JJ Redick is heading into his second season as head coach of the Lakers but coming off a successful rookie campaign, Rob Pelinka announced they have already extended Redick’s contract.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/jj-redick-rob-pelinka-discuss-pressure-for-lakers-to-win-championship/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Sign Anton Watson & Nate Williams, Waive Tevian Jones & Eric Dixon

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Anton Watson and guard Nate Williams. In corresponding moves, the team has waived guard Tevian Jones and forward Eric Dixon.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but they are presumably training camp Exhibit 10 contracts. That would allow the Lakers to add them to their G League roster if they are waived and don’t catch on anywhere else.

Watson (6’8”, 225) most recently appeared in nine games for the New York Knicks during the 2024-25 season. He also played in 37 games (34 starts) with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League in 2024-25 where he averaged 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 29.9 minutes.

The 24-year-old was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 54th overall pick in 2024 out of Gonzaga. He played five collegiate seasons and in his final, Watson earned All-WCC First Team honors after averaging 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals in 31.3 minutes.

Williams (6’5”, 205) also has NBA experience after appearing in 20 games for the Houston Rockets in 2024-25, averaging 3.3 points in 7.4 minutes. He has played in 47 games (four starts), across three seasons with the Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 3.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.6 minutes.

Williams has also played in 82 games (62 starts) across three NBA G League seasons with Rio Grande Valley (2023-25) and Salt Lake City (2022-23), averaging 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 28.5 minutes. The 26-year-old played four seasons at the University at Buffalo from 2018-22 and earned All-MAC First Team honors as a senior after averaging 19.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 32.6 minutes.

The Lakers currently have an open two-way spot, so it will be interesting to see if any of these Exhibit 10 players emerge in training camp or the preseason. For the players that get waived, there are likely to end up with the South Bay Lakers if they do not get a better opportunity elsewhere.

Luka Doncic expects to take on leadership role in Lakers training camp​

As Luka Doncic heads into his first training camp with the Lakers, he recently stated that he expects to take on more of a vocal leadership role with the team on and off the floor.

“Obviously with Rob I talk more about the guys we wanna get. But the players that’s going to develop I think in preseason when we’re really all together and talking in person. So I think that’s more happening in the preseason,” Doncic said at his press conference to announce his extension earlier this summer.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-sign-anton-watson-nate-williams-waive-tevian-jones-eric-dixon/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick: LeBron James Is In ‘Great Spot Mentally’ After Summer Conversations

Admittedly, this summer was an odd one for LeBron James as his future with the Los Angeles Lakers came into question. After picking up his player option, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul revealed that he and James were evaluating roster moves L.A. made before deciding if he would ask out.

With all the moves the Lakers made this offseason though, it became evident that general manager Rob Pelinka is transitioning to building around Luka Doncic and not LeBron. For the first time in James’ career, he is not the focal point of his team and is playing on an expiring contract.

As Media Day and training camp kicks off next week, those storylines will be prevalent and how the 23-year veteran will respond to those pressing questions will be interesting. However, head coach JJ Redick kept in touch with his star and James appears to be in good spirits heading into this upcoming season.

“I talked to LeBron fairly frequently,” Redick said at his recent press conference. “Had two great in-person meetings with him. One, he finally made it out to the Hamptons. So he and I had dinner in Sag Harbor right around free agency. And then was able to spend some time with him here in L.A, a couple weeks ago. Came away from that thinking that he’s in a great spot mentally and know he’s going to give us his absolute best.”

Obviously, James is the gold standard when it comes to being a professional, so he is presumably ready to put those narratives to the side and play basketball. Frankly, his experience would mean a lot to Doncic, molding him into a leader and a hopeful multi-time champion.

As the season progresses, more rumors may swirl and Redick needs to keep his locker room together. Thankfully, the sophomore coach is a good communicator and used those skills to make sure James is in good spirits.

Ultimately, the Lakers have a dynamic Big 3 with James, Doncic and Austin Reaves and they showed flashes of being a great offensive tandem last season. Hopefully with a training camp and preseason together, the Akron native can see the championship potential L.A. has with the Slovenian star at the helm.

Rob Pelinka reiterates Lakers would ‘love’ if LeBron James retired with franchise​

Rob Pelinka has to handle an extremely delicate situation with Luka Doncic being the next face of the franchise and LeBron James still on the roster.

Amid all the contract controversy, the Lakers opted to not add another year to James’ contract although to Pelinka, it does not change the fact the organization would ‘love’ if the four-time champion retired with them.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/jj-redick-...eat-spot-mentally-after-summer-conversations/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick Expresses Gratitude After Signing Contract Extension With Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled to find stability at the head coaching position since general manager Rob Pelinka took over. But after arriving on JJ Redick, he put together a strong rookie season with plenty of adversity thrown his way.

There were instances of flaws, especially during the playoffs, with his rotation. However, that comes with the territory as Redick navigates through the challenges of being an NBA head coach.

On the other hand, Redick is a competitor and wants to win by any means necessary. One can assume he spent most of the summer reevaluating his mistakes and how he can better transition to his second season in L.A.

As a bode of confidence, Pelinka and company rewarded their coach with a two-year contract extension this offseason. In a reality where coaches have a short leash, the front office went against that grain and Redick appreciates the confidence they have in him.

“Yeah, with Rob, we have a lot of the same philosophies on life,” Redick said at his recent press conference. “One of the words we always talk about is gratitude. So I think it just starts with a high level of gratitude to the Lakers, to Mark, Jeanie and Rob to have that confidence in me and it’s not lost on me this sort of rarity of a first-time head coach getting an extension. I recognize how fortunate I am to be in an organization that supports me in that way.”

Taking another gamble on a coach with zero experience after firing another first-time head coach in Darvin Ham was an interesting choice by the Lakers. However, seeing how Redick digests basketball, he truly knows how today’s NBA operates and has already proven to be a good coach and leader.

Outside of his knowledge, he is an elite communicator due to his 15-year playing career and talking with players constantly when he was in the media field. Those two traits tend to get overlooked, especially communicating, as it maintains the buy-in through the highs and lows of an 82-game season.

Hopefully, Redick experiences natural growth this season and the Lakers’ investment in him pays off. Having a steady figure as head coach would be a nice change of pace and tends to lead to winning by avoiding constant turnover.

JJ Redick pleased with Lakers’ commitment after asking to be in championship shape​

After losing in five games in the first round last season, it was clear the Lakers could not withstand a physical Minnesota Timberwolves team. Players also struggled to withstand heavy playoff minutes.

With that, JJ Redick made sure to emphasize the point of being in better shape this season and he is pleased with the reception he’s received so far.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/jj-redick-expresses-gratitude-after-signing-contract-extension-with-lakers/