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[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Media Day: Jarred Vanderbilt Discusses Goals For 2025-26 Season

Jarred Vanderbilt has not been able to be exactly who the Los Angeles Lakers hoped he’d be when they traded for him at the 2022-23 trade deadline. Some of that is due to struggles on the offensive end, but much of it comes down to availability.

The Lakers defensive-minded forward has played in just 65 of a possible 164 regular season games over the last two seasons, a rate of 39.6%. Various lower leg and foot injuries have held him out of action, and have contributed to some of his on-court issues in that time as well.

But for what could be his first time as a member of the Lakers, he had a fully healthy offseason. And he believes that could be the key to unlocking some things on the court.

“It feels great being able to have a full summer under my belt,” Vanderbilt said at Lakers Media Day. “I was able to really work on my game, work on my body and just having that confidence going into the year instead of playing catch-up. Being able to be a part of training camp early, it’s a different level of approach and preparation when you already put the work in and being able to start fresh.”

And for the 26-year-old, maintaining that healthy status throughout an entire season would be the biggest victory.

“Personally, my main goal is just to be healthy,” he said. “It’s been a couple of seasons that being riddled with injuries. So for me personally, my number one goal is just be healthy, finish the season healthy, do a full complete season. That’s first and foremost.”

The Lakers getting a fully healthy Vanderbilt for an entire season would be a massive boost for a defense that many do not expect to be among the best in basketball. But it also gives him the opportunity to work on his game in a way that may give him even more opportunity game to game.

Any time a player can get through an injury-riddled segment of their career is a huge win. But for Vanderbilt and the Lakers, it could be an essential part of their success this season.

Jake LaRavia praises Jarred Vanderbilt for shooting improvement​

Jarred Vanderbilt has long been known for his defensive prowess. He can lock down opposing guards with his length and tenacious energy. However, the reason he has yet to find himself as a legitimate nightly contributor for winning teams is because of his offensive deficiencies, something new Laker Jake LaRavia took notice of in years prior.

Vanderbilt is a career 28.8% shooter from beyond the arc. He has shot over 30% in a full season exactly once, and it was the season the Lakers acquired him via trade from the Utah Jazz. That was his best season both in terms of offensive and defensive advanced metrics, as with higher shooting percentages came more playing time and greater impact.

LaRavia spoke about the difference in the player he used to scout for on opposing teams versus the player he sees now, and the strides Vanderbilt has made as a shooter.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-media-day-jarred-vanderbilt-discusses-goals-for-2025-26-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Shorthanded Lakers Lose To Warriors In Road Preseason Game

After dropping their preseason opener against the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers were back in action on Sunday night as they hit the road to take on the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

As was the case in the first game, the Lakers were shorthanded in this one with LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves among the key players that didn’t suit up. Meanwhile, the Warriors played their starters for a majority of the first half and were able to cruise to a 111-103 victory.

This was the Warriors’ first preseason game so they naturally came out a little flat. Even though the Lakers were shorthanded, they were in more of a rhythm to jump out to a 7-2 lead. After scoring just two points on Friday night, Deandre Ayton made his first two shots in this one and then Gabe Vincent buried his first triple in his 2025 preseason debut.

Jarred Vanderbilt was everywhere defensively early, creating turnovers for the Lakers. He then got involved offensively with a three-point play on a cut and feed from Vincent.

Stephen Curry responded with a crafty layup though and then Jimmy Butler had a three-point play to settle the Warriors in. Curry got going offensively from there against the Lakers bench as the Warriors took a 32-31 lead at the end of the first. L.A. ended the quarter on a run, capped off by a Vincent buzzer-beater, to get within one.

Vincent stayed hot to begin the second with a pair of triples to regain the lead. Ayton and Vanderbilt continued their high-level two-way play while Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht contributed offensively.

It was the Warriors that ended the half strong, however, taking a 62-55 lead into the locker room.

Golden State continued that momentum into the third quarter with Moses Moody getting hot from deep to lead a 12-2 run and force a timeout by JJ Redick.

While the Warriors stayed hot, the Lakers’ effort level was low for the second straight game as they got ran out of the gym. Golden State built a lead as high 24 in the third quarter, and then the two-way and Exhibit 10 players finished out the night for both teams.

To their credit, the Lakers players kept fighting and chipped away at their deficit in the fourth quarter and eventually got it down to single digits before eventually suffering the defeat.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers played a pair of preseason games after just three training camp practices. They now will have some time to assess what they saw and get back on the practice court though as their next preseason game isn’t until next Sunday, again taking on the Warriors but this time back in L.A. at Crypto.com Arena.

Judging by how the first two games went, they certainly can use some time on the practice court.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-shorthanded-lakers-lose-to-warriors-in-road-preseason-game/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick: Lakers Were ‘Much Better’ With Competitiveness In Second Preseason Game Vs. Warriors

The Los Angeles Lakers dropped their second straight game to start the preseason on Sunday, falling 111-103 to the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers were without superstars Luka Doncic and LeBron James once again while Austin Reaves also sat on Sunday, leaving head coach JJ Redick without his three best players.

Despite that, the Lakers remained competitive for much of the first half and while things did get out of hand in the third quarter, L.A. continued fighting down the stretch and held the Warriors to just nine points in the fourth.

Overall, Redick was happy with the competitiveness the Lakers showed against the Warriors, believing the team was much better than their preseason opener and now just need to build consistency with that, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“Much better. Part of what we’re trying to do is do it consistently, over and over and over. We played about 38 minutes of good basketball. The end of that first half, second quarter they finished on a 10-0 run and then I’m not sure what was going on at the start of the third quarter. But outside of that, those two stretches, I thought we played much better.”

Even Redick didn’t have an explanation for what went wrong during that stretch that included a 27-6 Warriors run between the second and third quarters. In particular, that third quarter run was especially rough as Steve Kerr sat his stars in the second half, but the Warriors still increased their lead without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.

But there were still some good things to take away and the preseason is the time to start building good habits. Redick and the Lakers are focused on building that foundation and growing their chemistry together. Without James, Doncic and Reaves, the rest of the players are put into positions that they won’t be in once the regular season begins. But playing hard for 48 minutes is something that is expected regardless of who is on the court and the Lakers are getting closer to that goal.

LeBron James believes focusing on details will lead to success for Lakers​

When players and teams are asked about goals for the season, most point to winning a championship as the ultimate goal and that is undoubtedly the case for these Lakers. But aside from that, LeBron James has another measure for success with the Lakers this season, pointing to the need for this team to pay attention to all the details which he feels will lead to success.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/jj-redick-...iveness-in-second-preseason-game-vs-warriors/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Expects Jake LaRavia To Continue To Get Better As Conditioning Improves

With many players sitting out the Los Angeles Lakers first two preseason games, offseason signing Jake LaRavia has gotten the opportunity to start and show what he brings to this team. So far the results have been solid with LaRavia contributing seven points and five rebounds in the opener, followed by a 10-point, 3-assist outing in the Lakers’ second preseason game against the Golden State Warriors.

Head coach JJ Redick has spoken highly of LaRavia coming into training camp, believing the fourth-year wing has a ton of potential and can be a big contributor for this team. And so far, Redick is happy with what he’s seen, though he feels LaRavia can be better.

Following the Lakers’ second preseason loss to the Warriors, Redick spoke on LaRavia, calling him a versatile and active player who will only get better once his conditioning gets to the level they want, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“I think it’s just for him continuing, he’s done a lot of work since Summer League to get in better shape and he’s still got a little bit of ways to go there. But he’s incredibly versatile and he does a lot of things really well. I think, at times tonight, he got a little sped up trying to do too much I guess. But that’s not the role he’s going to have for us. He certainly can play some on the ball as an initiator and secondary creator. I just like his activity level and I think as he continues to get into the type of shape that we’re all gonna be in that activity level will just increase.”

Being in championship shape is something Redick spoke about immediately following the end of last season before LaRavia was even part of the roster, but that continues to be a sticking point for the head coach. For a player like LaRavia who is needed on the defensive end especially, being in top shape is imperative.

The wing certainly has some tools to work with and Redick is a believer in him, but reaching that next level with his stamina will only allow LaRavia to do the things the Lakers need him to do at an even higher level.

Jake LaRavia says Lakers focused on getting 1% better each day​

In the preseason, the results don’t mean as much as the overall process and the team growing as a whole. In that vein, Jake LaRavia says the Lakers are focused on getting 1% better each day.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...continue-get-better-as-conditioning-improves/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick: Marcus Smart Looked ‘Awesome’ In Return To Lakers Practice

When the Los Angeles Lakers kicked off training camp last week, one player who was notably absent from the practice court was Marcus Smart.

The newly-acquired guard projects to be a big piece of this team, but he was dealing with some Achilles tendinopathy and the organization wanted to be careful to ensure it didn’t become a bigger issue. With that, Smart sat out the team’s first two preseason games over the weekend.

The Lakers returned to the practice floor on Tuesday though and head coach JJ Redick revealed that Smart was able to participate and looked good.

“Marcus (Smart) did most of practice, including some live play,” Redick said. “It was great to see him out there… He was awesome. He was awesome. I think given the workload of today, I was impressed that he was able to sustain his level of intensity for as long as he did.”

Austin Reaves also liked what he saw from Smart, especially when it comes to his ability to talk with his teammates on the floor.

“I think the main thing is his communication, his leadership,” Reaves said. “The way he talks while he’s in practice, even when he’s not participating at 100%. Just his attention to detail, how he can be a coach on the floor at times. That’s really big for us, we need that.”

The Lakers brought in Smart to add perimeter defense and veteran leadership, the former of which they were lacking last season. The 31-year-old has dealt with numerous injuries over the past couple of seasons though, so it makes sense to not push him this early in training camp, especially when it’s an Achilles issue.

It will be interesting to see how Smart bounces back from a near full practice when he wakes up on Wednesday, although the Lakers’ next preseason game isn’t until Sunday and they have three more after that so there is still plenty of time to get him the needed reps to be ready to go for Opening Night.

Marcus Smart doesn’t care about starting for Lakers​

JJ Redick has not decided what his starting lineup will be to start the season. Marcus Smart is presumably in the mix for a starting spot but when he was asked about it, he didn’t have preference.

“It does not,” Smart responded at Lakers Media Day when asked if it matters if he starts or not. “I’m here to win, however that means. That’s me. Like I’ve been saying around, no matter whether I start or come off the bench, my presence will be made.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/jj-redick-marcus-smart-looked-awesome-in-return-to-lakers-practice/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Austin Reaves Praises Bronny James For Preseason Play

The Los Angeles Lakers would love to see Bronny James take a leap forward and become a legitimate rotation player in 2025-26. The 2024 second round pick showed high-level growth in his rookie campaign and over the summer, and it’s showing itself as the Lakers begin preseason.

One player who has seen much of Bronny’s growth up close is Austin Reaves. The Lakers’ third option is in for a massive season of his own, as he can enter unrestricted free agency in 2026. And the former undrafted guard knows what it’s like to have to earn his way in L.A. amid plenty of pressure.

Reaves was highly complimentary of Bronny’s work thus far in training camp and the preseason, speaking to what he’s seen from the second-year guard in September and October.

“He’s been good,” Reaves said after practice on Tuesday. “Obviously, he didn’t shoot the ball as well as he wanted to the first game. I don’t think he took bad shots, all his shots were good. They all looked good. Like he said, some of them hit front rim, maybe due to JJ running us (laughs). I don’t mean that, JJ.

“He’s become a really good player. We went golfing the other day and that was the first thing I told him. We were driving down to the fairway on hole one and I was like, ‘I just need to let you know that in preseason and even before that, you’ve been one of the better players out on the floor almost every day.’ Just continue to do that. He’s a good kid, has a good head on his shoulders, is all about the right stuff and just wants to compete and get better, so shout out to him.”

It hasn’t been clear up to this point exactly what role Bronny might play with the Lakers this season. There were rumors early in the postseason that he could be upwards of a 15 minute per night player, but he could just as easily end up spending some time in the G League with how crowded the Lakers guard rotation is.

Bronny still likely needs some consistency in his jumper in order for him to be a true NBA rotation player, but the strides he’s made up to this point are truly incredible to watch.

Bronny James feeling more comfortable​

Last season was filled with outside noise due to the Lakers deciding to draft Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, in the second round. Given who his father is, unrealistic expectations were placed on Bronny when he needed time to develop.

Following a health scare, Bronny needed to take his time and get reps in the G League. To his credit, he looked great with the South Bay Lakers and began to turn the corner in terms of a confident basketball player near the end of his rookie year.

Heading into his sophomore season, it remains to be seen whether James will crack head coach JJ Redick’s rotation. As the 20-year-old adjusts to the NBA lifestyle, he shared that he feels more prepared and comfortable than he did a year ago.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-austin-reaves-praises-bronny-james-for-preseason-play/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Deandre Ayton Has Not Yet Gotten To Work With Luka Doncic & LeBron James

The training camp and preseason is crucial for the Los Angeles Lakers to integrate their new players into the system, particularly starting center Deandre Ayton.

Unfortunately, the Lakers are through five practices and two preseason games, and they’re yet to have all of their projected starters on the court to get those much-needed reps and build chemistry.

Lakers stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James have sat out the Lakers’ first two preseason games. There has not been a reported injury for Doncic, but JJ Redick recently said the organization will express caution considering the 26-year-old is coming off a EuroBasket run with Slovenia this past summer.

The same can be said for James, who is entering his unprecedented 23rd season and dealing with a minor glute injury. Recent reports indicate LeBron may not suit up in any of the Lakers’ six preseason games.

With Doncic and James not playing in games, practice is the only chance for them to get on the floor with their new teammates, but Ayton revealed on Wednesday that has not yet happened either.

“I haven’t,” Ayton said when asked if he’s gotten to work with the team’s two superstars. “It’s something I’ve just been waiting on and just got to prepare. JJ and the coaching staff probably have something where, they can put stuff together for all of us to really grow chemistry.”

Ayton didn’t sound too concerned as there is still two weeks until Opening Night. Building chemistry with a new center is a long process though, so Ayton’s connections with Doncic and James may be a little behind schedule in the first handful of games to begin the regular season given the lack of live reps.

Doncic and the Lakers previously spoke about how important training camp and the preseason would be considering they didn’t get those reps last year, so it’s definitely unfortunate things have not played out that way to this point.

Deandre Ayton getting comfortable with Lakers’ plays and schemes​

Even though the Lakers’ top two ball-handlers haven’t been on the floor in scrimmages, Deandre Ayton has been learning the team’s playbook and schemes and is beginning to feel comfortable.

“Real comfortable to where I’m starting to know their plays,” Ayton said. “What their schemes are and in general Lakers spacing and Lakers basketball. That’s becoming quite easy just to read the floor and to know what JJ wants and what he wants us to be known as, especially in our rhythm offense and transition offense. So yeah, the terminology and everything is starting to be easy where I can control each end.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-deandre-ayton-has-not-yet-gotten-work-luka-doncic-lebron-james/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

LeBron James Out For Lakers Season Opener Due To Sciatica Injury

The Los Angeles Lakers announced that superstar LeBron James will be re-evaluated in approximately 3-4 weeks with sciatica on his right side. That means he will miss the season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21.

It remains to be seen exactly how much time James will miss, but being evaluated in four weeks would be around the ninth or 10th game of the regular season. Considering LeBron is on the verge of turning 41 and entering his unprecedented 23rd season though, the organization will be cautious to ensure the injury doesn’t linger throughout the whole regular season.

With James out, that puts more on the plates of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to run the Lakers’ offense. That may be why the Lakers have kept Doncic out of training camp practices and preseason games coming off his EuroBasket run this past summer.

Players like Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent and Dalton Knecht could all see their roles increase as well.

This is certainly not an ideal start to the season for the Lakers, especially considering how competitive the Western Conference is expected to be. They can only play the cards they are dealt though, so the hope is that James recovers in the next month and will be back in game action shortly after. If he needs more time then that though, the organization surely won’t hesitate to give the future Hall of Famer whatever he needs.

In his illustrious 23-year career, this will mark the first time LeBron is not on the floor for his team on Opening Night.

LeBron James believes Lakers roster will allow him to ramp up throughout season​

The Lakers will be cautious with LeBron James and this injury and he believes the added depth to the roster will allow for him to ramp up throughout the year.

“Absolutely,” he recently said. “When you have a dynamic, transcendent player like Luka. When you have an unbelievable complementary player in AR [Austin Reaves]. Some of the vets we got, bringing in Marcus Smart, a championship pedigree guy. Bringing in DA [Deandre Ayton], been to the Finals as well in Phoenix. And some of the other guys we got Rui another year under his belt, Vando is back healthy. So we look forward to what we can accomplish and, like you said, me being 40 on the brink of 41, I don’t have to rush myself to get to 100% in October and November and every month we’ll ramp up. But I’m happy with where I am right now.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...ss-season-opener-with-sciatica-on-right-side/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

How Lakers Star LeBron James Fared In 2025-26 NBA GM Survey

The fact that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made the All-NBA Second Team at 40 years old in his 22nd NBA season is truly unbelievable. And now as he is set to begin his record-breaking 23rd year in the league, James remains one of the best players in the NBA today.

The release of the annual NBA GM Survey ahead of this season is once again proof that LeBron is truly unlike any player the league has ever seen. Even though he didn’t win any categories, the Lakers star still found himself receiving votes in multiple areas. This includes being voted the fourth-best small forward in the NBA, a category that was won by his Lakers teammate Luka Doncic:

Who is the best small forward in the NBA?

1. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers – 40%
2. Jayson Tatum, Boston – 20%
3. Kevin Durant, Houston – 17%
T-4. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers – 7%
T-4. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers – 7%

Doncic actually ranked in the top three for best point guard and shooting guard as well, which is head-turning in its own right. While Luka is the best player on this Lakers team, most still view LeBron as the leader and he came in tied for fourth as the best leader in the league:

Which player is the best leader?

1. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 43%
2. Jalen Brunson, New York – 13%
3. Nikola Jokić, Denver – 10%
T-4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 7%
T-4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City – 7%
T-4. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers – 7%

What has made James special throughout his career is his ability to do basically anything on the court and even at his age that remains the case with the Lakers star being voted as the third most versatile player in the league:

Who is the most versatile player in the NBA?

T-1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 30%
T-1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio – 30%
T-3. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers – 7%
T-3. Evan Mobley, Cleveland – 7%
T-3. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City – 7%

Arguably LeBron’s best attribute, however, is his basketball IQ as he is truly a savant on the court and he was voted as having the second-best basketball IQ, behind Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic:

Which player has the best basketball IQ?

1. Nikola Jokić, Denver – 80%
2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers – 17%
3. Chris Paul, LA Clippers – 3%

James is truly a one of a kind player and, on the verge of turning 41 years old, is still one of the best players in the league today and critical to the success of the Lakers this season.

LeBron James to miss Lakers Opening Night​

The Lakers are being cautious with how they handle LeBron James this season, wanting him to be available and at his best when it matters most. And LeBron himself believes this roster will allow for him to ramp up throughout the year, which is crucial as it was recently announced that he will be out of the lineup for the first few weeks of the regular season due to sciatica on his right side.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/how-lakers-star-lebron-james-fared-in-2025-26-nba-gm-survey/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: LeBron James Developed Sciatica During Summer Workout

Year 23 for LeBron James was momentarily put on hold this week when it was announced that the Los Angeles Lakers superstar would miss the start of the 2025-26 season due to a sciatica on his right side.

James and his camp cautioned the Lakers that he’d need more time to ramp up and it was later revealed it was due to injury.

This is the first time in James’ career that he will miss Opening Night, a sign that this isn’t an injury to be taken lightly.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, James initially developed the issue during a summer workout:

“My understanding is this injury for LeBron, this nerve issue, first developed, first occurred, in late July, early August, during an on-court workout. So it’s now two-and-a-half months and counting that he’s had to deal with it and manage it. So even before the Lakers’ Media Day on Sept. 29 and the start of training camp, I’m told LeBron James had not done much basketball for well over a month prior to that. So it had been a normal routine summer for him, he’s a creature of habit, we know that by the way he maintains his body. So for him to be out to start the season and miss his first ever Opening Night, it shows an admission by him and the Lakers that he needs more time to ramp up, getting into basketball shape, getting into the right basketball conditioning that he’s accustomed to. He’s not there yet.”

It’s a bit concerning that James hadn’t been able to participate in much basketball activity since suffering the injury, potentially delaying his return to the court even more. The initial announcement said LeBron would be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks, though that means he’ll still need time afterward to ramp up if cleared.

Luka Doncic is positioned to fully take over the team in James’ absence, and he and the team can take solace in the fact that the early part of their schedule is relatively light. Hopefully LeBron is able to return sooner than later because the Western Conference looks unforgiving on paper.

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves want to continue playing with LeBron James​

LeBron James may be the oldest player in the league, but he remains one of the best. While Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will have to open the season without him, they reportedly expressed a desire to want to continue playing with him beyond this year.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-lebron-james-developed-sciatica-during-summer-workout/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Video: Lamar Odom Reveals Kobe Bryant Tattoo On Neck

Kobe Bryant is truly one of the most iconic players to ever step foot on an NBA floor and one of the most beloved Los Angeles Lakers players ever. His impact was profound not only on the fans who watched him for 20 years, but also on his teammates and one who was extremely close with him was Lamar Odom.

Odom was an uniquely talented forward who truly reached his potential when he joined the Lakers. He won two championships with the purple and gold alongside Kobe and was also named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2011. He has always spoken about how important Kobe was to him in life and he showed more proof of that recently.

The former Lakers forward recently appeared on an episode of the Club Shay Shay podcast with Shannon Sharpe where he revealed that he got Kobe’s face tattooed on his neck, via Lamar Odom on X:

Kobe's Impact: Why I Honor Him! #kobebryant pic.twitter.com/bugiVOmXEk

— LAMAR ODOM (@LamarOdom) October 10, 2025

As Sharpe noted, to get another man’s face tattooed on you that isn’t a child or parent or any other close family member is the ultimate sign of respect, but that just shows the level of impact Bryant had on Odom. The love and respect went well beyond playing basketball on the Lakers together and Odom will always view Kobe in the highest light.

Odom has gone through an unreal amount of difficulties and circumstances in his life and Bryant was someone who helped guide and motivate him through some dark periods. Plenty of people took the tragic death of Kobe hard, but few had the relationship with Bryant that Odom had and putting his face on his neck permanently shows just how much he loves and idolizes the Lakers icon.

Lakers coach JJ Redick learning not everyone is wired like Kobe Bryant​

One of the things that made Kobe Bryant iconic was that he is truly wired differently or, as Lakers coach JJ Redick would say, a basketball “sicko.” Everyone is not wired that way and Redick is figuring that out as he grows as a coach.

Redick spoke about the things he learned in his first season as a head coach with the Lakers and he talked about recognizing that not everyone is wired that certain way that Kobe was and that he has to be able to meet these players at a certain level without sacrificing the standards he has.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-video-lamar-odom-reveals-kobe-bryant-tattoo-on-neck/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Preseason Updates: Luka Doncic To Play In 2 Games, Marcus Smart To Make Debut Vs. Warriors

After a week off from games, the Los Angeles Lakers will return to the court for more preseason action on Sunday night when they host the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers have their final four preseason games over the next week, which will be their final tuneups before opening up the regular season, again against the Warriors at home, on Oct. 21.

While the Lakers can use as much time on the court together as possible to build chemistry, they have not gotten that so far as Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero have all missed the first two preseason games.

The Lakers are choosing to be cautious with Doncic coming off a EuroBasket run with Slovenia this past summer, while the other players have been dealing with minor injuries early in training camp.

After practice on Saturday, Redick revealed that Smart will make his debut on Sunday while Kleber and Thiero remain out.

Meanwhile, Doncic was a full participant at practice and will play in two of the team’s final four preseason games, although it remains to be seen if one will be on Sunday.

“Luka is TBD. Luka was a full participant in today’s practice. He’s TBD, he’s gonna play in two games in preseason… There’s no real update on Maxi, Adou and LeBron. Marcus will play tomorrow,” Redick said.

Doncic himself also confirmed that he plans to play in two preseason games and is not injured, the team was just being cautious after EuroBasket.

“It was because I had the national team and played one month of basketball. It’s a long season ahead, so it was just because of that,” Doncic said.

Lakers center Deandre Ayton recently revealed that he has not yet had the chance to work much with Doncic, so it’s good to see the superstar back on the practice court and planning to play in the preseason.

The same can be said for Smart, who has dealt with Achilles tendinopathy and more recently an illness. He is another veteran player the Lakers want to be cautious with but he recently stated that he plans to play in the preseason at some point, which will be on Sunday.

Lakers star LeBron James to miss Opening Night​

Another key Lakers player who won’t be on the floor on Sunday night is LeBron James. He is dealing with sciatica on his right side and it was recently revealed that he will miss Opening Night for the first time in his 23-year career.

James is expected to be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks, so the Lakers will have to find a way to manage without the superstar for the first handful of regular season games.

That puts even more pressure on Luka Doncic to lead the way, so hopefully he can get some preseason reps at some point before Opening Night.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...games-marcus-smart-to-make-debut-vs-warriors/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Impressed With Adou Thiero’s Athleticism But Emphasizes Caution With Knee Injury

When the Los Angeles Lakers traded up twice in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, it was clear they had their eyes on a prospect. That turned out to be Adou Thiero, a tenacious wing defender out of Arkansas.

When looking at highlights of Thiero’s game, his athleticism immediately jumps off the page along with his strength. He possesses a physical playstyle on the defensive end, getting up into players to force turnovers.

Unfortunately, L.A. has not been able to see if it translates to the NBA level yet due to the 21-year-old managing a knee injury. He sat out all of Summer League and has not yet been able to suit up this preseason.

But, a video was released by the Lakers recently showing Thiero dunking and his head was at the rim at peak elevation. Head coach JJ Redick caught wind of this and was blown away by how athletic his rookie forward is.

“Yeah, it’s insane,” Redick said after practice on Saturday. “I mean, head at the rim. It’s insane.”

Seeing Thiero throw down a dunk of that magnitude gives off the illusion that he is nearly ready to play. However, Redick is still not sure when the rookie will suit up for the purple and gold and emphasized caution.

“I mean, he’s been a modified participant,” the Lakers coach said. “He’s been a participant in everything but live. That, I don’t have a good answer for. I know we’re gonna really take our time with making sure all of his biomechanics are correct so that any swelling that he’s getting in that knee, kind of shut that off and kind of look out for his long-term health.”

Considering Thiero has not yet been able to suit up, it’s hard to imagine him earning a rotation role until later in the season.

With L.A.’s exhibition schedule coming to a close on Oct. 17, it remains to be seen if Thiero will be able to suit up at all. The Lakers could use more athleticism and he provides that, but the rookie needs to get healthy first.

Whether it be with L.A. or the South Bay Lakers, hopefully, Thiero can get on the court sooner rather than later to finally begin his professional career.

Adou Thiero willing to play in G League​

Most second round draft picks spend a considerable amount in the G League, but how a player handles that demotion is always in question. But to Adou Thiero’s credit, he is willing to play for the South Bay Lakers if that is what is asked of him this season.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...cism-but-emphasizes-caution-with-knee-injury/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Beat Warriors At Home To Earn First Preseason Victory

The Los Angeles Lakers played their third of six preseason games on Sunday night, hosting the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.

Both teams were missing key players as Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler were among those that sat out. The Lakers had a week’s worth of practice since their last preseason game though and it showing it this one, earning a 126-116 victory.

Austin Reaves was one of the stars that did play and he got off to a hot start with five straight points to begin the game. Deandre Ayton was also involved offensively early, making his first tow shots to give the Lakers a lead.

Reaves and Ayton were making an impact on both ends of the floor, and Rui Hachimura got in on the action with 10 quick points. The bench continued the scoring outburst to end the first quarter with Gabe Vincent, Jake LaRavia and Jaxson Hayes getting involved, giving L.A. a 30-24 lead.

It was more Reaves to begin the second quarter as he had five straight points to increase the lead to double digits and force a Warriors timeout. Dalton Knecht, who got a rare start in this one, was also getting going offensively by getting to the free throw line.

The Lakers built a lead up to 21 with their defensive activity. The Warriors went on a run to cut it to 14 late in the first half, although Reaves was fouled on a triple at the buzzer and made three free throws to give L.A. a 63-46 lead at the break.

Reaves picked up where he left off to begin the third quarter, although he then bumped knees and rolled his ankle and was forced to come out of the game.

The scoring opened up for both sides in the third quarter with minimal defense being played. Brandin Podziemski got hot to keep the Warriors close, although LaRavia and Knecht answered to keep the Lakers in front.

A Golden State run cut the L.A. lead to 90-85 at the end of the third quarter, but Bronny James found Hayes for a nice lob to begin the fourth. James was in attack mode, driving to the basket and getting to the free throw line to get the lead back to double digits.

From there, Exhibit 10 players like RJ Davis and Nate Williams and two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. were able to close out the win.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers finish their preseason slate this week and it starts with a back-to-back on Tuesday in Phoenix against the Suns and then Wednesday in Las Vegas against the Dallas Mavericks. They will their wrap it up back home on Friday against the Sacramento Kings.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lakers-beat-warriors-at-home-to-earn-first-preseason-victory/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic & Marcus Smart To Make Preseason Debuts Vs. Suns

The Los Angeles Lakers are halfway through their preseason slate having played three of six games and to this point, Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart have not yet suited up.

Doncic is not injured but after playing for Slovenia in EuroBasket over the summer, the organization wants to be cautious in the preseason knowing the superstar will carry a very heavy workload once the regular season begins.

Smart, on the other hand, dealt with minor Achilles tendinopathy and then an illness, which delayed him being to play to this point.

Building chemistry with his teammates is still important though, so the plan all along has been for Doncic and Smart to suit up in two preseason games. It appears the first one will be on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns, per Dan Woike of The Athletic:

The plan, JJ Redick says, is for Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart to all play tomorrow in Phoenix

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 13, 2025

The Lakers’ final three preseason games are Tuesday in Phoenix, Wednesday in Las Vegas against the Dallas Mavericks and then Friday back home against the Sacramento Kings.

If Doncic and Smart play on Tuesday then it’s reasonable to expect them to sit out Wednesday’s game against Dallas as it wouldn’t make much sense to play a back-to-back in the preseason. That would leave Friday’s game as a final dress rehearsal for Doncic, Smart and the Lakers before Opening Night on Oct. 21.

After getting into the best shape of his life this offseason, Doncic looked incredible playing for Slovenia in EuroBasket. It will be interesting to see if he can pick up where he left off on Tuesday, although the preseason will likely be used to knock off some rust before the games start to count.

Luka Doncic on Lakers’ mindset with LeBron James out​

The Lakers will be without LeBron James to begin the season, which means Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart and others will have to pick up the slack. Doncic discussed the loss of James and the Lakers’ mindset until he comes back.

“It’s a big change,” the All-NBA guard said after practice on Saturday. “He’s a great player. He can help us a lot. But at the end of the day, our mentality needs to be ‘next man up.’ We got a group of guys that have been practicing and hopefully LeBron can join us as soon as possible. We are going to obviously need him. But our mentality has got to be ‘next man up.’ That’s it.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-marcus-smart-to-make-preseason-debut-vs-suns/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Rui Hachimura Discusses How Role Changes With LeBron James Out

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without superstar LeBron James to begin the season due to sciatica on his right side, which means other players like Rui Hachimura will need to step up in his absence to keep pace in a loaded Western Conference.

Hachimura has been a starter for the Lakers the last couple of years, but his role was understandably limited playing alongside James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Anthony Davis and others. The 27-year-old was mostly utilized as a spot-up shooter and offensive rebounder in L.A.’s offense.

With LeBron potentially missing a month of action though, Hachimura spoke about how that changes his role.

“I just gotta be more aggressive,” he said after Sunday’s preseason win over the Golden State Warriors. “With him being out, I can attack the rim more because he likes to post up more so when that happens, I have to be more spaced out. So that kind of stuff I can do more when he’s out. So yeah, it’s just a little different but not much. I just gotta do the same things that I’m supposed to do.”

While Hachimura is one of the best spot-up shooters in the league, his offensive skillset is more than just that and now he will get a chance to show it.

JJ Redick is hopeful that James won’t miss too much time, but as the superstar enters his unprecedented 23rd season, the organization will surely be cautious and not rush him back. That means Hachimura will get an extended opportunity, and it will be up to him to make the most of it in a contract year.

JJ Redick sees confidence growing for Rui Hachimura​

Even before LeBron James got injured, Lakers head coach JJ Redick spoke about how much joy Rui Hachimura was playing with, growing his confidence in the process.

“I would describe Rui as a joy to be around every day,” Redick said at a recent press conference. “That joy is almost always there. What I’ve seen just in the last few weeks is just a higher level of confidence. And I think you still have to look at him as a young player in this league and I think as your confidence grows, your joy grows, your production and output grows. So it’s small nuanced things, but Rui is playing with a lot of confidence, he’s carrying himself with a lot of confidence and has been and is just an absolute pleasure to coach.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-rui-hachimura-discusses-how-role-changes-with-lebron-james-out/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Update: Adou Thiero To Be Re-Evaluated In 2-3 Weeks

The Los Angeles Lakers announced rookie forward Adou Thiero is experiencing improvement in his knee swelling, which has allowed him to progress in his on-court activity. Thiero will continue to build his strength under the supervision of the performance team and will be re-evaluated in 2-3 weeks.

Thiero suffered the injury toward the end of his final season at Arkansas and returned to play sparingly in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach JJ Redick previously revealed the rookie underwent surgery for his knee prior to the 2025 NBA Draft, something that Arkansas didn’t disclose following the conclusion of their season.

The Lakers moved up twice in the draft to select Thiero 36th overall, but he was held out of NBA Summer League as he recovered from his procedure. The organization announced he would be ready for the start of training camp, but it appears the training staff wants to take their time ensuring the rookie is fully healthy.

While Thiero hasn’t been able to do much on the court, he did show off his athleticism in a recent video released by the Lakers. Redick was beyond impressed with Thiero’s athleticism, but cautioned that the team would be careful with him and his knee.

It’s disappointing that Thiero is missing preseason as these would be valuable reps for a young player. Although Los Angeles is high on his potential, there’s almost no chance Thiero sees any regular minutes in the 2025-26 season given the veterans on the bench.

However, he still makes for an intriguing long-term prospect as he graded out as one of the best pure athletes in his draft class. His leaping ability and explosiveness makes him a transition threat from day one, but it also gives him an edge on the defensive end. Offensively his jump shot is shaky, but the mold of a three-and-D player is there.

Slow playing Thiero’s recovery to ensure he’s 100 percent is the correct course of action for Los Angeles. It remains to be seen when he’ll actually debut on the court, but the organization is doing the right thing by Thiero.

Adou Thiero willing to play in G League​

Normally, second-round picks like Adou Thiero will spend time with a team’s G League affiliate in order to get game reps in during the regular season. With the Lakers rotation looking set for the most part, Thiero will likely see time with the South Bay Lakers and he said he was willing to play in the G League.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-update-adou-thiero-to-be-re-evaluated-in-2-3-weeks/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Gabe Vincent Comes Out Hot But Shorthanded Lakers Fall To Mavericks In Las Vegas Preseason Game

Back-to-backs are rare in the preseason, but the Los Angeles Lakers had one this week. After losing to the Phoenix Suns on the road on Tuesday night, the Lakers were back in action on Wednesday, taking on the Dallas Mavericks at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Playing key players on back-to-back nights in the preseason doesn’t make much sense, so the Lakers chose to stagger their roster. That meant Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton sat out on Wednesday night and as a result, the Mavericks earned a 121-94 victory.

One player who did suit up for the Lakers was Gabe Vincent, and he came out on fire, hitting his first five 3-point attempts. He also found Jaxson Hayes for a pair of dunks as the Lakers jumped out to a 22-10 lead.

A couple of former Lakers helped settle the Mavericks in though as D’Angelo Russell had a three-point play and then Max Christie hit a corner triple. RJ Davis had a nice stretch off the bench to close the first quarter and the Lakers led 36-32.

Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura heated up to begin the second quarter with five straight points each. Hachimura wasn’t done there as he made two more midrange jumpers to get the lead back to double digits.

Anthony Davis had a couple of buckets inside, but Dallas otherwise couldn’t get much going offensively. Vincent hit yet another triple and L.A. took a 66-53 lead into the halftime locker room.

Vanderbilt hurt his thigh towards the end of the first half and although it didn’t look serious, he wound up sitting out for the rest of the night.

With the Lakers being so shorthanded, Davis, Russell and the Mavericks began chipping away at their deficit. They weren’t able to get over the hump in the third quarter though as the Lakers’ two-way and Exhibit 10 players hung in there to take an 86-84 lead into the fourth.

That lead was short-lived, however, as the Mavericks ripped off seven quick points to begin the final quarter. They continued to play their regular rotation players while the Lakers gave more opportunities to guys at the end of their roster, allowing Dallas to pull away late for the easy win. The Mavericks outscored the Lakers 37-8 in the fourth quarter.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will wrap up the preseason at home against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. They will then open up the regular season on Tuesday night against the Golden State Warriors.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-gabe...all-to-mavericks-in-las-vegas-preseason-game/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: TravisMathew Unveils Austin Reaves Clothing Collection

Southern California-based lifestyle brand TravisMathew announced its first-ever collection with Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, set to be released on Oct. 20 at 9 a.m. PT.

The Austin Reaves Collection features a diverse apparel lineup that is meant to move effortlessly from the course to the court, a reflection of the Lakers’ star’s passions for golf and basketball.

The new collection includes polos, tees, bottoms, outerwear and headwear and serves as a reflection of Reaves’ personal style blended TravisMathew’s signature mix of premium fabrics, comfort and versatility.

“I’ve been part of the TravisMathew team as a Brand Ambassador for almost two years, and it’s been a great fit from the start,” says Reaves. “Partnering on this collection has been an awesome experience, especially getting to put my own touch on it. I’m excited for people to see the pieces and try them out for themselves.”

TravisMathew is releasing a limited-edition collection in partnership with Los Angeles Laker and TravisMathew Brand Ambassador Austin Reaves.

“Austin represents the blend of performance and lifestyle at the core of TravisMathew, shown through his success as a basketball player and passion for golf,” says Leif Sunderland, Chief Marketing Officer of TravisMathew. “Austin’s personal style brings a fresh energy to the collection, with player-driven styles that push our designs forward while staying true to our premium fabrics. It’s a versatile lineup made to move from course to courtside, and we’re excited for both TravisMathew customers and Austin’s fans to experience it.”

TravisMathew is releasing a limited-edition collection in partnership with Los Angeles Laker and TravisMathew Brand Ambassador Austin Reaves.

Since joining the Lakers, Reaves has been fortunate enough to use his on-court performance to land brand opportunities in the apparel and merchandising industry. Aside from his partnership with TravisMathew, Reaves also partners with Rigorer on his signature shoe line that just released the AR3s earlier this month.

Reaves’ love for both golf and basketball has been made apparent during his tenure in Los Angeles so far, but fans are certainly hoping for another strong year from the guard. Luka Doncic looks like he’s in MVP form, but the Lakers need Reaves to help buoy them during the early stretch of the 2025-26 season.

TravisMathew is releasing a limited-edition collection in partnership with Los Angeles Laker and TravisMathew Brand Ambassador Austin Reaves.

Playing in a market like L.A. presents athletes with marketing opportunities that they likely wouldn’t get elsewhere, but Reaves has earned the attention he’s been getting. The off-the-court benefits must not hurt for a person like Reaves, but the real goal is to win championships.

JJ Redick compares Austin Reaves to Jamal Crawford​

Austin Reaves might not be the most athletic player on the floor, but he’s a crafty player who has a knack for drawing free throws. Head coach JJ Redick praised Reaves’ ability to generate points and compared him to his former teammate Jamal Crawford.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-travismathew-unveils-austin-reaves-clothing-collection/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Luka Doncic Named Official Community Ambassador For Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee

The Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee, led by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, has announced that Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic will serve as an Official Community Ambassador for the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee ahead of FIFA World Cup 26.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by North America with 16 host cities throughout Canada, Mexico and the United States including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Dallas, Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico City, Monterrey and many more.

Doncic is a lifelong soccer fan, growing up in Slovenia where it is the most popular sport in his home country and is a well-known supporter of Real Madrid. Now, the Lakers superstar is looking forward to helping the city of Los Angeles deliver a memorable World Cup experience to all of the fans in attendance.

“I’ve always been a football fan,” Doncic said in a statement. “Los Angeles is a great city full of amazing people who love to play and watch every sport. I can’t wait for the World Cup and it’s an honor to help bring people together through a sport that connects so many cultures around the globe.”

Luka was chosen for this role not only because of his immense popularity throughout the L.A. region, but also because he truly loves the sport of soccer.

“Luka Doncic embodies the spirit of FIFA World Cup 26, showcasing global talent, passionate fandom, and the incredible ability of sports to bring people together,” said Kathryn Schloessman, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission and CEO of the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee.“He brings a unique perspective as both an esteemed athlete in our region and a true soccer fan and will help us engage fans from around the world through this global event.”

Doncic will serve as an Official Community Ambassador alongside recently announced Community Chairman, Snoop Dogg, and Community Ambassadors, Cobi Jones, Eva Longoria and Magic Johnson. The FIFA World Cup 26 will take place from June 11 through July 19.

Luka Doncic felt better than expected in Lakers preseason debut​

As it currently stands, Luka Doncic is focused on the upcoming season with the Lakers and the superstar guard recently made his preseason debut as the coaches and training staff are slowly ramping him up after he spent much of the offseason playing at FIBA EuroBasket 2025 for Slovenia.

Doncic was outstanding in his first preseason appearance and admitted that he felt better than expected in his debut.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/luka-donci...or-los-angeles-world-cup-2026-host-committee/