RSS Lakers Team Notes

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic & LeBron James Commend Deandre Ayton

There were a lot of question marks surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers going into this season with one of the being the center position after adding Deandre Ayton.

After securing a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers, Ayton came to Los Angeles with hopes of playing alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James to rehabilitate his career. But as a center who likes his short rolls and pocket passes, those ball-handlers have to get reps to learn where Ayton wants to be successful.

Now that everyone is healthy for the most part, on-court chemistry is clearly starting to pick up and the starting big man is getting easy buckets. Ayton missed one game with a knee contusion and came back with 17 points and eight rebounds on 8-for-9 from the field in Friday night’s win over the Dallas Mavericks.

It was only one game, but the Lakers missed what the former Arizona Wildcat brought to their offense. Doncic spoke about how meaningful Ayton is for the team during this early part of the regular season.

“He’s been amazing for us the whole season,” Doncic said. “Since the start until now, he’s been amazing. He will keep doing what he does. Sometimes I need to get him more looks. But the way he plays on both ends of the floor has been amazing. I really appreciate him.”

In just four games into his 23rd season, James is also noticing what the former No. 1 pick brings to the table, along with developing pick-and-roll chemistry.

“Everything that we ask him to do, he does it,” James said. “Then it’s our responsibility to give him the ball when he is open. It’s our responsibility to attract the eyes off of him, for him to get good looks. He’s making them all count. It was a big force for us. He sets pretty much 80 percent of our pick-and-roll. Jax [Jaxson Hayes] sets a lot. I’ll sprinkle in a little bit here and there, but he’s a big-time player for us offensively and defensively. [He’s] anchoring our defense with the communication, things of that nature. In a pick-and-roll heavy league, it’s great to have that safety net when we’re doubled or whatever the case may be to find him.”

Up to this point, Ayton has been a great addition to an already explosive Lakers offense. A lot was made about his character, but he appears bought into what head coach JJ Redick is selling.

Hopefully, this buy-in remains for the rest of the season because the ceiling for L.A. can be extremely high with him playing at this level.

Deandre Ayton marvels at Austin Reaves’ scoring ability​

Deandre Ayton has not played with three gifted scorers like this in his career and it makes his life as a center easier. But Austin Reaves’ emergence as a scorer continues to impress and even Ayton marveled about how easily he can score the basketball.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-lebron-james-commend-deandre-ayton/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: LeBron James & Marcus Smart Out Vs. Pelicans

The Los Angeles Lakers announced that LeBron James (left foot injury management) has been ruled out of Sunday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Marcus Smart (back spasms) is also listed as out and will miss his second straight game.

The Lakers’ game against the Pelicans on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena is the first night of a back-to-back with the Phoenix Suns coming to town on Monday. With that, they are being cautious with both James and Smart, likely hoping both will be able to suit up against the Suns.

As James nears his 41st birthday, the organization is clearly taking a cautious approach in his 23rd season to ensure he stays healthy and fresh for the playoffs. LeBron missed the first 14 games of the year due to sciatica on his right side and will now miss his 15th game. Considering he is unlikely to play in 65 regular season games this season, James will not qualify for any of the end-of-year awards.

The focus for him and the Lakers is on winning a championship though, and they have won all four games he has suited up to this point.

Smart has also made a positive impact on the Lakers this season, particularly on the defensive end of the court. He is also a veteran that they want to manage though, so they will not push him to play through back spasms to avoid it becoming a more serious issue.

The Lakers go into Sunday night’s game winners of six straight and with a 14-4 record overall. They have been able to overcome injuries and rack up wins all year, so the hope is that they will be able to keep that going against a Pelicans team that comes in struggling, losing 11 of their last 12.

Lakers had already planned to find rest for LeBron James​

LeBron James sitting out in the first night of a back-to-back shouldn’t come as a surprise as Lakers head coach JJ Redick had previously discussed the team’s plan to find him rest throughout the season.

“Yeah, we’ll do what we did last year, which is daily communication with him, with Mike (Mancias),” Redick said. “We’re gonna have to, I used the word uncharted territory a few times in the preseason, we’re gonna have to just manage this as best as we can given there’s no precedent for it.

“He knows his body better than anyone, Mike obviously probably No. 2 there. So the level of communication we had last year and throughout this 6-7 week period has been really good so I don’t expect it to change there. We’ll figure out ways to get him rest when he needs rest.”

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-report-lebron-james-out-marcus-smart-doubtful-vs-pelicans/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Expected To Build Up & Eventually Play In Back-To-Backs

LeBron James’ return to the Los Angeles Lakers has helped transform the offense from great to elite.

While James has ceded usage and control to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, he’s juiced up the Lakers’ transition attack both as a playmaker and finisher. Defensively, James serves as a backline communicator who can still diagnose plays and create havoc when able to.

As the oldest player in the league, James has to take extra care of his body in order to make it through the rigors of the regular season. With that in mind, the Lakers ruled out James due to foot injury management against the New Orleans Pelicans as it was the first game of a back-to-back.

Head coach JJ Redick confirmed that the injury is something James is managing but is not of long-term concern.

“It is an injury he’s had in the past, it’s something that we’ve had to manage in the past,” Redick said. “Given the back-to-back and the fact that he’s basically just coming off his training camp, this has been his training camp the last 10 days or so, so just being cautious.”

Redick also acknowledged that the team and James are aiming to play back-to-backs at some point this season once he gets fully ramped up.

“We’re gonna build him up hopefully to be able to play in back-to-backs, that’s the goal,” Redick said. “But you are correct, every back-to-back is a case by case basis. That’s just the reality of the NBA right now. But we want him to be able to play in back-to-backs and so does he, so we’re gonna work towards that.”

The NBA has seen an uptick to injuries to their stars, so Redick and the training staff have every reason to bring James along slowly in Year 23. Although James has looked physically fine since coming back, re-injury is always a risk and Los Angeles needs to stay disciplined as it pertains to his workload.

Resting James against weaker teams like the Pelicans makes sense and they should continue to take advantage of lighter stretches in the schedule. With Los Angeles comfortably winning games with Doncic and Reaves leading the way, James has no reason to feel rushed as he ramps up.

LeBron James focused on winning regardless of role​

For the first time in LeBron James’ career, he doesn’t need to be the best player on his team to win games. While some wondered whether or not LeBron would be comfortable taking a back seat, he emphasized that he’s focused on winning games regardless of what his role is.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...to-build-up-eventually-play-in-back-to-backs/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Named Western Conference Player Of The Week

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 24-30, the NBA announced. Eastern Conference honors went to Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks

Doncic averaged 37.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 10.3 assists in three games last week, leading the Lakers to a 3-0 week with wins over the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks to close out group play in the Emirates NBA Cup, along with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The Lakers guard also shot 48.5% from the field, 45.4% from 3-point range and 86.1% from the free throw line.

Against the Clippers, Doncic was just one rebound shy of a triple-double as he dropped 43 points, nine rebounds and 13 assists in a 17-point win. He followed that up with 35 points and 11 assists against his former team the Mavericks before finishing up the week with 34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in the 12-point win over the Pelicans.

This continues what has been an absolutely excellent start to the season for Luka as he currently leads the NBA in scoring and ranks fourth in assists.

He has also made history throughout the this early part of the season as he was the first Lakers player ever to start the season with back-to-back 40-point games. He has also already moved into the top 10 in Lakers history in 40-point games and now ranks fourth among active players in career 40-point double-doubles with 39.

Additionally, he and Austin Reaves also became just the fourth duo in NBA history to each record at least 30 points in three consecutive games, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in 2023, Corey Maggette and Monta Ellis in 2010, and George Gervin and Mike Mitchell in 1984.

This is the first time this season that Doncic has taken home the award and the 15th time in his career he has done so. The last four Western Conference Player of the Week honors have been split between Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs winning in the first week of the season.

Doncic will look to repeat the award in the upcoming week as the Lakers play four games, starting with the Phoenix Suns at home on Monday night.

Austin Reaves explains why backcourt fit with Luka Doncic on Lakers has worked​

Luka Doncic is the star of this Lakers team, but Austin Reaves hasn’t been far behind him with his level of play this season. The two have been the best offensive backcourt in the NBA this season and Reaves explained why he and Doncic have fit so well together.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-named-western-conference-player-of-the-week/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Explains Why Jarred Vanderbilt Has Been Out Of Rotation

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt enjoyed the first healthy offseason he’s had in years, setting him up to be an important part of head coach JJ Redick’s rotation for the 2025-26 season.

Redick expressed his confidence in Vanderbilt, saying he could be an impactful two-way player for the Lakers.

While Vanderbilt has flashed his usual energy and hustle this season, he’s fallen out of the rotation since LeBron James returned to the lineup.

Redick detailed why Vanderbilt’s been benched and how he’s been able to handle it.

“He’s been good. He’s been a pro, he’s been great in the most recent stay-ready that we had this week. He was great. He’s been a great teammate, so no surprise there,” Redick said before Monday’s game against the Phoenix Suns. “I communicated to him before LeBron came back that there were certain things that he needed to be able to do consistently to play before LeBron came back, after LeBron came back, and that there was potentially gonna be a numbers crunch because we probably were gonna play a nine-man rotation and that was just the reality.

“Having said that, it doesn’t mean that he’s not gonna be back in the rotation at some point, whether we’re healthy or whether we’re missing a couple guys. When you’re winning games, it’s hard to re-do the rotation mid-winning streak. So we’re looking at everything and there were some lineup combinations when we were injured that we had to go away from and he was I guess caught up as a sort of innocent bystander in some ways with that. But I certainly have empathy for him and it’s not an easy situation to be in as a coach and certainly not a fun situation for him to be in as a player.”

Vanderbilt’s defense and knack for making winning plays is useful, but he’s been struggling offensively. Teams have been happy to pack the paint and dare Los Angeles to shoot when Vanderbilt’s on the floor, leaving Redick no choice but to use other options.

However, with how many players have already struggled to stay healthy there’s a good shot Vanderbilt cracks the rotation again. Redick and the Lakers will need Vanderbilt at some point, so it’s important he stays ready until his number is called.

Jarred Vanderbilt discusses controllable things Lakers can fix going forward​

In the Lakers’ loss, a lot of their struggles have been self-inflicted. Jarred Vanderbilt noted that Los Angeles needs to be better at executing the game plan, sound advice that could be applied to their recent loss to the Suns.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...y-jarred-vanderbilt-has-been-out-of-rotation/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Takes Responsibility For Turnovers Against Suns

Luka Doncic remains in contention for MVP as he’s served as the engine to the Los Angeles Lakers success to begin the 2025-26 season.

Doncic has been amazing for the Lakers, scoring at will and making passes that make even his own teammates shake their heads. Doncic recently led Los Angeles to a seven-game winning streak, though that was broken on the second night of a back-to-back set.

The Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns 125-108, snapping their win streak but importantly showing the league that there are still several things that they need to fix. Defensively, Los Angeles had no answer for a Phoenix team that lived in the paint and on open 3-pointers.

However, the Suns also turned the Lakers over 22 times with nine of them coming from Doncic. After the loss, Doncic took responsibility for his carelessness with the basketball.

“Yeah, that was my fault,” he said. “No way, I can have nine turnovers in a game. So, in that second quarter, instead of just getting the shots, instead of shooting the ball, I was trying to get involved. But there’s no way I should have nine turnovers.”

Doncic also praised Phoenix for mucking up the game and sticking to their defensive game plan.

“I feel like definitely it was different with defense than other teams and [they were] kind of trying to let me go score instead of creating for others. So, it was kind of confusing. But like I said, you just can’t have that [many turnovers],” Doncic said.

It’s normal for teams to struggle on the second night of a back-to-back, but Phoenix made L.A. look even worse with their ball pressure and constant effort on rotations. There are numerous times where a passing lane looked open for a second before a Suns defender was there to either deflect or steal the pass.

Doncic was uncharacteristically sloppy with the basketball as he tried to force passes that weren’t there or simply had the ball stripped from him. Phoenix makes their defensive living playing physically, and it seemed like it threw Doncic off for stretches.

The Lakers’ 22 turnovers resulted in 32 points for the Suns, clearly showing that it was the difference in the game. Los Angeles has gotten away with some bad habits playing against lower-level competition, but Phoenix exposed them whenever they were too loose with the basketball and Doncic knows they need to fix these issues.

“First of all, take care of the ball, obviously. Then just be more physical,” he said. “We had to make a lot of shots too, so we’ve got to welcome that too. So, take care of the ball on the offensive end and be more physical on the defensive end.”

It’s only one game and given the circumstances some of it is understandable, but Doncic and the Lakers need to be far sharper if they hope to beat some of the good teams coming up on their schedule.

Austin Reaves explains how backcourt fit with Luka Doncic has been seamless​

Besides Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves is also having a strong year. The two have been the league’s leading scoring duo and Reaves explained how his fit next to next to Doncic has been seamless.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-takes-responsibility-for-turnovers-against-suns/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Attributes Foot Injury To Old Age

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James missed the start of the regular season for the first time in his career due to a sciatica issue he first started to experience in the offseason.

Playing in a historic Year 23 as the oldest player in the NBA, James is single-handedly redefining how long a player can feasibly play in the league. There have been numerous players who have come and gone during James’ career, yet the Lakers star continues to play a large part in his team’s success.

However, as James has gotten older he’s been forced to manage different types of injuries and ailments that haven’t popped up before. For example, James was held out of the Lakers game against the New Orleans Pelicans for injury management purposes.

The team said James is dealing with a foot issue that he’s been dealing with previously and the star acknowledged it’s simply a by-product of getting older.

“It’s called old. You get it, you understand,” James said to a group of reporters. “You just wake up with shit that you didn’t have before, you know?”

LeBron’s comment was largely tongue in cheek, though there’s truth to it as he likely wakes up with aches and pains despite his best efforts to keep his body fresh. James is notorious for staying in shape and taking care of himself physically, but even he is starting to see himself decline as he continues to tack on the minutes and miles.

This year’s roster offers LeBron at least some reprieve as the Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are more than capable of handling the offensive load. The guard duo was able to hold down the fort in James’ absence, and the organization can afford to give the 40-year-old rest days throughout the regular season.

Head coach JJ Redick revealed that the plan is for James to play in back-to-backs at some point this season, but the team will take a cautious approach given his age and injury history. The best version of the Lakers includes a healthy LeBron, so keeping him upright and fresh will be key to competing in a tough Western Conference.

LeBron James believes defense will decide how great Lakers can be​

With LeBron James back in the lineup, the Lakers have been one of the best offenses in the league. While scoring has been easy for Los Angeles, James believes that the team’s defense will decide how great the purple and gold can be.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-attributes-foot-injury-to-old-age/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Luka Doncic & Marcus Smart Out Vs. Raptors

The Los Angeles Lakers are listing Luka Doncic (personal) and Marcus Smart (lower back injury management) as out for the team’s contest against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night.

It remains to be seen how long Doncic will be out, but multiple reports have indicated he traveled back to Slovenia for the birth of his second child. In the meantime, Austin Reaves and LeBron James will need to pick up the slack in his absence.

For Smart, this will now be his fourth straight game missed due to the back injury. He has been an important piece of the Lakers success so far this season, averaging 9.3 points, 2.9 assists and a team-high 1.8 steals. But more important is the energy he brings when he is on the court, causing chaos and shifting momentum from the very moment he steps on the floor.

Back injuries are always very difficult to deal with and the Lakers know this all too well as James missed the start of the season due to sciatica. They certainly don’t want to lose Smart for an extended period so they will be extremely cautious with him already having undergone an MRI to determine the severity of the issue.

This game against the Raptors is also the first night of a back-to-back for the Lakers and the start of a three-game East Coast road trip. They will travel to Boston to face the Celtics on Friday and then have a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, so this schedule could also play a role in how they handle Smart returning.

In Smart’s absence, the Lakers have turned to Dalton Knecht, who helps the team offensively but still struggles on defense. It is possible Redick could turn to someone like Jarred Vanderbilt as well as he would help replace the scrappiness and defensive intensity the Lakers are missing with Smart out.

The rest of the Lakers’ injury report is clear, though James has spoken about continuing to deal with the foot issue that has been bothering him for the past couple of seasons. Even still, he is set to be available as the Lakers kick off their toughest stretch of the regular season so far.

Rob Pelinka discusses Marcus Smart’s importance to the Lakers​

When Marcus Smart was bought out this past offseason, the Lakers moved quickly to sign him to a two-year deal as they felt he would bring a toughness and energy that the team needed. And his impact overall has been a positive one.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka recently spoke on this, mentioning not only what he brings to the Lakers during games, but also his leadership, communication and ability to push his teammates on a daily basis in practice.

“We see today’s NBA game is a highly physical game so you need those physical, scrappy defenders. But what our fans don’t know about Marcus Smart is how he elevates practice everyday,” Pelinka said in an interview with Spectrum SportsNet. “He is getting after guys, he is elevating things. The level of competition, his voice in the locker room, he’s been really, really, really integral to our success.”

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-report-luka-doncic-marcus-smart-out-vs-raptors/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick Embracing Lakers’ Tough Stretch Coming Up On Schedule

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has done a great job in leading his team to a 15-5 start this season. Despite LeBron James not playing most of the games, and minor injuries forcing nearly everyone on the roster to miss at least one game, the Lakers have played hard and looked like one of the better teams in the league.

But now, the Lakers are facing their toughest stretch of the season so far as they are set to embark on a three-game road trip which kicks off with a back-to-back against the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics, followed by a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. And when they return home, they will host the San Antonio Spurs in the quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup.

Redick understands that this is a huge challenge for this Lakers team, but he is prepared for it and will have his team ready for the task that lies ahead.

“The entire season is challenging but throughout the season,” Redick said. “There are stretches that are more challenging than others… In terms of an East Coast trip – I know there’s a couple of teams that have stuff like this in terms of the Eastern Conference going west and West going east – I’ve been part of the NBA 19 years. I don’t ever remember a California-based team going to the far east of the Eastern Conference for three games to play three and four nights. That’s an incredible challenge. And then we come back of course and got another challenge. It’s going to be a tough stretch and we’re going to have to manage a lot of different stuff coming up.”

One of those things they will have to manage is those injuries as Marcus Smart is dealing with a back issue while James continues to deal with a foot problem that has been bothering him for years now.

The Lakers have proven that they can win games regardless of who is on the court and as long as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves continue to play at a high level they can beat anyone on any given night. But this coming week will test the Lakers like they haven’t been so far this year and Redick will have to make sure his team is up for the challenge.

Austin Reaves believes Lakers need to ‘flush’ loss to Suns​

Unfortunately, the Lakers aren’t going into this road trip on a high note as they saw their seven-game win streak snapped with an awful loss to the Phoenix Suns. And Austin Reaves feels they just need to “flush” that loss and move on with some challenging matchups in front of them.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/jj-redick-embracing-lakers-tough-stretch-coming-up-on-schedule/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

LeBron James Made ‘Right Play’ For Game-Winner, Not Concerned About Double-Digit Scoring Streak Ending

Becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer was likely something Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James never dreamed of being, but he’s been a model of scoring consistency since entering the league.

Throughout his career, James has always been counted on to lead his team in scoring though he’s been able to take more of a backseat in Year 23.

James can lean on the likes of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to carry the scoring load and a prime example came in the team’s win against the Toronto Raptors. Reaves led all scorers with 44 points while James only had eight, ending his double-digit scoring streak at a historic 1,297 games. The Lakers time LeBron scored less than 10 points in a regular-season game was January 5, 2007.

James had a chance to break double digits on the final possession and keep the streak going, but he passed it to Rui Hachimura who drained the game-winning 3-pointer. After the game, James said he was just making the right play as he always does, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“Just playing the game the right way. I always make the right play, that’s been my M.O. That’s how I was taught that game, that’s how I’ve been my whole career. There was not even one second-guessing there. Once they doubled AR and the ball found me, I knew it was a numbers game and we had a four-on-three advantage. Just tried to put the ball on time and on target and Rui stuck it.”

James added he had no negative feelings about his streak ending because the Lakers won the game:

“None. We won.”

Making the correct basketball play is something James has always done at the end of games throughout his career and has often received criticism for it. Even though he could have forced up a shot to keep the streak going, he was not gonna change what he has been doing his whole career:

“You guys have been around me for eight years, been covering my career, I always just make the right play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw. You make the right play and the [Basketball Gods] always give it back to me. Whether I’m able to win or lose or whatever, that’s just how I was raised and how I always play the game… That aspect was always one of the most foolish things I’ve ever heard as far as making the right pass, making the right play. We are in the business of winning basketball games and my whole life I’ve just played the game that way and taught the game that way and I’ve won at every single level by playing the game that way. So there was no reason for me to ever change when I got to this level, basketball is basketball.”

It speaks volumes that James prioritized the win over his own stats and it’s bodes well for the Lakers’ camaraderie and success moving forward.

Buzz around NBA is 2025-26 season will be LeBron James’ last in L.A.​

While LeBron James has shown no signs of being discontent this season, the buzz around the NBA is that the 2025-26 season will be the star’s last with the Lakers.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lebron-jam...ned-about-double-digit-scoring-streak-ending/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: LeBron James Doubtful, Luka Doncic & Marcus Smart Out Vs. Celtics

The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Friday night’s game against the Boston Celtics and LeBron James (right sciatica and left foot joint arthritis) is doubtful while Luka Doncic (personal) and Marcus Smart (left lumbar muscle strain) remain out.

Doncic will miss his second consecutive game on Friday night when the Lakers take on the Celtics on the second night of a back-to-back. Reports have indicated that he returned to Slovenia for the birth of his second child, but this will be Doncic’s sixth missed game of the season.

Luka is the NBA’s leading scorer this season averaging 35.3 points along with 8.9 rebounds and 8.9 assists and has been absolutely dominant any time he’s been on the court. The Lakers were able to come together without him for a huge win over the Toronto Raptors, but the task may be even tougher as they take on their rivals on Friday night.

James being listed as doubtful should also come as no surprise as he has yet to play in both legs of a back-to-back since returning to the lineup and the Lakers are being cautious in building him up as the season goes along in order to hopefully, at some point, be able to suit up for back-to-backs.

Being without both James and Doncic is nothing new for this Lakers team and the pressure will once again be on Austin Reaves to carry the load and lead the way offensively. Thankfully, he has been up to the task this year as he is averaging a career-high 28.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists and is coming off a 44-point performance against the Raptors. Putting together another performance like that in Boston would surely keep him in the good graces of Lakers fans for years to come.

Additionally, Smart, who also sat out Thursday night’s game against the Raptors, will again be out against his former team due to a left lumbar muscle strain, which is a new classification for his back injury that has now kept him out five straight games.

The Lakers have benefitted from his energy and aggression especially defensively so other role players will need to step up.

Head coach JJ Redick turned to rookie Adou Thiero and two-way player Nick Smith Jr. in Toronto with both giving the team some solid minutes, so expect both to get a good look again. Additionally, Redick could also turn to Jarred Vanderbilt or Bronny James, both of whom have been out of the rotation, if he feels the Lakers could use a boost defensively.

Lakers’ LeBron James believes double-digit scoring streak ended in the ‘perfect way’​

In the Lakers victory the Raptors, LeBron James saw his double-digit scoring streak of 1,297 games snapped. While he could have taken the shot to win the game and keep his streak alive, he instead found Rui Hachimura wide open in the corner for the buzzer-beater, which he believes was the perfect way for it to end.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...tful-luka-doncic-marcus-smart-out-vs-celtics/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Shorthanded Lakers Blown Out By Celtics In Second Night Of Back-To-Back

Coming off their buzzer-beating win over the Toronto Raptors, the Los Angeles Lakers were back in action on Friday night, continuing their road trip against the rival Boston Celtics.

The Lakers were shorthanded in this one as Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart remained out while LeBron James also did not suit up in the second night of a back-to-back. As a result, the Lakers were blown out by the Celtics from start to finish, suffering a 126-105 loss to drop to 16-6 on the year.

After Gabe Vincent got a triple to fall to kick things off, the Lakers missed six straight shots and the Celtics took advantage to jump out to an 11-3 lead.

The Lakers were playing with tired legs early as they were missing a lot of easy shots with Boston quickly building a double-digit advantage.

Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. hit back-to-back triples to try to get L.A. going, although the team was clearly playing out of sorts and the Celtics led 39-17 at the end of an ugly first quarter.

After missing his first five shots, Austin Reaves tried to get the Lakers back on track with back-to-back buckets in the paint. Unfortunately, the Celtics were making everything from deep and grew their lead to 49-21, forcing a Lakers timeout.

Vincent, who has had success in Boston going back to his Miami days, tried to chip away with a triple and a pair of free throws. The Lakers continued to be a step slow on loose balls though while the Celtics remained hot to close the half and took a 69-46 lead into the locker room. Reaves was fouled on a 3-pointer to end the half and made all of his free throws, putting a little dent in Boston’s lead.

If the Lakers were gonna get back in the game then they would’ve needed to make a run early in the third and they actually started to get some shots to fall. The only problem was that Jaylen Brown answered them with three straight triples to halt any sort of momentum.

The best stretch of the night for the Lakers was a 9-0 run towards the end of the third quarter led by Reaves. Vincent also continued his strong night with another triple and all of a sudden the Celtics’ lead was down to 97-82 at the end of the third. Reaves had 16 points in the third quarter alone.

With Reaves on the bench, the Celtics began the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run. The gas tank was on empty from there as Boston continued pouring it on to put the game out of reach for good.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will wrap up their road trip on Sunday evening against the Philadelphia 76ers before returning home and hosting the San Antonio Spurs in the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-shor...t-by-celtics-in-second-night-of-back-to-back/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

FOCO’s Ultimate Los Angeles Lakers Gift Guide For Holidays & Christmas 2025

With the holiday season in full swing, FOCO wants to make sure fans get the best gifts for that special person this year!

Whether it’s for family, friends, or that crazy Los Angeles Lakers fan you know, FOCO is the place to shop for all. When gearing up for the rest of the season or simply showing their fandom around town, FOCO has the ultimate lineup of officially licensed Lakers merch.

This 2025 Lakers holiday gift guide is your go-to source for fan-favorite presents, from apparel to festive sweaters to must-have accessories including hats, bags and bracelets.

Plus, explore collector essentials such as puzzles, exclusive figurines, and limited-edition bobbleheads that make unforgettable gifts.

Los Angeles Lakers

Best Los Angeles Lakers holiday items​

Lakers 12-pack Christmas ornaments set​

Sledding snowmen ornament​

LED shatterproof ornament​

Lakers logo Christmas lights sweater​

Holiday sweater t-shirt​

Lakers overalls​

Lakers gloves​

Lakers Santa hat​

Friendship bracelets​

Magic Johnson bobblehead​

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/focos-ultimate-los-angeles-lakers-gift-guide-for-holidays-christmas-2025/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: LeBron James Questionable, Luka Doncic Available & Marcus Smart Out Vs. 76ers

The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Sunday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers and LeBron James (right sciatica and left foot joint arthritis) is questionable whilwe Luka Doncic (personal) is available to return and Marcus Smart (left lumbar muscle strain) remains out.

Doncic missed the first two games of this road trip in Toronto and Boston for personal reasons, which was a back-to-back. He later revealed that he flew back to Slovenia for the birth of his second daughter.

The All-NBA guard is putting together an impressive MVP resume as he leads the league in scoring with 35.3 points to go along with 8.9 rebounds and 8.9 assists. In his absence, L.A. secured a thrilling win against the Toronto Raptors, thanks to a Rui Hachimura game winner, but were clearly shorthanded against their rival Boston Celtics in a blowout loss.

James was not available against the Celtics, which is not surprising considering he has been dealing with multiple ailments and hasn’t been ready to play on back-to-back nights just yet. The expectation is that he will eventually be able to build up and play in back-to-backs depending on his health, but considering he is questionable for this one, it might be a more serious injury as opposed to just resting in Boston.

While Austin Reaves has been impressive to begin this season, especially as the sole creator, he needed more scoring help against a physical Celtics defense. Despite Reaves dropping 36 points, Boston shot 24-for-45 from 3-point range, which was too much to overcome, as that is an absurd 53%.

Lastly, Smart has yet to suit up since Nov. 25 and his return remains up in the air. When originally on the injury report it was due to back spasms, but this new classification may indicate additional time missed than anticipated.

The Lakers’ defensive struggles without Smart are well-documented, as there are not many two-way players on this roster besides him. Although his 3-point shooting has been poor at 25.4%, his intensity and energy have been missed.

Ultimately, having James and Doncic back in the lineup would a tremendous boost to build more on-court chemistry next to Reaves. As the Lakers look to salvage this mini three-game road trip with a win before returning home for an NBA Cup quarterfinals against the San Antonio Spurs, having their stars back should definitely help.

Buzz around NBA is 2025-26 season will be LeBron James’ last with Lakers​

LeBron James’ start to his 23rd season has been a bit underwhelming on the scoring front, but his playmaking is a tremendous positive. After missing the first 14 games of the year, James is still working his way back into NBA shape.

To this point, there remains no definitive answer on when the 40-year-old will call it a career. But, rumor has it that this may be his last season with the Lakers, whether he decides to play elsewhere or retire.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...a-doncic-available-marcus-smart-out-vs-76ers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Jokes That He’s Glad LeBron James’ Double-Digit Streak Is Over

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James famously had his streak of regular season double-digit scoring games come to an end on Thursday night against the Toronto Raptors. He made the right play in the final moments of the game, passing it to Rui Hachimura to hit the game-winning three at the buzzer to help lift the team to their 16th win of the early season.

The double-digit scoring streak had become a significant conversation in the games leading up the Thursday. Since returning from his sciatica issue, James has not been a dominant scorer the way he had been for 22 years prior. It’s clear that he’s still ramping up, but needed to work extra hard in a few games to reach that 10-point benchmark.

And now that it’s over, someone who might feel a little better is head coach JJ Redick. In response to a reporter’s question about the challenge of scoring 10 points in an NBA game, he joked that perhaps it’s better than LeBron’s streak came to an end, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

A day after LeBron’s 10-point streak ends at 1,297 games, JJ Redick says “in some ways, I’m really glad the streak is over so now we can stop talking about it.”
In fairness to the Q, JJ is qualified to talk about the challenge of it as someone who scored 10 or fewer 322 times.

pic.twitter.com/X72MIIOntD

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 5, 2025

Redick is not one to want to focus on his own playing career or anything related to past successes or failures. He wants to talk about the Lakers as they exist now and what they’re going to do moving forward, and he clearly was not a fan of the question that was being asked.

He found a funny way to bounce off of it and keep the conversation moving forward, so that he can focus on what he wants to focus on: the Lakers.

JJ Redick pleased with fight in blowout loss to Celtics​

After a thrilling win against the Toronto Raptors, the Lakers were blown out by the Boston Celtics on the second night of their back-to-back.

The Lakers were down from the jump as the Celtics raced out to a huge lead and never looked back. Despite Los Angeles generating quality offensive looks, nothing seemed to go down while their defense was a disaster.

The team was able to mount a comeback in the second half, but the deficit was too large for them to overcome in the end.

JJ Redick may not have liked the result, but he appreciated the fight he saw from his players after their rough start.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...lad-lebron-james-double-digit-streak-is-over/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: LeBron James Helps Lakers Close Out Victory Over 76ers

After splitting the first two games of their road trip, the Los Angeles Lakers looked to end it on a high note when they took on the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday evening.

Marcus Smart remained out for L.A., although LeBron James and Luka Doncic were back in the lineup after missing the last two games for the birth of his second daughter. That made the difference as they led the Lakers to a 112-108 victory to improve to 17-6 on the year.

Doncic didn’t appear rusty early as he kicked off the scoring with a midrange jumper and then a three-point play. The Lakers were playing great defense early though with Joel Embiid and Paul George scoring and then Tyrese Maxey hitting a 3 to give the 76ers a 17-9 lead.

Doncic was the first player in double figures, hitting one from deep to help settle the Lakers in. James then got going in transition with a pair of dunks and Rui Hachimura hit a corner triple with L.A. finishing the quarter strong to tie it at 30.

The Lakers took their first lead early in the second when Adou Thiero came up with the steal and James buried a triple.

Jared McCain provided a spark for the 76ers off the bench with a pair of 3-pointers. Meanwhile, Austin Reaves couldn’t buy a bucket as he missed his first eight shots. He made a tough layup though and then hit a 3 right after.

It was a poor close to the half for the Lakers as Joel Embiid started to get going, sending the 76ers into the locker room with a 60-53 lead.

James was aggressive to start the third quarter with five quick points. He then found Hachimura on an alley-oop to cut the deficit to just one. Everything was going the Lakers’ way from there as they made 11 of their first 12 shots in the second half with Reaves, Doncic and Hachimura all getting involved to take the lead.

While the Lakers momentarily went up by 10, Philadelphia had a strong close to the quarter to cut their deficit to 87-84.

With Doncic on the bench and Reaves struggling, James tried to take control of the Lakers’ offense, although their lead was cut to two and they needed a timeout.

Doncic eventually returned and helped settle his team with an alley-oop to Deandre Ayton and then a bucket of his own.

With the game tied late, James took over and made four shots in a row to close out the victory.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will now return home and host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lebron-james-helps-lakers-close-out-victory-over-76ers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers’ Luka Doncic: Having Two Daughters Is ‘Best Thing In The World’

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic missed two games on the team’s East Coast road trip, sitting out Thursday night against the Toronto Raptors and Friday night against the Boston Celtics. When Doncic was initially ruled out, the Lakers cited personal reasons without any further explanation.

However, it was quickly rumored that Luka had returned to Slovenia to be with his fiancée Anamaria Goltes, as she was expected to give birth to their second daughter. The Lakers star announced on Saturday morning that their second daughter, Olivia, was born.

Doncic returned to the Lakers on Sunday to play in their road game against the Philadelphia 76ers, and stuffed the statsheet in the game. He finished with 31 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists while helping lead the Lakers to their first win in Philadelphia in eight years.

After the game, Luka was asked about now having two daughters and what that means to him. He gave an earnest answer, followed by a joke about what that’s going to do to his life, via the NBA on X:

“It’s the best thing in the world. Obviously, two girls, they’re going to make my life hell, for sure. I know that. I’m going to be their security after I retire. All jokes aside, it’s the best thing in the world. I’m just blessed.”

Doncic is always good for a laugh in his media availability, but spends more time talking about how happy he is to be a father to two daughters. And this line of thinking is very familiar to any Lakers fan, as it is the exact way that Kobe Bryant used to talk about his family.

He was a proud girl dad, and it became one of his defining legacies after his tragic death in 2020. Doncic and Bryant were fairly close, and had several great public moments together. It seems almost poetic that Doncic, now a Laker, would carry on Kobe’s public love of being a girl dad.

LeBron James congratulates Luka Doncic on second daughter​

Luka Doncic was away from the Lakers for two games while traveling to Slovenia to be with his fiancée for the expected birth of their daughter. LeBron James and Austin Reaves led L.A. to a win in his absence, while they lost the other game that the 40-year-old sat.

Luka’s fiancée Anamaria Goltes gave birth to their second daughter, and the Lakers star took to Instagram to announce the news on Saturday morning. Olivia now joins Gabriela as the second daughter of the Doncic-Goltes family.

And quickly after Doncic’s celebratory post, James was one of the first to leave a congratulatory comment.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-luka-doncic-having-two-daughters-is-best-thing-in-the-world/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Felt Like Himself In Win Over 76ers

LeBron James turned back the clock on Sunday night as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers on the road for the first time in eight years. James had 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but his best moment came in crunchtime, when he scored 10 consecutive Lakers points on four made baskets to give L.A. the lead and keep them ahead.

He hit two long 2s and two 3s over a four-minute stretch at the end of the game, taking over in a way many thought was no longer possible after the slow start the Lakers star has had to the season. After all, this was LeBron’s first game after his historic double-digit scoring streak came to an end.

After the win, he spoke about what he’s been feeling so far this season and how glad he was to have a truly vintage James performance in a Lakers victory, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

“At 40 years old, I mean, it just takes a while for my body to kind of get back into a rhythm,” James said. “And so it felt good tonight to kind of feel like myself a little bit.”

One of LeBron’s greatest contributions to this Lakers team will be his versatility. He can be whatever the team needs him to be on any given night. On Sunday, they needed him as a scorer, and he recognized that late in the game:

“I felt like the opportunity kind of presented itself,” James said. “I felt like my two heavy hitters kind of didn’t have it or needed a little kick, and I tried to punch in from there.”

James loved being able to hit clutch shots in a winning effort for the Lakers:

“To do it [and go on a scoring spree] in a win is even more important,” James said. “To be able to come up clutch in a win, that’s even more exciting.”

Sunday night should quell any fan’s fears of LeBron no longer having the ability to take over games or be an elite player. He is going to need to be selective over when moments like this happen, but he is still more than capable — even as he nears 41 years old — of being the primary creator and initiator when the game script calls for it.

JJ Redick jokes that he’s glad LeBron James’ streak is over​

LeBron James famously had his streak of regular season double-digit scoring games come to an end on Thursday night against the Toronto Raptors. He made the right play in the final moments of the game, passing it to Rui Hachimura to hit the game-winning 3 at the buzzer to help lift the team to their 16th win of the early season.

The double-digit scoring streak had become a significant conversation in the games leading up the Thursday. Since returning from his sciatica issue, James has not been a dominant scorer the way he had been for 22 years prior. It’s clear that he’s still ramping up, but needed to work extra hard in a few games to reach that 10-point benchmark.

And now that it’s over, someone who might feel a little better is head coach JJ Redick. In response to a reporter’s question about the challenge of scoring 10 points in an NBA game, he joked that perhaps it’s better than LeBron’s streak came to an end.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-felt-like-himself-in-win-over-76ers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Rich Paul Doesn’t Believe Lakers Are Championship Contenders As Currently Constructed

The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the surprise teams this season as they currently sit in second place in the Western Conference at 17-6 with a number of key players missing time with injuries.

Despite them having LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves though, plus some quality role player signings this past offseason. there are still people that are skeptical the Lakers can compete for a championship this season.

It appears one of those people is James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, as he explained in the first episode of the “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman:

“I personally don’t think the Lakers are good enough to be contenders, not right now. I don’t think they have enough to get to WCF, I don’t think they have enough to contend from that perspective right now… When you have the talent up top, those guys can win games… But then, things start to really, when you come to the back half of the season where guys have their conditioning, they’re in rhythm, they’re scouting you different, it’s one thing. Then when you go into the playoffs, we saw last year, they ran into athleticism and length and they struggled. So when you look at it now, athleticism, length, shooting, speed, right? Because now, can the Lakers play fast? I don’t think so. And style of play. That style of play is gonna be very easy to guard when you get into playoffs… They’re not a better team than Denver, [Houston] has athletes… I think there’s a couple changes to be made in short-term, and the long. In the short, I’m putting LeBron as the screener because no offense to Ayton or Jaxson Hayes, they’re just not the decision-maker coming out of the pick-and-roll… But now all you need in that case, we’ve seen it, the guy in the dunker’s spot and then the guy in the short corner, if they make shots, then you’re very tough to beat. Some teams may just switch it, but it depends on who’s guarding [LeBron]. You have to have two really good defenders on your team in order to just switch LeBron and Luka pick-and-roll.”

Paul is certainly entitled to his opinion and he may very well be right. At this point in the season though, the Lakers are focusing on racking up as many wins as possible to put them in the best position to compete in the postseason.

As the trade deadline approaches, it will be interesting to see if Rob Pelinka makes any moves to address Paul’s concerns, as speed and athleticism are definitely things the Lakers are lacking.

Rich Paul confirms LeBron James will finish season with Lakers​

There was some uncertainty regarding LeBron James and if he will finish the season with the Lakers, but Rich Paul put an end to that by confirming he won’t be traded.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/rich-paul-...pionship-contenders-as-currently-constructed/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Update: Marcus Smart Planning On Returning Vs. Spurs

Los Angeles Lakers veteran guard Marcus Smart has missed the last six games with a back injury that was originally classified as spasms and then a left lumbar muscle strain.

Even though he has been out for a couple of weeks though, Lakers head coach JJ Redick was not concerned that it was a long-term injury for Smart, and he appears to be right.

Smart practiced in full on Tuesday and then revealed that he is planning on returning to the lineup for Wednesday’s Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals against the San Antonio Spurs.

“Back is feeling good. Felt good in practice today. We did some tests, passed the tests, so we’re gonna give it a shot tomorrow and see how it feels,” Smart said. “But right now, I’m playing tomorrow. Hopefully it can continue to feel better with another day, a couple more hours, and it stays that way. But as of right now, everything is good to go for me.”

Smart also discussed how the injury happened and what they’ve been doing to manage it and get him back on the floor as soon as possible.”

“Just back spasms. Just wear and tear over the years,” he said. “I haven’t played in two years extensively and heavy the way that they wanted me to play here. So just kind of getting back into the groove of things, it’s common. The staff here has been doing a great job of managing it to the best of our ability but also making sure we’re not sitting out too long or not doing nothing to where it’s longer and it gets tighter. But everything has been feeling great.”

Having Smart back against the Spurs will be big as they have a lot of firepower in their backcourt, led by De’Aaron Fox.

Marcus Smart not on minutes restriction​

Marcus Smart revealed that he will not be on any sort of minutes restriction when he returns, but the Lakers will be cautious to ensure he stays healthy and fresh throughout the year.

“Not really. It’s more so just, if I’m feeling good and playing well, the minutes will stay high and they’ll use me when needed. If there’s a game where I don’t need to play 30 minutes, we’re not gonna play me 30 minutes. That’s plain and simple,” Smart said.

“The long-haul obviously is getting through the regular season and making it to the playoffs. I know that’s a long way obviously to be thinking, but we just want to make sure that we’re chirping and we’re getting ready and rolling at the right time. If that means conserving my energy and not playing guys 40 minutes when they don’t have to, then we’re not gonna do that.”

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-update-marcus-smart-planning-on-returning-vs-spurs/