News Lakers Team Notes

[Los Angeles Lakers]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JJ Redick maintains very high belief in Dalton Knecht​

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

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

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dillon Brooks believes his trash talk agitates LeBron James​

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

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

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

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

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

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

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

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

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

pic.twitter.com/KRPD03r1zN

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

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

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

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

Luka Doncic talks Lakers defense​

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

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

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lakers could look for fringe trade​

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LeBron James just competing with Dillon Brooks​

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

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

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

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

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

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

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

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

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

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

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 18, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JJ Redick outlines ideal role players to surround Lakers stars​

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

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

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Update: Luka Doncic Ruled Out Vs. Clippers

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

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

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

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

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

Luka Doncic made Lakers history in last game​

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

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

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

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

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

BYU Star AJ Dybantsa Happy To Meet Lakers’ LeBron James

As the oldest player in the NBA, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been fortunate enough to compete against some of the greatest players to ever step foot in the league.

In Year 23, James continues to show that he can hang with the next generation of stars despite losing a step physically. Mentally, LeBron is as sharp as ever and he and the Lakers remain in the thick of a playoff race.

While James and the Lakers look to compete for a championship, there is already plenty of interest in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft as there are several prospects who look the part of franchise pillars. For example, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa is considered one of the favorites to go first overall and for good reason as he’s got the size, length, athleticism and scoring ability to be a true No. 1 option on a title team.

Dybantsa got the chance to see James up close at a recent Utah Jazz-Lakers game and the two met on the court for a quick greeting, via BYU Men’s Basketball’s official X account:

game recognizes game

pic.twitter.com/iXrfGscOkU

— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) December 19, 2025

Dybantsa offered his own shoutout to James on his personal X account as well:

‘@KingJames

pic.twitter.com/TcX9nc9g8a

— AJ Dybantsa (@AJ_Dybantsa) December 20, 2025

After BYU’s win against ACU, Dybantsa described what it meant to meet James and revealed what he said to him, via TNT Sports:

“He was just saying that he’s been watching from a distance. Obviously I worked out with him like two years ago, so I’ve been in contact with him a little bit. But it’s greatness, so I’m just happy to meet him.”

James has been gracious with his time when it comes to young players like Dybantsa and his acknowledgment should be enough to show that the BYU star could have next. Dybantsa headlines a 2026 draft class that also features Kansas’ Darry Peterson and Duke’s Cam Boozer, and any of the three could wind up going first overall.

Dybantsa fits the mold of a modern NBA offensive player, though his frame and athleticism given him arguably the most upside. Every team craves to build around a player like Dybantsa, so it should be no surprise when teams start to tank down the strech.

LeBron James dodged bullet with knee injury scare against Jazz​

James and the Lakers managed to beat the Jazz, though the star looked like he seriously hurt his knee after taking a shot from Walter Clayton Jr. James was OK after, but admitted he dodged a bullet.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/byu-star-aj-dybantsa-happy-to-meet-lakers-lebron-james-at-jazz-game/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick Calls For Consistency From NBA Officiating & Challenge System

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick can run a little hot when things aren’t going correctly, and that was the case against the L.A. Clippers.

The Lakers lost to the Clippers, 103-88, as they couldn’t make up for the number of injuries to players, including Luka Doncic who was ruled out after the first half due to a leg contusion.

However, Redick and the Lakers also didn’t receive much help from the referees as there were several questionable calls that went against them.

After the loss, Redick sounded off on the officiating and called for the NBA to address the lack of consistency in calls as he has not been receiving feedback when reaching out to the league, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“Overall, the consistency, it’s something I’m gonna talk with them about tomorrow. The consistency needs to be addressed. That needs to be addressed, and it will be. I think any coach, any player, what we ask for is consistency. That’s not to single any official out or any crew out, it’s not about that. We need to know what it is night to night. We’ve had a number, and this is where I get frustrated a little bit and I keep asking the league to please reach out to me and respond to every time I do the coach’s feedback thing, I don’t get any response from the league, nobody ever reaches out to me.

“The way we do challenges and the definitions of challenges and X, Y or Z and why you can or can’t, it’s different with every different crew. We’re supposed to have the guy at the replay center, whoever is in charge that night, we’re supposed to have some level of consistency. And the definitions just get changed every single night.”

There was also a play where Redick tried to challenge on what appeared to be a proximate foul on a ball out of bounds. He was told that he could not challenge that aspect, which he didn’t understand as that type of play has typically been allowed to be challenged:

“Yeah. Josh (Tiven) came to me and said, I don’t want you to waste your challenge, but there’s a chance that it’s two separate plays.’ Which, again, I’ve seen this happen where somebody’s trying to box a guy out, gets fouled, somebody goes over the back and there’s a clear foul, ball gets deflected off the defensive team. I’ve seen that challenged, and I’ve seen that work. So it’s not two separate plays. The ball is part of the play, the ball got loose because of the charge, and then it was deflected. It’s not two separate plays. That’s an insane definition. Insane.”

Redick has every right to be frustrated with the referees as there have been multiple cases recently of calls being missed. The Lakers draw fouls at one of the highest rates in the league, but that shouldn’t penalize them when other teams can’t defend without fouling.

It’ll be interesting to see how the NBA responds to Redick’s request as the Lakers aren’t the only team that should have a gripe with the inconsistency from the officiating crews.

JJ Redick credits Lakers defense​

Redick has seemingly improved at getting his players to shake off rough beginnings to games. For example, the Lakers came out flat against the Jazz but turned things around in the second half to pull off a win.

Redick may demand a lot from his players, but he was happy to give them credit for responding defensively in the second half in Utah.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...stency-from-nba-officiating-challenge-system/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: James Harden Doesn’t Think LeBron James’ Scoring Record Will Be Broken

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in February of 2023, when he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 38,387 total points. That record was previously seen as unbreakable due to Abdul-Jabbar’s longevity, but James has added over two years worth of points since then.

As of Dec. 22, 2025, LeBron sits at 42,406 points, 4,019 points ahead of the next-highest total. That difference alone is two full seasons of averaging 25 points per game. And that was what L.A. Clippers star James Harden focused on after his recent win over the Lakers.

Harden recently passed Carmelo Anthony to become the NBA’s 10th leading scorer all-time. But he wouldn’t even entertain the idea of catching up to or passing LeBron, via Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points:

“Don’t even say LeBron in this conversation,” Harden joked. “LeBron is… Nobody’s — when we talk about that record — nobody’s ever catching that. But just to be back out there, I’m not, I only missed one game, but just to be back out there and giving my teammates an opportunity to help them win the game was important for me. So it wasn’t pretty, but we got to win, so we just got to build momentum off this.”

Harden is currently 10th all-time with 28,359 points. He has been in the NBA for 17 years and was, at one time, one of the league’s most prolific scorers. He averaged over 30 points per game in three consecutive seasons and averaged over 29 points per game in five. Over the course of nine seasons from 2012-21, he averaged 29.3 points per game.

And yet, he is still over 14,000 points away from James. He’s in his 17th season at age 36, and would need to average his current 25.8 points per game — his most in a season since 2019-20 — for another 544 games to catch LeBron’s current total. That’s over 6.5 seasons if he played 82 games every year.

And that’s not even factoring in that James is going to score more points before calling it a career. If Harden, a player with one of the greatest scoring resumes in league history, sits that far away from LeBron, it’s going to be very hard for anyone to pass him up.

Even take James’ teammate in Luka Doncic. He has a 28.9 points per game career average in his eighth season, and has scored 13,594 points. He would need to maintain that average for 82 games per year for over 12 seasons to catch LeBron.

Catching James may simply never happen. But that’s what many thought about Abdul-Jabbar as well.

LeBron James discusses significance of playing Christmas Day​

James is set to play his 20th game on Christmas Day in 23 seasons. So he knows more than anyone what it means to be chosen to play on one of the league’s biggest regular season days and he spoke about that as the Lakers prepare to play the Houston Rockets.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...k-lebron-james-scoring-record-will-be-broken/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Deandre Ayton Returns, Austin Reaves Questionable, Luka Doncic & Rui Hachimura Out Vs. Suns

The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns and Deandre Ayton (left elbow soreness) is off it and good to go, while Luka Doncic (lower left leg contusion), Rui Hachimura (right groin soreness) and Gabe Vincent (low back soreness) are out and Austin Reaves (left calf strain) is questionable.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick said after practice on Monday that Doncic, Reaves and Hachimura are all considered to be day-to-day moving forward. Reaves has a chance to suit up in Phoenix, while the other two will miss at least one most game.

Doncic sat out the second half of the Lakers’ loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night and was clearly hobbled even as he tried to tough out his leg issue in the first half. He finished with just 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting along with four turnovers.

Reaves has missed the last three games with his calf issue and the Lakers are sure to be extremely cautious and ensure he is 100 percent healthy before bringing him back. Calf issues have been popping up all over the NBA and has sometimes led to much more serious injuries which the Lakers certainly don’t want to risk with Reaves playing at an All-Star level this season.

Hachimura’s groin issue came a bit out of nowhere, but teams will always be more cautious with soft tissue injuries. Hachimura has been an unsung hero for the Lakers this season and has been far and away the team’s best 3-point shooter. With the team’s major struggles from deep against the Clippers, being without Hachimura will be a challenge in Phoenix.

On the positive side of the injury front, Ayton was a full participant in practice and looks to be good to go against the Suns on Tuesday. The big man missed the Lakers’ last two games and his presence was sorely missed on both ends of the court. Getting him back in the lineup will be a needed boost for this team.

Vincent, on the other hand, has still not returned to practice and will remain out for Tuesday night and would seem unlikely to be able to suit up for the Lakers when they face the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day.

LeBron James: Lakers must be ready for challenge of missing players​

It is still unclear who will be in uniform for the Lakers when they take the floor in the coming days, but they will be getting no sympathy from their opponents as they always get the opposition’s best shot. And LeBron James says everyone must be ready for the challenge of stepping up if key players are out.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...onable-luka-doncic-rui-hachimura-out-vs-suns/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Opens Up About End Of Double-Digit Scoring Streak

LeBron James has amassed a ton of records throughout his historic career, many of which seem unlikely to be broken for a very long time and perhaps ever. One of those records recently came to an end as James’ streak of 1,297 game scoring at least 10 points was snapped during a Los Angeles Lakers victory over the Toronto Raptors.

LeBron finished with just eight points on the night, but the Lakers got the victory as he found Rui Hachimura for the game-winning 3-pointer instead of trying to score and extend his streak.

On the latest episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash, James reflected on the ending of the streak, noting that he was always aware of his points, but wasn’t going out of his way to keep it going:

“I’m a guy that goes to the bench and I like to look at the stat sheet. I like to look at what I’m shooting from the field, I like to be super efficient. I’d be lying to say that I don’t know how many points I have at any given moment of the game, but I never went into the game during the streak saying ‘OK, I have to get 10 points. I have to keep this streak going.’ It would be a disservice to me and the way I play the game. And it showed in how this streak ended on how I’ve always played the game.”

James shot just 4-of-17 on that night and he admitted that he knew the streak could end as he just couldn’t get in rhythm, which is partly why he passed to Hachimura for the game-winner:

“Yeah, I was clearly aware. You know, I was so not in a rhythm. The one rhythm I know that I will always have is the ability to draw a crowd and put the ball on-time, on-target. I had a couple shots in that game where, literally I had a three on the right wing that would’ve put me up to 11 points that hit all the rim, hit the backboard, came back around the rim again and then came out. I was like, ‘OK, it’s one of those nights. It’s one of those nights.’”

The streak nearly ended the game before, as LeBron finished with just 10 points in a blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns and there were other contests in which it almost happened as well. James recalled a game in the 2021 season in which he tried to play through injury and just barely reached the 10-point mark before having to exit:

“I mean, there were some close calls for sure. I had a season in which I believe, I don’t know if it was 2021 or ’22 or maybe ’20, I don’t know coming out of the bubble. I was playing some of the best basketball of my career even at that stage of my career and we were playing Atlanta and my leg got rolled up on. And any time that I’ve sprained my ankle or my leg got rolled up on or whatever I’ve had this routine of like, ‘OK, you feel it, but let’s just tighten the shoes. Let’s tighten the shoes up a little bit tighter and let’s get going.’ And I played a little bit more through it. I was in the left wing, got a pass, hit a three. I think that actually put me up to 10 points. And my leg just started getting really, really hot and I could barely run. Basically long story, short, I think I was out maybe 4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain. And that was one of the moments where I was like, yeah, very easily could’ve ended that night for sure. And there was a couple other moments too, but that was definitely one that sticks out in the front of my mind.”

James did wind up missing more than a month after that game against the Hawks, but that just further shows how improbable a streak like this is. A freak injury or ejection at any point could have cut this streak down significantly. And with the longest active streak being more than 1,000 games away, it will be a very long time before anyone could even potentially approach LeBron’s mark.

James Harden doesn’t believe LeBron James’ scoring record will be broken​

Another record in which James is so far ahead of everyone else is the all-time NBA scoring record and James Harden doesn’t believe anybody will break the Lakers’ superstar’s record.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-opens-up-about-end-of-double-digit-scoring-streak/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Blown Out By Suns To End Road Trip

The Los Angeles Lakers went back on the road for a matchup with the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, the third matchup between the Pacific Division rivals in the last few weeks with them splitting the first two.

The Lakers continued to be shorthanded with Luka Doncic, Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent out of the lineup. They did get Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton back, but that didn’t matter as they were blown out by the Suns, 132-108, to fall to 19-9 on the year.

With two starters out, Jake LaRavis was in the Lakers’ first group and began the game with five straight points. As is usually the case, LeBron James and ` Brooks immediately went right at each other to exchange buckets for their teams.

Reaves came off the bench for the Lakers as he appeared to be on a minutes restriction in his first game back. He immediately drew a foul on a 3-point attempt but was otherwise a little rusty to start and the Lakers trailed 29-26 at the end of the first.

The Lakers were careless with the ball to begin the second quarter and the Suns took advantage to build an eight-point lead. James got to the free throw line a couple of times to cut into the deficit, and then Reaves had a triple and a layup to cut it to four.

L.A.’s defense was nowhere to be found in the second as Phoenix was making everything. On the other hand, the Lakers were missing a ton of free throws and as a result went into the halftime locker room trailing 67-57.

It was a poor start to the third quarter for the Lakers with the Suns ripping off a 10-2 run to extend their lead and force a timeout by JJ Redick. Frustration was clearly mounting for L.A. as LaRavia picked up a technical foul while Phoenix continued to pour it on.

Brooks was hot offensively as he was scoring in a variety of ways to completely blow the game open with the Lakers trailing 112-86 at the end of the third.

Both teams emptied their respective benches early in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach. Unfortunately, the Lakers were dealt another blow in the injury department as Jaxson Hayes was ruled out with left ankle soreness.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will next take the court on Thursday evening when they host the Houston Rockets as part of the NBA’s annual Christmas Day slate.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lakers-blown-out-by-suns-to-end-road-trip/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

LeBron James Diagnoses Lakers’ Defense & Effort Issues

For the second time in the month of December, the Los Angeles Lakers were blown out by the Phoenix Suns. Despite another solid performance from LeBron James, and the return of Austin Reaves, the Lakers’ defense was nowhere to be found as the Suns did whatever they wanted in the 24-point blowout.

The Lakers allowed the Suns to shoot 59% from the field and 41% from 3-point range. Additionally, the Lakers turned the ball over 17 times and gave up 12 offensive rebounds, giving the Suns even more opportunities for easy buckets. And it is those issues which James believes is hurting the Lakers defensively more than anything else, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“It’s the same thing I’ve said before, it has to be five guys on a string. And these guys also made a lot of midrange, contested twos too and those are part of our keys that we’re willing to give up. It’s the fastbreak points, it’s the second-chance points, it’s the open threes that we do not wanna give up. This is a good midrange shooting team. Book hit some, the kid [Jamaree] Bouyea off the bench hit some, Dillon Brooks hit some. They played exceptionally well so you give them kudos to that.”

It has seemed to be a theme this season that the Lakers have struggled with the younger, more athletic teams who play fast such as the Suns, San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks. LeBron spoke to this, noting that there have been times they have matched their opponents energy, but not consistently:

“Every team is constructed differently, I would say. Personnel kind of dictates how you can play, how you would like to play, how you would like to execute. I think we’ve had some good times and we’ve had some bad times throughout the season where we’ve matched the energy of a lot of teams that played like this and sometimes we haven’t and it’s resulted in either a win or loss. Quite frankly, sometimes you also play extremely hard like that and still don’t get it done. The other night vs. the Clippers, not saying they play the same way as the Suns, but we went out and played as hard as we could and we still just came up short. Just trying to take the bad, you look at some of the good from each and every game and see how you can get better from it.”

It is no secret that the Lakers are not a team with a ton of athletes. The top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Reaves are more skilled and crafty and James can only reach that athletic level in spurts at this stage of his career. Some of the role players such as Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart aren’t jumping out of the building either.

It doesn’t mean the Lakers can’t be successful, but the margin for error is much more slim, especially if they aren’t playing as hard as they can against these teams. In the end, this team has some obvious holes and they must figure out how to fix them soon.

Marcus Smart: Lakers must fix defensive issues before it’s too late​

Lakers guard Marcus Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year, pulled no punches when discussing the Lakers’ defense, putting the onus on the players themselves and saying they must figure something out before it’s too late.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lebron-james-diagnoses-lakers-defense-effort-issues/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Luka Doncic & Jaxson Hayes Questionable, Rui Hachimura Probable On Christmas Day Vs. Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for their Christmas Day matchup with the Houston Rockets and Luka Doncic (lower left leg contusion) and Jaxson Hayes (left ankle soreness) are questionable while Rui Hachimura (right groin soreness) is probable and Gabe Vincent (lumbar back strain) remains out.

After missing the team’s blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, Doncic appears ready to return on Christmas Day for the big matchup with the Rockets while reports indicating he will play. He was hit in the leg in the first half against the L.A. Clippers and missed the rest of that game as well, although the injury was not reported to be serious.

The same can be said for Hachimura, who missed the last two games with a groin issue. The Lakers have been shorthanded all year and have been able to manage, but they dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season without Hachimura and Doncic in the lineup.

While the hope is that both will be back against Houston, the Lakers have proceeded with caution when it comes to injuries and that likely will not change here with Doncic and Hachimura if they are not 100%.

Meanwhile, Vincent will miss at least one more game with his back injury while Hayes’ status is up in the air. Hayes tweaked his ankle late in the Lakers’ loss to the Suns and was not able to return.

Considering Houston is one of the biggest teams in the league and excels on the offensive glass, the Lakers will need as many big bodies as possible to help combat that. If Hayes is unable to play then the Lakers would likely turn to Maxi Kleber as the primary backup to Deandre Ayton.

Austin Reaves felt good in return to action for Lakers​

One player the Lakers recently got back in the lineup is Austin Reaves after missing three games with a calf strain. He was on a minutes restriction against the Suns but said he came out of it feeling good and was able to find a rhythm after being rusty to start.

“I was pretty tired the first couple of minutes but after that it felt good… I thought I caught a decent rhythm in the second quarter too, getting to the rim. But it’s gonna take time,” Reaves said after the game.

With Reaves and potentially Doncic and Hachimura back, the Lakers should have enough offensive firepower to make up for their defensive deficiencies.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...chimura-probable-on-christmas-day-vs-rockets/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Rockets’ Amen Thompson Studied LeBron James & Rajon Rondo To Become Better Point Guard

With Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James being in the latter stages of his career, he is used to competing against players who grew up watching him. This is a nod to James’ longevity, playing in his 23rd season and perhaps more on the horizon.

One of those players is Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson, who is already a premier 3-and-D talent in today’s NBA. However, Thompson had to embrace a new role with Fred VanVleet injured, needing to become a point guard.

To better prepare himself for running an offense, the 22-year-old went to the film room and studied James along with fellow former Lakers teammate Rajon Rondo, via Marc J. Spears of Andscape:

“I love watching those type of guys to see how they attack when given the opportunity,” Thompson told Andscape. “I also like how they can command the floor. I’ve been a LeBron, Westbrook and John Wall fan. And then I started watching Rondo and was like, ‘Yo, this man is nice.’

Rondo notably won a championship with L.A. in 2020 and he was a crucial piece due to his ability to structure an offense. He had great chemistry with Anthony Davis and his vision on the floor was second to none, creating easy looks. Thompson grew inspired by his play due to the similarities in their games, seeing how Rondo impacted the game outside of not being a respected shooter:

“I knew he was nice, but I didn’t know he was that nice,” he continued his praise for Rondo, who played in the NBA from 2006 to 2022.

“But I started watching a lot of him because of the way he impacts the game while they are letting him shoot, but he still gets to where he wants and distributes and grabs 20 rebounds at 6-foot-2.”

The Rockets’ rising star 3-point shot is still a work in progress, but he is finding ways to be effective as a ball-handler and slasher to produce for his team.

Thompson is averaging a career-high in assists so far, although it is only his third season in the league. Stepping into that facilitator role is greatly needed for Houston and studying James and Rondo should only benefit him in the long run.

LeBron James congratulates Luka Doncic on birth of daughter​

Luka Doncic missed two games on the Lakers’ recent road trip due to personal reasons and it was later revealed that it was because of the birth of his second daughter.

When Doncic took to social media to announce the news, James and other teammates made sure to congratulate him.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/rockets-am...mes-rajon-rondo-to-become-better-point-guard/