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/