RSS Lakers Team Notes

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Kings’ Dennis Schroder Suspended For Attempting To Strike Lakers’ Luka Doncic After Dec. 28 Game

The NBA has suspended Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder for three games for confronting and attempting to strike another player 40 minutes after the Los Angeles Lakers’ win at Crypto.com Arena on Dec. 28.

The Lakers cruised to a 125-101 victory that night and Schroder played 19 minutes off the bench for the Kings, finishing with 11 points, two rebounds and seven assists.

Schroder was going back and forth with Luka Doncic during the game, and according the NBA insider Chris Haynes, he was seeking out Lakers star in the hallway afterwards:

Lakers star Luka Dončić was the player Kings guard Dennis Schröder sought out in the hallway for a confrontation following a Dec. 28 contest, league sources tell @NBAonPrime, @NBATV. Schröder will begin serving 3-game suspension tomorrow.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 11, 2026

Doncic being the player was also confirmed by Dan Woike of The Athletic:

Story coming – can confirm the player Dennis Schroder went after was Luka Dončić pic.twitter.com/geY2RFJnE1

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) January 11, 2026

Doncic is known to talk smack with players and fans during games, typically in a friendly manner, but it appears Schroder took exception with something that occurred. Their back-and-forth during the game that led to the altercation was later documented by Michael Morales and LegendZ:

This may have had something to do with it…

Via _MichaelMorales10 on IG https://t.co/VGnKOqA1cI pic.twitter.com/HVTxkB3thv

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) January 11, 2026

What Luka Doncic Really Said To Dennis Schroder

:

Luka: “All talk… I wish you would swing!”

Schroder: “Come to the back, I’m not the n**** to talk to!”

Luka: “Man!”

Schroder: “I’ll beat the sh*t out of you” pic.twitter.com/6Ga9tcTaFE

— LegendZ (@legendz_prod) December 30, 2025

The Lakers are set to play the Kings again on Monday night in Sacramento, which Schroder will not be able to suit up for barring an appeal of his suspension.

In the Lakers’ Dec. 28th win, Doncic led the way with 34 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Even without Schroder on the court this time around though, there certainly will be added intrigue between the division rivals.

Luka Doncic laments ‘terrible’ play in Lakers loss to Bucks​

Doncic will be looking to bounce back in another way against the Kings though as he is coming off one of his worst games in Friday night’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He had 24 points but shot just 8-of-25 from the field, to go along with nine rebounds and nine assists. The Lakers star also fouled out in the final minute on a foul on Kevin Porter Jr. shooting a 3-pointer, which ended up being the difference.

Doncic did not make any excuses after the loss though, simply saying he played terribly throughout the night.

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/nba-suspen...-strike-lakers-luka-doncic-after-dec-28-game/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Jake LaRavia Appreciates LeBron James Making Effort Plays In 23rd Season

Injuries have been an issue for the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the offensive burden on LeBron James and Luka Doncic in recent weeks. Up to this point, the results have been a mixed bag in terms of wins and losses.

Los Angeles’ strong start to the regular season was impressive, but that strong has dropped dramatically. Fortunately, the Lakers remain in the top six despite their recent struggles, but a change is needed.

Particularly with James, he is in a nice offensive rhythm after missing the first couple of weeks of the regular season. Against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, the 41-year-old was having himself a fourth quarter and even dove for loose balls to help his team come back.

Despite Milwaukee giving L.A. their first clutch time loss, Jake LaRavia appreciates James’ willingness to do everything for the team despite his age.

“Of course, I mean, LeBron’s LeBron,” LaRavia said. “Like, he’s No. 1 all-time points, No. 2 in assists still playing at an elite level at 41 and was huge down the stretch for us tonight and has been honestly this entire year. So to continue to see him do that and then also making those effort plays for us, it’s definitely very cool to see.”

When the four-time champion made his season debut, it was evident that he needed time to work himself into game shape. However, narratives were pushed about whether he could truly help this Lakers team in his 23rd year.

With Austin Reaves sidelined with a calf strain, James is even more important because he can man the ship while Doncic rests. This was proven against the Bucks by having a 13-point fourth quarter when L.A. clearly was not finding any sort of offensive rhythm.

Unfortunately, he had a late turnover that ultimately cost Los Angeles their 13th loss. However, a lighter schedule remains for the rest of the month and it is up to James and Doncic to still do their parts as leaders.

LeBron James gifted his jersey to Giannis Antetokounmpo​

Friday was the first time LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo played against each other since Dec. 2, 2022. The Bucks star lived up to the hype and James joined the party in the final frame.

Who knows whether these two greats will face off again, so the future Hall of Famer gifted his jersey to Antetokounmpo after Milwaukee snagged a four-point win over L.A.

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...ron-james-making-effort-plays-in-23rd-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury News: Rui Hachimura Feeling Good, Planning To Play Against Kings

The Los Angeles Lakers have been a bit shorthanded as Rui Hachimura has been sidelined by a calf injury.

Hachimura’s absence has provided more opportunities for players like Jake LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt, though the Lakers miss the forward’s ability to knock down open shots.

Fortunately, Hachimura has been trending up the past week and there is optimism that he can suit up against the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

In fact, the forward nearly confirmed that he would be suiting up after the Lakers’ recent practice.

“I’m fine. I think it’s been two weeks almost, so my calf is healed. We’ve been practicing, they were gone for a little bit so I was practicing here with the G League and trying to be healthy and get better and I feel good about it tomorrow,” he said.

Hachimura has dealt with calf injuries in the past, so he knows how important it is to stay on top of rehab.

“I had it for two years now, it’s a different side but the calf is really important. I was always work on it, but just the fatigue and all kind of recovery stuff you have to be really on it. But it happens and I think with this I have to be really careful and with the workouts, rehab and everything I got to take it the most serious.”

“Yeah, I think so. I think I feel good after, but I gotta check with the trainers and everybody and then we’ll see for tomorrow’s game.”

Hachimura has every incentive to come back and play well as he’s set to hit free agency this summer. While his future is uncertain, he said he’s focused on helping Los Angeles win games.

“I think end of the day I’m trying to help this team to win. That’s the whole purpose of being here. I’ve been here for three, four seasons now. I think I’m one of the guys that’s been longest here, too, so I’m happy to be here playing with these guys. The coaches, everybody, I love these guys. I think of course contract and stuff is coming up, but end of the day but I just try to focus on everyday. In the moment, trying to get through…second half is coming, too, so as a team and for me too we gotta ramp it up.”

Hachimura’s return will help bolster the depth on a Lakers roster that has looked thin at times this season. While he likely won’t see heavy minutes, the Kings offer a soft landing spot for Hachimura to get back into rhythm.

Rui Hachimura confident Lakers can turn things around​

The Lakers have dropped back-to-back games, faltering against a better competition. While there are causes for concern, Hachimura believes the team can turn things around.

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...-feeling-good-planning-to-play-against-kings/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

NBA Rumors: Mavericks Unlikely To Trade With Lakers At Deadline

The NBA trade deadline is rapidly approaching, with all transactions needing to be finalized by Thursday, Feb. 5 at 12:00 p.m. PT. The Los Angeles Lakers are one team that desperately needs to make a move if they want to be taken seriously in the 2025-26 season. The current team they’ve built around Luka Doncic after their blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks at last year’s deadline is not ready to contend for a championship.

It had been almost settled that the Lakers were going to see what they have in 2025-26 around Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves before going into the 2026 offseason with a mountain of cap space. However, L.A.’s inability to win games against other top teams has the front office open to rethinking that plan.

The Lakers’ biggest needs are size, athleticism, and two-way role players. One team that has players that fit all those criteria and are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with a motivation to tank are the Mavericks themselves.

Dallas owns their own pick in 2026, but has given up each of their next four firsts in some form. So if they’re going to add elite, cheap talent around Cooper Flagg, they need to tank now. However, a deal with L.A. is unlikely given the angst in the fanbase surrounding last season’s Doncic debacle, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic:

The people I speak with find it hard to believe that Dallas is in a hurry to help the Lakers via trade https://t.co/Jt1ZFynI8A

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) January 12, 2026

The Mavericks have plenty of players that might help the Lakers without serving them much purpose as they move to the Flagg era. However, striking up a deal with the Lakers that improves L.A. could go horribly within the fanbase.

Even though former Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison is no longer with the team, there is definitely an anti-Lakers sentiment in the fandom that the new decision-makers won’t want to touch.

If the Lakers are willing to overpay in a way that massively helps Dallas, then maybe it can be entertained. But even an even-value deal could lead to significant negative reactions.

JJ Redick discusses difficult upcoming schedule for Lakers​

The Lakers have five games this upcoming week, starting on the road against the Sacramento Kings on Monday, then back at home against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday and Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. To close out the week, L.A. travels to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday and then is back home for the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick discussed how they plan to manage that schedule with little rest and a few somewhat strong opponents.

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/nba-rumors-mavericks-unlikely-to-trade-with-lakers-at-deadline/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Suffer Disappointing Loss To Kings For Third Straight Defeat

The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off a difficult five-game in seven-day stretch on Monday night, going on the road to take on the Sacramento Kings.

There was some added intrigue for this game after Dennis Schroder recently got into a physical altercation with Luka Doncic after the last time these two teams met on Dec. 28. Schroder was suspended for this game, but that didn’t matter as the Kings were able to beat the Lakers, 124-112.

LeBron James got the Lakers off to a quick start with six straight points. The Lakers’ defense was on point early, leading to a fastbreak layup for Doncic to take an 8-2 lead and force a Kings timeout.

After James’ hot start, Doncic got going offensively with a pair of midrange buckets, a spinning layup and a triple. Before things got out of hand though, the Kings responded with a 7-0 run. Sacramento carried that momentum through the end of the quarter, taking a 32-28 lead.

The Lakers went ice cold offensively to end the first and start the second as no one could hit an outside shot. The Kings weren’t having an issues though as they quickly extended their lead to double digits.

Malik Monk was absolutely on fire against his former team as he made five triples in a row to continue growing Sacramento’s lead. The Lakers did have a strong close to the half, led by Doncic. He beat the buzzer with a triple to give himself 26 points at the break and cut L.A.’s deficit to 61-54.

DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook opened the third quarter strong to quickly get the Kings lead back to double digits. Sacramento opened the third quarter on an 18-5 run, extending their lead to 20 as the Lakers remained ice cold and faced a huge uphill battle to get back in it.

Doncic wasn’t ready to give up though as he was the one player in purple and gold that could score, getting the deficit down to 95-83 going into the fourth.

With Sacramento showing no signs of cooling off, Gabe Vincent hit a pair of triples early in the final quarter to try to keep up with them. After a pair of free throws by James, the Lakers were back within single digits.

That was as close as L.A. would get, however. DeRozan and Monk continued to pour it on while the Lakers just couldn’t get anything going offensively to go on a sustained run, resulting in the loss.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers will return home and host the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday in the second night of a back-to-back before a matchup with the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.

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-lakers-suffer-disappointing-loss-to-kings-for-third-straight-defeat/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James ‘Super Humbled’ By 23rd NBA Season Jersey Patch

In honor of becoming the first player ever to play in 23 NBA seasons, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is sporting a special edition patch on his jersey. He debuted it in the Lakers’ contest against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night as part of a collaboration with the NBA and Topps.

James has continued to make history in recent years and has also somehow remained amongst the NBA’s elite players. Most never even approach 23 years in the NBA and those who have come close are usually a shell of the player were in their prime. But somehow LeBron has continued to defy logic and be one of the best players in the league.

No player has ever received a patch to wear on their jersey like this and the Lakers superstar admitted to be humbled and grateful at being honored in this way, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“Just super cool, super surreal, super humbled, blessed. I walked in here and seen it for the first time, it was an emotional moment as well. Just think about the journey thus far and have an opportunity to be here where it kinda all started, obviously at Oracle, but in this city. I just started thinking about from the beginning to where we are now. It’s been a heck of a journey and people that’s followed my career and my fans that followed my career again, they’re getting an opportunity to be a part of it. Thomas did a great job with that situation and the NBA getting involved, like I said, super grateful and super surreal.”

Unfortunately for James and the Lakers, the debut of this patch came in a loss to the Kings. LeBron did finish with 22 points along with four rebounds and three assists, but his outside shot wasn’t falling as he missed all five of his 3-point attempts.

Even still, it has been a truly incredible journey for LeBron over the past 23 years as he somehow exceeded the impossible expectations placed on him upon entering the league. And even at this stage he continues to try and push the Lakers to greater heights amongst the NBA’s elite teams.

After each game, the patches will be turned into a trading card with Topps turning them into a collector’s item that will surely be a hot commodity.

Giannis Antetokounmpo looks up to Lakers’ LeBron James​

Because he has been in the league for so long, it makes sense that many of today’s top young players grew up watching James. That is the case for even some of the NBA’s biggest stars as Milwaukee Bucks superstar and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo admitted that he looks up to him.

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-super-humbled-by-23rd-nba-season-jersey-patch/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Cruise To Victory Over Hawks To Snap Losing Streak

After a disappointing road loss to the Sacramento Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers returned home and hosted the Atlanta Hawks in the second night of a back-to-back on Tuesday.

Lakers stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James were originally listed as questionable but were both able to suit up, marking the first time the latter has played in both legs of a back-to-back this season. With their stars in the lineup, the Lakers got back on track by beating the Hawks, 141-116, to end their losing streak.

James found Deandre Ayton to kick off the scoring and then had a driving layup of his own. Nickeil Alexander-Walker also got going early with pair of triples, including one that was a four-point play.

With the game close early, Rui Hachimura checked in after missing the last seven games with a calf strain and made a reverse layup and midrange jumper. Doncic and Gabe Vincent then got going from deep, starting a 13-0 run as the Lakers closed the first quarter strong to take a 37-30 lead. James had four straight assists and then a layup during that stretch.

LeBron began the second quarter with a pair of turnovers, however, leading to a 7-1 Hawks run. Marcus Smart took matters into his own hands from there though, driving on three straight transition opportunities for six straight points.

Doncic returned and got fouled on a triple and then hit two more from deep. After a Hawks timeout, Doncic kept pouring it on with yet another triple and all of a sudden, the Lakers were up 63-44.

One day after an abysmal 3-point shooting night, the Lakers couldn’t miss in the second quarter. Everyone was getting involved and they took an 81-60 lead into the halftime locker room.

The Lakers didn’t let up to begin the third quarter, quickly growing their lead to 30 after five straight points by James.

From there though, Doncic had some silly turnovers and a technical foul and the Hawks began chipping away. McCollum and Alexander-Walker stayed hot while all of sudden the Lakers had cooled off, taking a 102-86 lead into the fourth quarter.

It was more of the same to begin the fourth as the Lakers weren’t getting any stops. With their lead down to 11, James and Smart both hit big triples to halt the Atlanta run. Doncic then completely a three-point play to put the Lakers back up 20, allowing them to cruise to the victory.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will get a much-needed day off on Wednesday before hosting the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday.

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-lakers-cruise-to-victory-over-hawks-to-snap-losing-streak/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

LeBron James: Austin Reaves Knows How I Feel About Him

When Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul suggested on his podcast that the Los Angeles Lakers should consider trading Austin Reaves to the Memphis Grizzlies for Jaren Jackson Jr., there were a lot of questions. One of the biggest was whether these thoughts were shared by Paul’s biggest client, and Reaves’ teammate, LeBron James.

Reaves and James have been teammates for five years now and have developed a close bond with LeBron regularly praising the young guard to the highest degree. But comments coming from his agent that the Lakers should trade Reaves could potentially cause a rift between the two sides.

But that doesn’t seem to be the case as James made it clear that there has been no fallout between himself and Reaves over the comments, while also adding that Paul can say whatever he wants to say, but that doesn’t mean it is a reflection of his own thoughts, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

James said there was no fallout between him and Reaves, who is his longest-tenured teammate on the Lakers, after the podcast episode.

“AR knows how I feel about him,” James told ESPN. “All you got to do is look at us on the bench. Me and AR talk every single day. So, AR knows how I feel about him and I hope AR — or his camp — don’t look at me and think this is words from me are coming through Rich.

“Rich has his perspective of what he sees, I have my perspective. I’m a grown man, he’s a grown man and I think people should realize that grown men can say whatever the f— they want to say and it shouldn’t reflect somebody else is saying it.”

As James said, Paul is his own man and has his own thoughts on things and they don’t always line up with his own. The issue is that Paul, acting as LeBron’s agent, has come out in the past and spoken on things in regards to his current situation and roster construction so differentiating between those can be difficult at times.

An active agent hosting a podcast and commenting on current situations around the league has never been done so it will take some adjusting. But the important thing is that the bond between Reaves and James is perfectly fine and there are no issues within the Lakers due to Paul’s comments.

Austin Reaves’ agent spoke with Rich Paul at Lakers game​

While everything seems to be just fine between Reaves and James, there were some things that needed to be cleared up between their representation as Reaves’ agent was reportedly seen speaking with Paul at halftime of the Lakers’ game against the Hawks.

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-james-austin-reaves-knows-how-i-feel-about-him/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Makes It Clear Rich Paul’s Podcast Thoughts Don’t Reflect His Own

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports has made a lot of headlines since he started a new podcast with Max Kellerman, and not necessarily for the right reasons.

Paul has spoken about the Lakers a lot, notably saying that he does not believe they are championship contenders as currently constructed. With that being the case, Paul has suggested the Lakers bring Austin Reaves off the bench and then most recently suggested they look to trade him for Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr.

This type of chatter is not typical for NBA agents, especially when they are talking about players who aren’t their clients. It has led many people to question why Paul is doing it and messing with the Lakers’ chemistry.

James was asked about it after the Lakers’ win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday and made it clear that Paul’s thoughts do not reflect his own, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

“I think you all know by now, Rich is his own man and what Rich says is not a direct reflection of me and how I feel,” James told ESPN on his way out of Crypto.com Arena. “And I hope people know that. I hope people know that and if they’re not sensible to know that, then I don’t know what to tell them.”

James added that Paul did not consult him before starting the podcast and his agent is free to do whatever he wants:

James told ESPN he did not consult with his longtime friend Paul about the decision to enter the media space and host the podcast before it launched last month.

“Rich, that’s what he’s doing,” James told ESPN. “That’s his whole thing. That’s what he’s doing. That’s what he’s talking about, but I have zero conversations about what his topics are going to be or what they are going to talk about. He is his own man and that is his platform.”

Paul has been James’ friend and agent for a long time, so it’s natural for people to think the Klutch Sports CEO is speaking for his client when he makes these type of comments. With that, it’s good to see LeBron nip it in the bud before it becomes a distraction for the Lakers.

JJ Redick doesn’t understand LeBron James criticism​

What James is doing at his age is unprecedented as he nearly had a 30-point triple-double while leading the Lakers to a win in the second night of a back-to-back against the Hawks.

After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick called out LeBron haters, not understanding why they feel the need to criticize him so much when he is still doing what he is at his age.

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...-pauls-podcast-thoughts-dont-reflect-his-own/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Organization Not Happy With Recent Rich Paul Podcast Comments

Rich Paul, the Klutch Sports co-founder and agent of LeBron James, has found himself in the news recently due to comments made on his new podcast “Game Over” with Max Kellerman. Most recently, Paul shared his thoughts that the Los Angeles Lakers should trade guard Austin Reaves to the Memphis Grizzlies for Jaren Jackson Jr. as he feels the big man would be a better fit long-term alongside superstar guard Luka Doncic.

The comments caused a frenzy and even James himself had to come out and make it clear that Paul’s comments were not a reflection on how he feels about his Lakers teammate. And apparently these comments are not sitting well with the Lakers organization as a whole, according to Lakers reporter Jovan Buha:

“I can confirm that people have not been happy. I’m not gonna go more specific than that, but I would just say people have not been happy with that pod and some of the comments… There was the ’they’re not contenders’ and that one thing, and even some people inside that building might believe that at the core if you gave them truth serum. It’s one thing to think that privately, one thing to put that out publicly. But then some of the stuff that has come out since, most notably I think recently this whole trade Austin Reaves for Jaren Jackson Jr., who basically averages the same amount of rebounds and that would’ve been an interesting trade a year ago, but Austin Reaves is just a straight up better player than Jaren Jackson Jr. and has more trade value than Jaren Jackson Jr. So if Memphis wants to throw in multiple picks and GG Jackson, then maybe that’s a conversation. But the general framework of JJJ for Austin Reaves straight up does not make any sense, in my opinion, from the Lakers side… But it’s been some interesting comments coming out of that because that is uncommon, for an agent to commenting on his player’s team to this degree and saying basically I would trade this guy, especially a guy who is sort of in contract competition for his client.”

As Buha noted, there were likely some who internally believe that the Lakers aren’t contenders as currently constructed, but it’s something you just don’t say out in public and that is their issue. And while Jackson is undoubtedly a talented player, he has been struggling this season and doesn’t help fix the Lakers’ perimeter defensive issues.

Paul has the right to say whatever he wants on his podcast, but he must understand that when he speaks on the Lakers, where his biggest client plays, those words could cause some issues between himself, LeBron and the entire organization.

Austin Reaves’ agent spoke with Rich Paul at halftime of Lakers game vs. Hawks​

If the Lakers aren’t happy with Paul’s comments then Reaves and his team surely didn’t care for them either and in fact, Reaves’ agent reportedly had a conversation with Paul during the team’s recent victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

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-rum...happy-with-recent-rich-paul-podcast-comments/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Defense Struggles In Blowout Loss To Hornets

The Los Angeles Lakers picked up one of their best wins of the season against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday and were looking to build off that when they hosted the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.

The Lakers have typically fared well against lesser opponents, but that wasn’t the case in this one as the Hornets took it to them for a 135-117 win.

L.A. actually got off to a hot start as LeBron James hit a 3-pointer, followed by five straight points by Marcus Smart and six straight by Luka Doncic. After a triple by Jake LaRavia, the Hornets needed an early timeout with the Lakers leading 17-7.

Miles Bridges got hot with three 3s in a row to keep the game from getting out of hand, but Doncic outdid him with 19 points in the first quarter and the Lakers led 39-30.

As has been happening a lot lately, the Lakers got careless with the ball to begin the second quarter. LaMelo Ball was getting his teammates involved, including an alley-oop to Bridges to tie the game at 43.

The Lakers also went ice cold in the second quarter as they had just one field goal in eight minutes. They were also getting frustrated with the officiating, allowing the Hornets to push the pace and build a lead.

It was truly a dreadful second quarter for the Lakers after the hot start as they were outscored 34-16, heading into the halftime locker room trailing 64-55.

Ball came out hot to begin the third quarter as a pair of 3s stretched the Hornets’ lead to 15. The Lakers began chipping away from there as James was doing a good job of getting his teammates open looks.

Doncic also got going again offensively after a quiet second quarter, getting the deficit back to single digits.

Despite a 38-point quarter from the Lakers though, they dug an even bigger hole by giving up 40, heading into the fourth quarter trailing 104-93.

With the Lakers’ inability to get stops, coming back from down double digits was a tough task. They started chipping away once again though, forcing a timeout by Charlotte after a James layup made it 109-103.

That was immediately met with a quick 9-0 run by the Hornets though as the Lakers seemed to be running out a gas. Ball continued to pour it on while the Lakers watching in frustration, eventually pulling the plug and suffering the loss.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will get a day off before a tough back-to-back on Saturday on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers and then on Sunday back at home against the Toronto Raptors.

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-lakers-defense-struggles-in-blowout-loss-to-hornets/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Marcus Smart: Lakers Need To Adapt To Officiating Instead Of Complaining

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered another disappointing loss on Thursday night, getting blown out by the Charlotte Hornets on their home court.

These type of losses have become a theme for the Lakers as they have struggled against athletic, physical teams all year.

Charlotte’s physicality clearly impacted them in the loss as the Lakers were seen complaining about a number of no-calls by the officials instead of getting back on defense.

After the game, Marcus Smart made it clear that needs to stop, even if they have a case.

“It definitely doesn’t help. [When] you think you got fouled or a call that should’ve been called, instead of getting back, we’re talking to the officials a lot. That definitely doesn’t help,” Smart said. “I don’t think that has anything on why we are losing. We do a good job of getting to the free throw line. Obviously, you want to get there more, but that’s just how the game has been called. We have to be able to adapt to it and understand that we’re just not getting there. The calls aren’t being called for us, that’s OK. We got to play on it then onto the next round.”

Foul calls are down across the league in recent weeks as officials are letting teams play with more physicality. With that being said, Smart urged his team to match that physicality and even foul more.

“We just got to start fouling. As I was saying, they can’t call them all. The toughest team sets the rules. So we just got to come out. We just got to be aggressive whether they call it or not. We can’t change how we play because of it,” Smart said.

Playing with physicality and getting away with fouls is a skill that Smart has mastered throughout the course of his career. The issue is the Lakers lack players like that on their roster outside of him, which makes it tough to adjust when the officials are letting them play, as they did on Thursday.

LeBron James and Luka Doncic are both known for complaining about calls a lot, but hopefully Smart’s comments get taken to heart as it is impacting the Lakers in a negative way.

JJ Redick on Lakers’ defensive struggles​

The Lakers gave up 135 points to the Hornets and head coach JJ Redick diagnosed what went wrong defensively in the loss.

“I saw the same thing everybody else saw. They made some ridiculous shots,” Redick said. “You’re gonna have certain breakdowns in your defense and that third quarter, that could have been really deflating for our team and it wasn’t. We kept fighting and played some really good basketball. I think in general, with our team, it’s against certain teams that have dynamic drivers, which the Hornets, they have some really good drivers and they haven a ton of shooting. We can be a little bit cautious guarding the ball and if we do get beat off the dribble, then we’re in rotation. I thought our low-man was awful all night and so we’re scared of the drive.

“And then, we’re just too far off from the body. There was some of that tonight and that’s a good offensive team. They had 150 against Utah and blew out OKC at [Oklahoma City]. I think everybody, our coaching staff and the guys in the locker room, we all knew that. They got our full respect and attention pregame and thought we fought. Just another team that has a hot shooting night.”

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/marcus-smart-lakers-need-to-adapt-to-officiating-instead-of-complaining/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Luka Doncic Out, Deandre Ayton & Jaxson Hayes Questionable Vs. Trail Blazers

The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Saturday’s game on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers and Luka Doncic (left groin soreness), Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) are out while Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) and Jaxson Hayes (left hamstring tendinopathy) are questionable.

This means the Lakers will be shorthanded once again as they take on the Trail Blazers in the first night of a back-to-back.

Doncic has been dealing with this groin soreness for about a week now but has managed to play through it up until this point. After the Lakers’ recent win over the Atlanta Hawks, however, he admitted that the issue seemed to be getting worse. With that being the case, it makes sense with sit him out in Portland to give him two days in a row off with hopes that he will be back in the lineup in the second end of the back-to-back at home on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.

Without Doncic in the lineup though, other players will need to step up to beat a scrappy Trail Blazers team on the road. LeBron James will handle primary ball-handling duties but will need some help, which is where guys like Marcus Smart, Gabe Vincent and Kobe Bufkin step in.

The Lakers could also be without both of their centers with Ayton and Hayes being listed as questionable. Hayes’ hamstring injury is not believed to be a serious one as he is expected to return at some point this weekend after missing two games, whether that be against Portland or Toronto.

The hope is that either Ayton or Hayes will be able to suit up, or both, but if not then the Lakers will be leaning on Maxi Kleber, Drew Timme and small-ball lineups.

For a team that comes in losers of four of their last five, the Lakers are desperate to get a win in Portland, a place they have typically struggled over the years. That won’t be an easy task with Doncic, Reaves and others potentially out of the lineup, although the Trail Blazers are expected to be missing some key pieces as well.

Luka Doncic: Lakers told on themselves with effort​

The Lakers played one of their best games of the season against the Hawks but then followed it up with a dud against the Charlotte Hornets. After that loss, Doncic admitted the Lakers told on themselves with their lack of effort, which needs to be consistent every night.

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...n-jaxson-hayes-questionable-vs-trail-blazers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Jake LaRavia Takes Pride In Wearing Lakers Jersey

Despite recent struggles for the Los Angeles Lakers, a bright spot has been forward Jake LaRavia, as he was thrust into the starting lineup with Rui Hachimura sidelined.

Specifically in his last 10 games, he is averaging 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals on 49.5% from the field and 39.6% from 3-point range. Due to LaRavia’s strong play, it is hard to imagine him not staying in the starting lineup along with being a perimeter defender, which is rare on this Lakers roster.

Although the 24-year-old had offensive struggles, he is active defensively and tries to impact the game in different ways. A reason behind his high effort and energy is that he takes pride in wearing a Lakers jersey.

“I said it when I first got here. It means something to wear Lakers across your chest,” LaRavia recently said. “Like you said, I grew up a fan. My dad grew up a fan of the Lakers. We understand, and I understand, the impact that it has to play for this team. The impact it has for the fans to come out and watch us every game and support us and cheer for us. So I wear the Lakers with pride across my chest every night.”

When signing with L.A. this summer, the 6’7″ forward made it apparent that his family is Lakers fans and luckily an opportunity presented itself to join the team. Having a player who takes ownership in representing the team he plays for tends to correlate to play on the court and fans resonate with that as well.

Honestly, the Lakers need more energy players as the trade deadline approaches. Los Angeles’ best lineup this year is LaRavia and Marcus Smart starting next to Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton.

Having a balance of offense and defense with the starters is a necessity. LaRavia is responsible for improving the team’s defense, but there needs to be buy-in from everyone if they hope to turn the ship around.

JJ Redick praises Jake LaRavia and Jaxson Hayes for recent play​

Role players are vital to a team’s success if they hope to compete for championships. However, the Lakers have remained last in bench scoring for a considerable amount of this season.

Yet, LaRavia’s insertion into the starting lineup has garnered positive results, along with Jaxson Hayes, who closed games recently in favor of Deandre Ayton at times. Head coach JJ Redick is taking notes of those two and praised their play as of late.

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/jake-laravia-takes-pride-in-wearing-lakers-jersey/

 

[Zedster]

Man, what a rollercoaster week for the Lakers. That Hawks win had me thinking we turned a corner, then Charlotte comes in and drops 135 on us at home. Classic Lakers inconsistency this season.

The Rich Paul stuff is really frustrating to watch unfold. I get that he has a podcast and wants to generate buzz, but suggesting we trade Austin Reaves for JJJ is wild. Reaves has been one of our most consistent players and honestly has better trade value right now. Buha is right - if Memphis wants to throw in picks and sweeteners, maybe that's a conversation, but straight up? No way. And the fact that LeBron had to publicly distance himself from his own agent's comments tells you how poorly that landed in the locker room.

Smart's comments about adapting to the officiating instead of complaining really need to sink in with this team. We spend way too much time arguing with refs instead of getting back on defense. It's been a problem all year. LeBron and Luka are both guilty of it, and it kills our transition defense.

Now Doncic is out with groin soreness against Portland, plus Reaves is still sidelined. That's a lot of playmaking and scoring missing from the lineup. Really hoping Ayton or Hayes can go because we cannot afford to be undersized against the Blazers.

On a positive note, LaRavia has been a pleasant surprise. Love that he takes pride in wearing the purple and gold - you can see it in his effort on defense. That starting lineup with him and Smart alongside the stars has been our best look this year.

Anyone else worried about the trade deadline? Feels like we need to make a move for some perimeter defense.

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Shorthanded Lakers Can’t Keep Up With Trail Blazers

The Los Angeles Lakers are going through a rough stretch of their schedule, playing five games in seven nights. That continued on Saturday night when they traveled to take on the Portland Trail Blazers in the first night of a back-to-back.

Part of what has made this stretch so tough is the injuries the team is dealing with and that was again the case in this one with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes among those out. As a result, the Lakers suffered their fifth loss in their last six games, falling 132-116.

With both of the Lakers’ centers out, Maxi Kleber got a rare start and actually had nine quick points to give his team an early lead. Drew Timme then came of the bench and picked up where Kleber left off with seven points of his own.

The Lakers were struggling to keep the Trail Blazers off the free throw line as they committed 13 fouls in the first quarter, leading to 22 free throws. After a strong close to the first quarter by Portland, they led 40-27.

With LeBron James struggling from the field, Marcus Smart, Timme and Kleber continued to carry the load offensively as the Lakers began to cut into the deficit.

James eventually got going with seven straight points for L.A., but the Trail Blazers beat the halftime buzzer with an alley-oop to get the lead back to double digits at 71-61.

Smart’s hot shooting continued to start the third quarter with him hitting three triples, but the Lakers were struggling to get stops and keep the Blazers off the free throw line.

The game started to get away from L.A. at that point with Portland catching fire from deep, extending the lead to 107-90 at the end of the third quarter. James made a layup to beat the buzzer and got hit across the head on the play, but ended up being OK.

No foul was called, so JJ Redick was given a technical foul for arguing in favor of his star as the Lakers’ frustration was clearly mounting.

Despite their disagreements with the officiating, L.A. tried to mount one last comeback and went on a 7-0 run to cut it to 11. That was immediately met with back-to-back triples by Portland, putting the final nail in the coffin.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

It will be a short turnaround for the Lakers as they return to Los Angeles and host the Toronto Raptors in the second night of a back-to-back on Sunday.

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-shorthanded-lakers-cant-keep-up-with-trail-blazers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick: Injuries Have Been Norm For Lakers All Season

The Los Angeles Lakers played on Saturday night without Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, Jaxson Hayes or Deandre Ayton in the lineup. The result was head coach JJ Redick starting Maxi Kleber at center, Gabe Vincent at guard and using two-way players Drew Timme and Kobe Bufkin for a combined 51 minutes of action.

Despite Timme having a career game, the Lakers lost by 16 points and were annihilated on the boards. Timme was the team’s second-leading scorer with 21 points, despite not being in a regular NBA rotation since April of 2025.

But these types of games are somewhat familiar for L.A. this season. They have been without Reaves and LeBron James for significant stretches. Doncic has missed games, as have Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Hayes and Ayton. And that’s exactly what Redick’s sentiment was after the loss on Saturday, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“We don’t go into games thinking tonight is gonna be rough or we can’t win. Our belief level, expectations and standards don’t change. This has been like the normal all season. We’ve won some games, we’ve actually beaten a lot of good teams. You play a team the second time around sometimes and you rewatch the game and you’re like oh shoot, we didn’t have Austin that game, or we didn’t have Luka that game, or we didn’t have Rui that game, or we didn’t have DA that game. So this has just been our season. And every team is going through it, I’m not trying to say we’re singled out. This is just been our season. You get one guy healthy, another guy gets injured. You get another guy back, another gets injured, two guys go out so now you play without your two centers. Just been our season.”

Redick says that the Lakers are keeping the same mentality every game regardless of who is in or out of the lineup. However, the Lakers losing 15 of their 16 games this season by double figures shows they are quick to let a game get away from them.

Saturday night felt like a loss from the jump, and there was no significant push by L.A. throughout the game to make it a more manageable deficit. Hopefully, on Sunday, they can start to right the ship against the Toronto Raptors to avoid a stretch of 1-6 in seven games.

JJ Redick calls for Lakers to stay level-headed​

Despite the recent losing stretch, Redick does not want the Lakers to cave or give up on wins until they are healthy. He called on the team to stay level-headed after blowout losses like Saturday.

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-injuries-have-been-norm-for-lakers-all-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Close 5-Game In 7-Day Stretch With Dominant Win Over Raptors

The Los Angeles Lakers have been struggling as of late, losing five of their last six games, with injuries playing a big role in that.

Things didn’t get any easier for the Lakers on Sunday as they returned home to host the Toronto Raptors in the second night of a back-to-back to close out a five-game in seven-day stretch. To their credit though, the Lakers stepped up in a big way and came out with a 110-93 victory to improve their record to 25-16. The 93 points allowed were a season-low by L.A.

It was a slow start for the Lakers as Luka Doncic missed his first five shots and picked up a technical foul out of frustration after a missed goaltend on Toronto. Doncic finally got a triple to go, cutting the Lakers’ early deficit to 20-16.

The Lakers were slugging in the first quarter, resulting in a 30-23 deficit. They flipped a switch to start the second quarter, however, as LeBron James went into attack mode. Doncic then found Deandre Ayton for a pair of alley-oops, starting the corner on a 22-6 run to completely flip the script and take the lead.

After going up by nine though, the Raptors responded with a 9-0 run as Brandon Ingram got going and eventually took the lead back for his team. Doncic finally caught fire at the end of the half and beat the buzzer with a triple, sending the Lakers into the locker room with a 55-54 lead.

It was a game of runs as the Lakers ripped off five quick points to begin the third quarter before the Raptors responded with seven straight to regain the lead.

The Lakers got going from deep towards the end of the third quarter as Rui Hachimura and James both connected, causing the Raptors to take a timeout. Jarred Vanderbilt was playing exceptional defense on Ingram, allowing L.A. to take an 87-80 lead into the fourth quarter.

James had a pair of buckets to begin the fourth and then Smart hit a 3, extending the lead to double digits for the first time.

The Lakers took control from there as Ayton continued to dominate inside, growing the lead even more. After a Vanderbilt dunk in transition to go up 18, the Lakers had no issues closing out the victory.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will now head out on an eight-game road trip, their longest of the season, starting with their first matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.

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-lakers-close-5-game-in-7-day-stretch-with-dominant-win-over-raptors/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has always honored the greats that came before him, whether that be in sports or the world in general.

Monday marks Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day as the NBA is celebrating the leader of the civil rights movement with games all day across the league.

The Lakers are not playing on MLK Day this year, but James has previously spoken about the importance of suiting up to honor the activist who was assassinated in 1968.

LeBron also took to social media on Monday to honor the legendary Dr. King:

​

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by (@kingjames)​

James has taken his own role as a civil rights activist seriously over the years, helping out with a number of causes and speaking up when he feels it is important. That is what Dr. King was all about, and it’s great to see his legacy live on through current athletes, politicians and activists across the world as his message remains as important as ever to this day.

LeBron James: Lakers must right the ship while getting healthy​

The Lakers have been dealing with a lot of injuries lately, James isn’t in the business of using that as an excuse for this team’s recent struggles and he knows that they must figure out a way to right the ship while they get healthy because no one will feel sorry for them.

“Yeah, we have to. Because at the end of the day, no one is feeling sorry for us, nor are we looking for it. We have what’s available and we gotta go out there and play our game, play the way we want to play offensively and defensively and just try to right the ship until we get whole.”

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-honors-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Named 2026 NBA All-Star Game Starter

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic was named as one of the starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, it was announced on NBC and Peacock.

Doncic, along with Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama and Stephen Curry, make up the Western Conference starters, while Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown will represent the Eastern Conference.

Doncic was well on track to be named an All-Star Game starter as he was the leading vote-getter in the previous voting returns and remained that way throughout. Unfortunately, he’ll be the only starter from the Lakers as LeBron James and Austin Reaves missed the cut.

Missed time is what largely prevented James and Reaves from receiving more votes as the former missed the beginning of the 2025-26 season while the latter has been out with a calf injury. Meanwhile, Doncic has been the near-constant for Los Angeles though he has also missed some time due to various nagging injuries.

When on the floor, Doncic has been an offensive juggernaut as he leads the league in scoring with 33.3 points per game. Doncic has looked better than ever, with his improved physique and endurance allowing him to play harder and faster for longer stints.

With the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles this year, there will no doubt be droves of fans who come to see Doncic play. The quality of competition in the All-Star Game has dwindled over the years as players opt to protect their bodies, but Doncic will demand an audience as he’ll surely be looking to put on a show in his first All-Star Game representing the purple and gold in its own city.

There is a new format this year, so Doncic will be playing for the World team against the Americans, hopefully making the game more competitive.

While Luka has been a magician with the basketball this year, it hasn’t always translated to wins for the Lakers. Doncic is often times scoring at an unsustainable pace because the team’s defense is one of the worst-ranked units in the NBA.

Perhaps All-Star Weekend will provide Los Angeles a chance to rest and regroup because right now they look like a team that needs it. Doncic may be one of the few in consideration for MVP this season, but he’ll need to be even better the rest of the way to give the Lakers a shot at contending.

Luka Doncic appreciative of being lead vote-getter for NBA All-Star Game​

Doncic is quickly finding out how much Lakers fans support their stars. He was the leading vote-getter for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game and he expressed his appreciation for the honor.

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-2026-nba-all-star-game-starter/