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[Los Angeles Lakers]

NBA All-Star Voting: Luka Doncic Leads Fan Voting, LeBron James’ Starting Streak Ends

The starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game were announced on Monday, and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic made the cut, along with Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry and Victor Wembanyama in the West and Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the East.

One name notably absent from that list is another Lakers star in LeBron James, who did not make the cut after missing the first 14 games of the season. James has been named a starter in the last 21 NBA All-Star Games, so his illustrious streak will seemingly be coming to an end, even if he still makes the team as a reserve.

The starters are selected by a combination of fan, player and media voting. The league released those votes after announcing the starters, so here is how Doncic, James and Austin Reaves fared:

The top finishers by conference in the final fan returns for NBA All-Star Voting

https://t.co/PhMfdofA5s pic.twitter.com/KgGSislFOl

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 19, 2026

Three voting groups determined the starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game:

Fans (50%)

NBA players (25%)

Media panel (25%)

Complete voting results are available here: https://t.co/0YQtBsIaGp

Below are the overall rankings for the top finishers in each conference. pic.twitter.com/W21e8EOvpH

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 19, 2026

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the voting was Doncic leading the entire league in fan votes. On the other hand, he ranked sixth in the Western Conference alone in player votes.

Meanwhile, James is typically at the top of the list when it comes to fan votes but saw a significant drop-off to eighth in the Western Conference this season. The 41-year-old getting a late start to the season was likely a big factor in that, as he has been putting up his typical All-Star numbers for weeks now, which is extremely impressive in his 23rd season.

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

Doncic was the leading vote-getter for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in his first season with the Lakers, and he expressed his appreciation to the fans for the honor.

“Honestly it does, it’s the first time that’s happened to me. Honestly, it’s pretty amazing. A kid from Slovenia just only can dream about that, dream about being in the NBA, it’s pretty amazing. I really appreciate all the votes and I saw it yesterday or two days ago, it definitely hit me and it’s amazing.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/nba-all-st...fan-voting-lebron-james-starting-streak-ends/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Begin Road Trip With Impressive Comeback Win Over Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers began a season-long eight-game road trip on Tuesday night, traveling to take on the Denver Nuggets.

The Lakers and Nuggets have developed a bit of a rivalry in recent years, but this was their first meeting this season and it lacked star power with Nikola Jokic, Austin Reaves and others out of the lineup. Ultimately, the Lakers came out on top with an impressive comeback victory, winning 115-107 to improve to 26-16 on the season.

Denver has been playing pretty well without Jokic and they came out firing in this one, making their first five shots, including four from deep, to jump out to a 14-6 lead.

Luka Doncic helped settle the Lakers in with 16 quick points on 6-of-6 shooting, although the Nuggets stayed hot by making nine of their first 11 3-point attempts. That included four straight from Spencer Jones as Denver led 37-28 at the end of the first quarter. LeBron James hit a shot at the buzzer to keep it within single digits.

Drew Timme has been getting a look in the Lakers rotation this week and came in and scored seven quick points to begin the second. James then took matters into his own hands, getting fouled on a 3-point attempt and then throwing down a monster dunk.

The Lakers were trying to chip away at their deficit as Doncic continued his scoring barrage when he re-entered the game. The Nuggets closed the half strong, however, taking a 71-57 lead into the halftime locker room after an 8-0 run in the final minute. This time it was Jamal Murray beating the buzzer for his team, hitting a shot from beyond half-court.

Lakers center Deandre Ayton did not come out for the start of the third quarter as he got hit in the face towards the end of the first half and was eventually ruled out with a left eye injury.

L.A. was playing with its best energy in the third quarter though with James and Doncic leading the way offensively. After going down by 16, they ripped off a 13-0 run and went into the fourth quarter with a slim 88-86 deficit.

Timme scored to begin the final quarter as the Lakers came all the way back to tie it. A few minutes later, Doncic hit a pair of free throws to give L.A. its first led of the game.

From there, the Lakers took control as Marcus Smart was making plays on both sides of the ball.

After a triple by Smart put them up double digits, the Nuggets tried to make one last run. James quickly put an end to that with a thunderous dunk though and L.A. went on to close out the win.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

While the Lakers’ road trip technically continues, they will actually return home as they have a matchup with the L.A. Clippers at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Thursday night.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lakers-begin-road-trip-with-impressive-comeback-win-over-nuggets/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Grateful To Be Leading Vote-Getter In 2026 NBA All-Star Game

The starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game have been announced and the Los Angeles Lakers are represented as superstar guard Luka Doncic was not only named a starter, but was also the leading vote-getter amongst all players.

Being named an All-Star isn’t anything new for Doncic as this will be his sixth appearance in the game, but he has never been the leading vote-getter. Luka rising to that top spot is another example of the next-level popularity that comes with being a member of the Lakers, combined with his outstanding performance this season.

And for his part, Doncic doesn’t take this honor lightly, as thanked all of the fans who voted for him as an All-Star starter and allowing him to experience this huge achievement, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“I mean, it’s pretty awesome. For me, I don’t take it for granted. I want to thank everybody that voted for me. That’s a big, big achievement for me, so it’s incredible to live this.”

As a kid who grew up loving the game of basketball, Luka is truly experiencing his dreams now, but those dreams don’t stop at the All-Star Game. Of course, Doncic’s ultimate goal is to win an NBA Championship and he made it clear that while it is a great honor, and very fun to play in the All-Star Game, once it’s over, the focus goes back to the Lakers:

“Obviously being an All-Star is an incredible honor. Those three days you can focus on All-Star, but then it’s right back to the team. You’re gonna play with guys you normally play against. It’s kind of fun trying to learn what everybody do before the game, during the game, after the game. But just being an All-Star is a great honor.”

This year’s All-Star Game will be a bit different once again with the Team USA vs. the World format that will see a round-robin tournament featuring two teams of American players and a third international team that Doncic will be a part of.

It will be fun seeing Luka team with the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo. But as he said, once the games are finished and the fun is had, the focus turns back to leading the Lakers to the ultimate goal of an NBA Championship.

Lakers’ LeBron James shouts out Luka Doncic for being named All-Star starter​

While Doncic was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game, his Lakers teammate LeBron James saw his 21 year All-Star Game starter streak come to an end. But even still, James made sure to shout out Doncic once the announcement became official.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...eading-vote-getter-in-2026-nba-all-star-game/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

This Day In Lakers History: Kobe Bryant Scores 81 Points Against Raptors

It remains one of the most unbelievable, iconic, amazing moments in the history of the NBA.

Everyone can remember what they were doing the night Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant scored 81 points, leading the team to a 122-104 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Bryant’s outburst remains the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain‘s legendary 100-point game. The best part was that the Lakers needed every one of those points to come up with the win.

The Lakers trailed by 14 points at halftime and 18 early in the third quarter before Bryant completely took over. He scored a ridiculous 55 points in the second half, including 23 in the final nine minutes of the game.

Also of note is how efficient Bryant was. He shot 28-for-46 (60.9 percent) from the field, 7-of-13 (53.8 percent) from the three-point line, and 18-for-20 (90.0 percent) from the free-throw line. For someone who was constantly criticized about his inefficient shooting, it surely didn’t happen on this night.

It didn’t matter who the Raptors put on Bryant — everyone was helpless. Morris Peterson? Not a chance. Mike James? Nope. Joey Graham? Please. Jalen Rose? Poor Jalen Rose is still hearing about this night 14 years later and will continue to hear about it for another 25.

Making this even more impressive is that just a month earlier, Bryant posted his famous 62 points in three-quarters performance against the Dallas Mavericks. With the Lakers comfortably ahead, assistant Brian Shaw asked Bryant if he wanted to stay in the game, but the latter declined.

Bryant predicted he would have another night like that. No one could have imagined just how right he was.

There are great scoring nights, there are unbelievable ones, and then there was Jan. 22, 2006. Fans may never see someone have a night like Kobe Bryant did ever again.

Kobe Bryant prefers 81-point performance over final game​

Bryant had countless memorable games throughout his career, but perhaps the two that stand above the rest were when he scored 81 points against the Raptors and then when he scored 60 in the final game of his career.

When asked which one he prefers, Bryant took the 81-point game, which isn’t a surprise considering that is when he was at the peak of his powers.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/this-day-in-lakers-history-kobe-bryant-scores-81-points-against-raptors/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Looking Forward To Return Of Austin Reaves

One of the best and most endearing storylines surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers in the early part of the season was the budding bro-mance between backcourt partners Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Aside from having excellent chemistry on the court, the two were constantly trash-talking each other off of it as well, leading to some legitimately funny moments.

Unfortunately, that has been pushed to the side over the past few weeks as Reaves has been out due to injury. The concerns of that calf injury are forcing him and the Lakers to be extremely cautious in his return, as they want to ensure he is completely healthy before getting back on the court.

The good news is that it looks as if that time is coming soon. Reaves is expected to return for the Lakers during their current eight-game road trip, and when asked about his potential return, Luka admitted that he was excited to get Reaves back, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“Yea of course, of course I do. On court he’s an amazing player, he helps us in so many ways. Playing with him it’s fun, it’s very fun. And off the court he made the trip. He’s finally on the trip so we’ll have some good times.”

Luka would continue, feeling that getting Reaves back will be great for the Lakers as a whole, but still cautioning that they want to make sure he is fully healthy before returning:

“It’s gonna be good for us, especially we have an eight-game road trip. I’ve never been a part of something like that so it’s something new for me. Eight games away, it’s gonna be huge if we can get him back. But obviously he’s gotta be fully healthy, especially with the calf, it’s not an easy injury. We just want him to be healthy and when he’s ready to go back, come back.”

When Reaves and Luka have been on the court together, it has been electric with the Lakers duo forming the highest-scoring backcourt in the NBA. Health is most important, but assuming Reaves is finally back to 100%, it will be great for him, Luka and the rest of the Lakers to have him back on the court. And maybe finally, he can get Luka to admit that they are friends.

Lakers’ Luka Doncic grateful to be leading vote-getter for 2026 NBA All-Star Game​

While Austin Reaves has been out, Luka Doncic has continued to dominate on the court every night, and his performance and popularity led to him being the leading vote-getter for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, something he is very grateful for and appreciative of.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-looking-forward-to-the-return-of-austin-reaves/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Comeback Attempt Comes Up Short Against Clippers

The Los Angeles Lakers were looking for their third straight win on Thursday night when they took on the L.A. Clippers at Intuit Dome.

The Clippers have been playing better basketball lately while the Lakers have struggled a bit, and that’s how this one played out as a late comeback attempt by the latter came up short in a 112-104 loss.

Jake LaRavia started out the night hot, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Lakers an early lead. Kawhi Leonard had a nice answer though as he was also feeling it from the jump.

As has been the case a lot recently, the Clippers were shooting 3s at a high clip in the first quarter. Luka Doncic was doing what he could to keep up, but the Lakers trailed 36-29 at the end of the first. Doncic found Rui Hachimura for a triple to beat the buzzer, keeping things within single digits.

LeBron James was in attack mode to start the second and was getting whatever he wanted inside. The Lakers’ defense continued to struggle, however, with Brook Lopez and Leonard hitting some outside and midrange shots and Ivica Zubac cleaning up inside.

The Lakers went ice cold from the field to end the half as their deficit steadily grew with a 9-0 Clippers run. The Lakers scored just seven points in the final seven minutes of the second quarter and went into the halftime locker room trailing 64-47.

Not much changed to start the third quarter as Leonard led an 8-2 run and the Lakers needed a quick timeout with their deficit ballooning to 26.

Things were a struggled for the Lakers offensively as they were missing numerous open shots while Ivica Zubac dominated the glass.

Doncic tried to get the Lakers going with some buckets and an alley-oop to Jaxson Hayes. After a steal and a dunk to end the third quarter by James, the Lakers were back within striking distance, trailing 86-72.

Hachimura continued the Lakers run into the fourth with a 3 and midrange jumper. James then had a driving layup and all of a sudden it was a single-digit game.

When Doncic returned, he hit a circus triple to cut the deficit down to two at 93-91, although James Harden had an immediate answer. That was the start of a 7-0 run by the Clippers, making a comeback attempt that much more challenging.

The Lakers continued to fight though as an 8-0 run got them back within four. A three-point play by James then made it a one-possession game, but a Zubac dunk put it on ice as the Lakers came up short.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will continue their road trip on Saturday night when they travel to take on the Dallas Mavericks, which will be Doncic’s first time back at American Airlines Center against his former team this season.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lakers-comeback-attempt-comes-up-short-against-clippers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick: Lakers Lacking ‘Trust’ On Offense

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a loss at the hands of the L.A. Clippers on Thursday night. That loss brought them to 6-6 in January, dropping them to the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and into a virtual tie with the Phoenix Suns for No. 7. Head coach JJ Redick simply couldn’t find a lineup that could take control of the game offensively.

Luka Doncic and LeBron James were the only players to reach 20 points in the game, combining for 55 points on a poor 20-for-46 from the field. Nobody else scored more than 12. One of the key moments of the game for the Lakers came at the end of the first half, when they scored just two points in the final 3:03, while the Clippers scored nine points in that same span.

L.A.’s defense has been a struggle all season long, which isn’t surprising. But the offense having such poor stretches consistently is more of a shock. Redick explained what happened during that run, having critiques on both sides of the ball, but focusing more on offense, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“Just a poor job of defensive coverage execution, and just didn’t trust each other on offense. Not enough passing. And that was a lot of the game, not enough passing. That’s a consistent thing when we don’t play well. We don’t pass to each other, and we don’t execute defensively.”

Redick expanded on the team’s lack of passing, citing trust as a significant factor and saying it has to come from the top of the depth chart.

“There’s gotta be a trust factor with all our guys, just to trust the pass. That starts with Luka, he’s going to have the ball the most of everyone. He’s gotta trust the pass. He’s got two on him, he’s playing in a crowd, he’s gotta pass the ball. And I think as much as we can talk about being connected on defense, you gotta be connected on offense.”

The Lakers coach was then asked whether external factors — such as the trade deadline and the high number of expiring contracts on the roster — could be affecting these issues.

“I think it just goes back to the human element of everything. Guys are worried about their futures, and that’s what happens when you’ve got a team full of free agents and player options. I think it’s just natural that you’re going to worry about the offense. I’ve been there, you can get in your head a little bit. Oh I’ve played five minutes, haven’t got a shot yet. And that’s a human thing, it’s not anybody’s fault.”

All of this suggests Redick sees fundamental problems in L.A. that won’t be fixed in one or two games. It’s something that may not get fixed this year at all, so long as the team’s salary structure is what it is.

Regardless, it starts with Luka — as Redick said — to initiate that trust and create a more free-flowing offense.

JJ Redick: Lakers must keep Deandre Ayton involved​

One major topic surrounding the Lakers in the last few weeks — in a similar vein to Thursday’s loss — has been Deandre Ayton’s involvement in the offense. He has made it clear he thinks he’s not getting enough touches, and Redick seems to agree.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/jj-redick-lakers-lacking-trust-on-offense/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Clippers’ Tyronn Lue Wanted To Blow Lakers Out

The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the L.A. Clippers on Thursday night, 112-104. The Clippers, led by head coach Tyronn Lue, have been on a tear as of late, winning 14 of their last 17 games, including their win over the Lakers. Early in the game, too, it looked as though the Clippers might run away with it.

They led 36-29 after one quarter and had a 64-47 advantage at the break. This Lakers team has been known to fold in situations like that, often letting the other team run away with it if they feel they don’t have any offensive or defensive momentum on a given night.

But on Thursday, the Lakers fought back a bit in the second half, making it a close game before ultimately losing by eight. It still goes as a loss for the Lakers and a win for the Clippers. However, it appeared as though Lue didn’t feel that way after the win, according to Grant Mona of The Sporting Tribune:

Ty Lue was frustrated walking into the press room.

When @TomerAzarly asked why, he said, “Because I wanted to blow them out.”

— Grant “Money” Mona (@Gmona48) January 23, 2026

There are several reasons why Lue might have wanted the Clippers to blow the Lakers out and be frustrated that they didn’t. The first is that the Clippers are on a roll, and giving up that kind of lead could show other teams how to take them down in the near future.

The second is that the Lakers and Clippers have developed a pretty intense rivalry over the past few years, and every game between them means more than it used to. The third, and most personal, is that the Lakers disrespected Lue during negotiations to become the team’s head coach.

All of these combine to Lue wanting the Clippers not to give the Lakers an inch when they play one another. Perhaps next time they face off, they won’t.

Luka Doncic reaches 4,000 assists in Lakers’ loss to Clippers​

Lakers star Luka Doncic reached 4,000 assists for his career in the loss to the Clippers on Thursday night.

Doncic hit the mark with his fifth assist, finishing the evening with eight total. Luka had another strong performance against the Clippers, adding 32 points and 11 rebounds.

Luka reached this mark in his eighth season at age 26. LeBron James also reached the 4,000-assist mark in his age-26 eighth season.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/clippers-tyronn-lue-wanted-to-blow-lakers-out/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic & LeBron James Top Five In Jersey Sales For 2025-26 Season

The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in an intriguing yet delicate situation with Luka Doncic’s arrival and LeBron James’ looming retirement or departure. Balancing two timelines never pans out well, but general manager Rob Pelinka needs to find a way to walk that tightrope.

However, there is no denying how iconic a duo James and Doncic have become, as they are two gifted passers. As of recent, the 41-year-old is a pick-and-roll partner with the Slovenian phenom, and those results are exciting.

Along with the Lakers brand, they are looking to cash in on a championship sooner rather than later. Fans would love to see it as well, so they are investing in this tandem by purchasing jerseys.

Resulting in Doncic and James placing top five in jersey sales as it is now over the halfway point of the season:

Luka and LeBron are both in the top five for jersey sales in the first half of the 2025-26 season: pic.twitter.com/pgIiGEwyqv

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) January 20, 2026

Going back to his days with the Dallas Mavericks, their fanbase loved Doncic and supported him in any way they could. After taking Dallas to an NBA Finals appearance, anticipation mounted for the Mavericks to win a second championship.

Los Angeles is trying to reciprocate that same love and passion by welcoming him to a new home. Granted, it has not been a calendar year since the blockbuster trade, but the 26-year-old looks more comfortable playing in the City of Angels.

Doncic leads the league in scoring with 33.4 points a contest, 7.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists. Meanwhile, his co-star in James is beginning to round back into form after missing the first 14 games of the year.

In his last 10 games, the four-time champion is averaging 24.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists on 50.3% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point range. Certainly, the notoriety of this duo is paying off and hopefully, a lengthy playoff run awaits them.

LeBron James: ‘Disrespectful’ to comment on Lakers’ roster ahead of trade deadline​

Now over 40 games into the season, there is a substantial sample size as to what this Lakers’ ceiling truly is. With the trade deadline on Feb. 5, there is anticipation that L.A. will make moves to solidify the roster and have a chance to compete for a championship.

This time of year is an antsy one for players, and LeBron James thought it would be ‘disrespectful’ for his teammates to comment on what trades need to be made ahead of the deadline.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...-top-five-in-jersey-sales-for-2025-26-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Highlights: Luka Doncic Shines, Rui Hachimura Comes Up Clutch Against Mavericks

Coming off a tough loss to the L.A. Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers continued their road trip and found themselves in a primetime matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.

Every Lakers-Mavericks matchup will be appointment viewing, especially back in Dallas, as Luka Doncic’s return remains a sore spot for their fans. Doncic entered the game undefeated against his former squad, but picking up another win would be tough as the Mavericks were riding a four-game winning streak.

For a while, it looked like the Lakers were heading toward another disappointing loss as they fell behind by double digits in the second half. The third quarter has been Los Angeles’ Achilles heel, and the issue reared its head again as the team was outscored 35-14 in the period.

However, the purple and gold launched a fourth-quarter comeback that really grew in momentum after a flurry of clutch baskets. Thanks to some timely defensive stops, the Lakers were able to come all the way back to beat the Mavericks 116-110.

Doncic is used to getting L.A.’s offense started in the first quarter, and that was no different against Dallas as he picked their defense apart over and over. Doncic wasn’t afraid to dish out to open teammates when the Mavericks sent extra help his way, but he also found it relatively easy to get into the painted area.

While Doncic slowed down later in the game, he came up big when it mattered most with timely buckets and assists. Doncic led the Lakers in scoring with 33 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field and a near-perfect 14-of-15 showing from the free-throw line. He also had 11 assists, eight rebounds, one steal and one block.

Rui Hachimura has taken well to his new role off the bench so far, providing a much-needed scoring punch. Hachimura took advantage of his open looks with an efficient shooting night, though he saved his best for last as he hit a couple of clutch 3-pointers to put Los Angeles up late.

Hachimura’s crunch-time heroics were much-needed, and he ended the night with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Marcus Smart was a massive factor in the win, and his tenacity on both ends of the court sparked the run. Smart finished the night with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers will continue their road trip on Monday against the Chicago Bulls before seeing the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-hig...-hachimura-comes-up-clutch-against-mavericks/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

LeBron James Hopes Lakers Are Building Momentum

The Los Angeles Lakers got one of their best wins of the season on Saturday night against the Dallas Mavericks. They significantly tightened their defense in the fourth quarter to complete a 15-point comeback, showing a new level of grit the team has lacked this season. Luka Doncic led the way, but LeBron James, Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura all had strong showings as well.

The win kept the Lakers at the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference, 0.5 games ahead of the Phoenix Suns at No. 6 and 0.5 games behind the Houston Rockets at No. 4. They have now won three of their last four games, all three wins coming in relatively impressive ways.

They handled the Toronto Raptors — the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference — comfortably. They toughed out a win against the short-handed Denver Nuggets and completed the comeback against Dallas. Earlier this season, getting gritty wins against higher-level opponents was hard to come by for this Lakers team.

Because of that, LeBron is hoping that they can use this recent stretch to gain some momentum for the rest of the season, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

“That’s the unknown, but that’s what you hope [for], obviously,” James said when asked if the Lakers are starting to build momentum. “That’s the unknown, but you play the game. We got to now prepare ourselves for Chicago. … So we got to keep this road trip going.”

The Lakers have five games remaining on their current road trip. They face the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets before returning to Los Angeles. That includes three very beatable opponents and two great tests.

What the Lakers do in those five games will significantly determine how much momentum they have for the stretch run of the season and could even determine how much the front office is willing to stick their neck out for a trade.

LeBron James refuses to comment on roster ahead of trade deadline​

James was asked about what changes the team might need to make to reach the next level of contention this season, and he declined to answer, saying it would be disrespectful to the guys on the roster. He instead focused on Austin Reaves being out of the lineup and the team’s lack of consistency with injuries so far this season.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lebron-james-hopes-lakers-are-building-momentum/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Admits Winning Vs. Mavericks Is ‘A Little Different’

The Los Angeles Lakers had a rollercoaster Saturday night as Luka Doncic visited his former home to face the Dallas Mavericks. L.A. led 65-52 at the half, seeming as though they might coast to a victory against the severely short-handed Mavericks.

But Dallas stormed back with a 35-14 third quarter that gave them an eight-point lead going into the fourth. Their biggest lead, though, came in the final seven minutes, when they took a 15-point advantage over the Lakers. From there, Doncic and company tightened up on the defensive end and came all the way back to win 116-110.

Doncic finished with 33 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists, leading the way in an important victory for him and the Lakers. Of course, given his history with the Mavericks, the Lakers star was asked about playing in Dallas after the shocking trade from last season and what it means to get wins there, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

“It’s a special place,” Doncic said of Dallas. “I mean, I’m always going to want to win no matter what. Every game I want to win, but obviously this one’s a little bit different.”

There was plenty of Luka support in the crowd among Mavericks fans, and he gave his love to those who braved the winter storm.

“That was really special,” Doncic said. “I didn’t know what to expect before, because I know how this city gets when the weather is bad. I really appreciate a lot of people showing up.”

The Lakers needed that win to keep their place in the Western Conference standings. But games in Dallas do feel bigger than that, like the Lakers need to win to stand behind their new franchise face. They were able to get that, with Doncic leading the way, in one of their grittiest showings of the season.

JJ Redick credits defense of Luka Doncic​

Doncic is quicker and more agile on the court after his offseason body transformation. However, his lack of burst — and sometimes effort — makes him a defensive liability at times. Far too often, Doncic is unable to keep his opponent in front, which then compromises the rest of Los Angeles’ defense.

Head coach JJ Redick came away impressed with how well Doncic held up defensively in the fourth quarter against the Mavericks. Redick credited the superstar for coming up with multiple stops in crunch time to help lead the Lakers to the close comeback victory.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-admits-winning-vs-mavericks-is-a-little-different/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

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

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 25, the NBA announced. Immanuel Quickley of the Toronto Raptors took home honors in the Eastern Conference.

This honor marks the second as a Laker for Doncic and the 16th weekly award of his career.

During the week, Doncic had three 30-point performances, including one triple-double and two double-doubles. Over the three-game stretch, which included a 2-1 record and road victories over the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, the 26-year-old averaged 34.3 points on 49.2% shooting from the field, 10.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 2.0 steals in 38.0 minutes.

That began on Jan. 20 with 38 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals in 36 minutes in a victory over the Nuggets. It was the 52nd career 30-point triple-double for Doncic, passing Nikola Jokic (51) for second all-time.

It also marked his fourth 30-point triple-double of the season, making Luka just the third player in Lakers history to achieve at least four in a single campaign, joining LeBron James and Magic Johnson. In that same game, surpassed 14,000 career regular season points, becoming the youngest point guard ever to reach the mark and the fifth youngest overall.

Then in a loss to the Clippers, Doncic still had 32 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals in 39 minutes. And finally, he closed the week with 33 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists, one steal and one block in 39 minutes in a win over his former team, the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic reached another milestone in that game, making the 1,500th 3-pointer of his regular season career, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to do so.

LeBron James believes Luka Doncic is getting comfortable with Lakers​

Now that Doncic is in his second season with the Lakers, LeBron James has noticed him getting more comfortable in his new home.

“The most important thing is just his comfort. Obviously when you get traded mid-season and him spending his first seven or eight years here, it was a shock to everybody. Everybody that was involved, everyone that wasn’t, the whole sports world. But I think the biggest thing this year is just more comfortable, understanding the system, understanding the city, the city embracing him. Him understanding that this is his team, so we’re all rallying around him. We know it’s kind of an emotional, big game when you come back and play your former team. And he showed why he is who he is tonight.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-named-western-conference-player-of-the-week-2/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Luka Doncic Drops 46 To Lead Lakers Past Bulls

The Los Angeles Lakers had to deal with some tough weather, delaying their flight out of Dallas. They eventually took off on Sunday though and made it to the Windy City for their matchup with the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.

The Lakers’ season-long eight-game road trip has gotten off to a solid 2-1 start and they looked to keep that going in Chicago. They were able to do exactly that, building a big lead and never looking back in a 129-118 victory.

Neither team was playing much defense early but when the Lakers did, it allowed LeBron James to get out into transition for a pair of easy buckets. Luka Doncic then got in on the scoring with 10 quick points, including a pair of triples, after distributing to start the game.

Rui Hachimura, who seems to be getting comfortable in his new bench role, came in and immediately hit three shots to spark a Lakers run, giving them a 35-31 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Laker run continued into the second quarter with Hachimura and James staying hot to stretch the lead to double digits.

Chicago couldn’t stop turning the ball over as the L.A. defense began to lock in. Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart took advantage by connecting from deep and the Lakers went into the halftime locker room with a 69-56 lead. After the Lakers went up by as many as 20 though, the Bulls closed the quarter on a 7-0 run.

The Bulls came out red-hot from 3-point range to begin the third quarter as the Lakers’ lead continued to evaporate. Doncic was trying to match them, but Chicago made eight of its first 10 shots.

Hachimura continued to hit open shots though and Doncic led another run for the Lakers to end the third, getting the lead back up to a comfortable 104-89.

Deandre Ayton got beat backdoor for layups twice early in the fourth quarter as the Bulls tried to get back in it. They got their deficit back down to single digits but never really threatened a comeback as Doncic hit a couple of triples to put the game on ice. Jaxson Hayes then had a dunk in transition that he put threw his legs to get the crowd on its feet.

As usual, Doncic filled up the stat sheet in the victory, finishing with 46 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will continue their road trip on Wednesday night when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. It remains to be seen if this is James’ last season in the NBA but if it is, that would mark his final game back in Cleveland.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-luka-doncic-drops-46-to-lead-lakers-past-bulls/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Austin Reaves Remains Out Vs. Cavaliers

The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Austin Reaves (left calf strain) continues to be listed as out.

Reaves has steadily been improving in his rehab from the calf injury he suffered in December, with head coach JJ Redick recently saying he was progressing toward stay-ready games. Redick also confirmed that Reaves would be available at some point during the Lakers’ eight-game road trip, but it appears that will have to wait at least one more game.

Los Angeles was in dire straits for a stretch with Reaves out as the offense was largely dependent on Luka Doncic and LeBron James, but the team managed to right itself this past week with wins over the Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls. However, Reaves’ potential return on this trip means the Lakers would be back to full strength offensively, which could also aid in their defensive woes. Poor shots and turnovers from non-playmakers have plagued L.A. in recent weeks, but Reaves can solve those problems once he’s back up to full speed.

Given the nature of Reaves’ injury, it makes sense for the organization to be cautious with his return. Calf injuries are heavily susceptible to re-aggravation and Reaves has already dealt with them twice during the 2025-26 season, so there’s no reason to push him. Also, the All-Star break is in a couple of weeks so it might be wise to ramp up his minutes when the regular season resumes.

When Reaves returns, it’ll allow James to go back to being more off the ball. James has thrived as a screener and cutter next to Doncic and Reaves and it’s arguably the best long-term offensive lineup for L.A.

LeBron also gets to enjoy a return home to Cleveland, where he’s always warmly greeted. In what could be James’ final season playing, he’ll surely get a large ovation from the Cavaliers faithful that enjoyed watching him win the franchise’s first title in 2016.

Rui Hachimura excited for Austin Reaves to return​

Rui Hachimura returned from his own calf injury earlier this month and has been excelling as an offensive weapon off the bench. The Lakers sorely missed Hachimura’s shotmaking ability, but the forward also expressed how excited he is to have Reaves returning to the lineup.

With Reaves eventually back, Hachimura should be able to capitalize on even more wide-open looks because of how much attention the Lakers’ three stars demand.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-report-austin-reaves-remains-out-vs-cavaliers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers’ Luka Doncic Launches Fan Engagement Company 77X & Fan Pass

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic announced the launch of 77X, a company he built to create original entertainment, collectibles, merchandise, and live experiences for his fans. With this launch comes Fan Pass, a free membership platform available now at 77x.world.

Doncic becomes the first athlete to bring together all realms of fandom — from content and products to events and community — into one single platform managed directly by the athlete to the fans. He announced 77X via his personal social media account on Tuesday morning:

This season on 77X

Join now at https://t.co/0QZOWr3G3j pic.twitter.com/QmFrQQ99rC

— Luka Doncic (@lukadoncic) January 27, 2026

“77X is Luka taking ownership of his brand and building directly with his fans,” said Lara Beth Seager, Chief Business and Brand Officer for Luka Doncic, CEO of 77X, and CEO of the Luka Dončić Foundation. “It’s an ecosystem built around his career, passions, and creativity, with Fan Pass giving the community early access, exclusive content, and a voice in everything he does. We believe this is how the next generation of athlete brands will be built.”

Luka’s goal with this company appears to be creating a new model of fan-to-athlete connection, making the fan feel as close as they have ever felt to their favorite player. The key elements of 77X includes worlds, entertainment, drops, access, live events and collaboration.

“Every so often, someone changes the game in both culture and commerce. Luka Doncic is one of them, and 77x is one of those moments,” said Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify. “It’s a new blueprint for fandom and the athlete-to-entrepreneur journey, and it could only be powered by Shopify. From storefronts inside fan universes to checkouts embedded in live experiences, Shopify is built for this scale of ambition. We’re building the future of commerce, Luka’s building the future of fandom – and 77x brings them together.”

“My fans mean everything to me,” said Doncic. “They’ve supported me at every step. With 77X and Fan Pass, I want to bring them in closer and give them a chance to create and build this with me. Not just watch it happen, but to be a part of it.”

JJ Redick allowing Luka Doncic’s creativity on court​

Doncic’s mastery of the offensive end of the game is well-known. Arguably his only flaw is that his risk-taking can lead to high turnover rates. However, head coach JJ Redick believes that’s a necessary price to pay.

He is not planning to limit Doncic’s creativity on offense, knowing that it is what unlocks the best from the Lakers superstar.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-luka-doncic-launches-fan-engagement-company-77x-fan-pass/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Cavaliers Would ‘Gladly’ Welcome LeBron James Return This Summer

This season is LeBron James’ eighth with the Los Angeles Lakers, the most consecutive years he has played with any franchise. But following this season, he will be an unrestricted free agent and it is unclear if he will return to the Lakers, retire, or possibly sign with another team.

Should he want to continue his NBA career to a record 24th season, and doesn’t remain to the Lakers, a return to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers is something that could be in the cards. Of course, LeBron has played 11 seasons across two separate stints with the Cavaliers and brought the franchise its lone NBA Championship in 2016.

And apparently the Cavaliers would be open to a third stint with its greatest player in franchise history as Dave McMenamin of ESPN reports that they would gladly welcome James back should he want to return in free agency this summer:

Multiple team and league sources told ESPN the Cavaliers would gladly welcome James back this summer if he wanted to return to Cleveland for his 24th NBA season and third stint with the team.

Obviously there are a lot of factors that would play into this potential move. First and foremost, LeBron has to decide whether he wants to continue playing after this season, though he clearly still has plenty left in the tank as he is averaging 22.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists this year for the Lakers. But questions have arisen recently about his relationship with Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss and some could see a split on the horizon.

If James does want to continue playing, and it’s not with the Lakers, the Cavaliers do make some sense as they have been looking to get over the hump as a championship contender, but have been a disappointment this season after winning 64 games last year. Perhaps LeBron could be that piece to take the Cavaliers to the next level.

James’ stint with the Lakers can’t be classified as anything other than successful as he brought this team out of the worst stretch in franchise history and won a championship in 2020. And maybe the Ohio-born legend would like to end his career where it started, in Cleveland, and the Cavs would seemingly love that as well.

LeBron James hopes Lakers are building momentum​

James isn’t thinking about the future, but rather is focused on leading this current Lakers team and the superstar hopes they are building momentum after some strong wins to kick off this road trip.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...adly-welcome-lebron-james-return-this-summer/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Blown Out By Cavaliers In LeBron James Homecoming

The Los Angeles Lakers looked to keep things rolling on Wednesday night when they traveled to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

LeBron James returning to Cleveland is always special, and this could potentially have been his last game there as a visiting player. With that being the case, there was extra intrigue added to the game but ultimately, the Lakers forgot to show up for the third quarter and were blown out, 129-99, as a result.

It wasn’t a great start for the Lakers as they were missing some easy looks with the Cavaliers scoring the first seven points. Deandre Ayton got the Lakers on the board with a putback, and then James and Luka Doncic both had great passes in transition to spark a 12-0 run to take the lead.

Unfortunately, Doncic rolled his ankle after taking a shot and appeared to be in some serious pain, going back to the locker room to get it looked at before eventually being cleared to return.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers got back on track with an 8-0 run as it was a game of runs early. Gabe Vincent came off the bench for Doncic and made an immediate impact with two triples. The Lakers then locked in defensively and led 28-24 at the end of the first quarter.

Vincent stayed hot to begin the second with another 3-pointer and then Doncic hit one as well to extend the lead to double digits for the first time. That was short-lived, however, as Cleveland responded with yet another run to keep things close.

The Lakers were uncharacteristically missing a lot of free throws as Doncic, in particular, missed four in a row. That allowed the Cavaliers to take a slim 57-55 lead into the locker room after a strong close to the half.

After a quiet first half, Donovan Mitchell started to heat up to begin the third quarter to build a double-digit lead for the Cavs.

The Lakers look disinterested in the third quarter as they continued to give up offensive rebounds and committed costly turnovers, allowing Cleveland to get hot. Nothing went right for L.A. in one of their worst quarters of the season and they faced a 96-77 deficit going into the fourth.

Early in the fourth quarter, it was James’ turn to roll his ankle, although he was able to stay in the game. The game quickly got out of reach, however, as JJ Redick emptied the Lakers bench, resulting in a disappointing loss.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers’ eight-game road trip finishes with matchups against the Washington Wizards, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lakers-blown-out-by-cavaliers-in-lebron-james-homecoming/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Austin Reaves & Luka Doncic Questionable Vs. Wizards

The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards and Austin Reaves (left calf strain) has been upgraded to questionable, while Luka Doncic (left ankle soreness) is also questionable.

Doncic hurt his ankle in the loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers but was able to finish out the game, albeit in some clear pain.

Reaves has been out since Christmas Day with the calf injury, and it’s the second he has dealt with this season alone so the organization has been extremely cautious with his return. There was some hope that he would have been able to suit up in Wednesday night’s game against the Cavaliers, but he wound up being ruled out of that one.

Now, the Lakers have three games left on their road trip, starting with Friday night in Washington. While it would be great to get Reaves back for that one, it’s probably a game the Lakers can win without him if they want to give the guard a couple of extra days before Sunday’s big matchup with the New York Knicks.

In recent weeks, Reaves’ rehab has steadily progress and all indications have been that he is doing well and has had no setbacks. That is great to hear, but it also makes sense to continue remaining cautious with the greater picture in mind.

In Reaves’ absence, others like Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia have stepped up while Doncic and LeBron James have led the way. It will take some time to get Reaves re-integrated in that once he returns, but the Lakers were playing their best basketball earlier in the season when he was healthy and playing at an All-Star level, so that shouldn’t be an issue.

Rui Hachimura excited for Austin Reaves to return​

Rui Hachimura returned from his own calf injury earlier this month and has been serving as an offensive weapon off the bench. The Lakers sorely missed Hachimura’s shotmaking ability, but the forward also expressed how excited he is to have Reaves returning to the lineup.

With Reaves eventually back, Hachimura should be able to capitalize on even more wide-open looks because of how much attention the Lakers’ three stars demand.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-report-austin-reaves-luka-doncic-questionable-vs-wizards/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Jaxson Hayes To Participate In 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes is known to be a high flying act, es evidenced by him recently throwing down an Eastbay Funk dunk in the middle of a game, putting the ball through his legs for the slam.

It’s not often that a center has that kind of athleticism, but Hayes is up there with the best of them when it comes to throwing down dunks.

It appears that will be put to the test as Hayes has accepted an invitation to compete in the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend, per Shams Charania of ESPN:

Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant have accepted invitations to the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star weekend in L.A., sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 29, 2026

NBA All-Star Weekend will take place at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, so Hayes will get a chance to put on a show in front of the hometown crowd.

With Carter Bryant also accepting an invitation, there are two more spots up for grabs, and it will be interesting to see who Hayes’ competition ends up being. The last Laker to win the Slam Dunk Contest was Kobe Bryant in 1997 and since then, Shannon Brown (2010), Larry Nance Jr. (2018) and Dwight Howard (2020) have all participated in the event.

Jaxson Hayes discusses Eastbay dunk in game​

Hayes has thrown down some crazy dunks throughout the course of his career, including the one he recently put through his legs. After the Lakers’ win, Hayes discussed where he came up with that idea.

“I mean, I’ve done it a few times in an NBA game before,” Hayes said. “Really, I just started doing it my sophomore year. You’re a kid, you’re in the garage, in the driveway on like the small hoop and you just try a bunch of dunks. I remember just trying it in like middle school and stuff and then I got to like my sophomore year, junior year of high school when I was actually dunking and I was like, let me try it real quick and got it. So now I’ve just been doing it.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-to-participate-in-2026-nba-slam-dunk-contest/