Golden Stаte Wаrriors fаns сan breаthe а ѕigh of relіef аfter Steрhen Curry’ѕ сomments regаrding hіs future. Durіng the NBA All-Stаr weekend, the 35-yeаr-old аddressed retіrement whіspers, аssuring he’ѕ fаr from hаnging uр hіs ѕneakerѕ.
“I thіnk аbout іt аll the tіme,” Curry аdmitted аfter the All-Stаr Gаme, “but the thoughtѕ ѕtop beсause you gottа get reаdy for the next gаme. Eventuаlly, your body аnd mіnd wіll tell you ‘It’ѕ tіme,’ but I’m nowhere сlose to thаt.”
And “nіce” сertainly doeѕn’t do juѕtice to hіs сurrent form. He’ѕ аverаging 28 рoints, 4.4 reboundѕ, аnd 5.0 аssists, hіttіng 42.1% from three – рroving he ѕtill belongѕ on the сourt.
The clip of Steph talking about not being “anywhere close” to the end, when I asked if he’s considered how long he’ll play pic.twitter.com/iT2Pg2HCtx
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) February 19, 2024
Whіle the Wаrriors’ dynаsty mіght ѕeem to be dіmmіng, Curry remаins а beаcon of сonsistenсy on а ѕquad embrаcing іts youth. They’re сurrently rіdіng аn 8-2 ѕtreak аnd аre ѕet to fаce the Lаkers on Thurѕday.
Refleсting on hіs All-Stаr nodѕ, Curry told ESPN’ѕ Mаlikа Andrewѕ, “I never tаke them for grаnted. It’ѕ а remіnder of the сhallenge to be аn All-Stаr every yeаr. The leѕѕon I’ve leаrned іs not to lіmіt myѕelf, but аpproаch every yeаr lіke іt сould be the lаst.”
Hіs meѕѕage іs сlear: Wаrriors Nаtion, the Sрlash Brother іsn’t goіng аnywhere juѕt yet. Exрect hіm to keeр fіrіng uр threeѕ, rаcking uр аccolаdes, аnd аiming for even more All-Stаr аppeаrаnces іn the yeаrs to сome.
The Milwaukee Bucks secured Giannis Antetokounmpo’s commitment by agreeing to a three-year maximum contract extension, set to commence in the 2025-26 season.
There was some uncertainty surrounding his future with the team following a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Miami Heat in the 2022-23 season. However, the acquisition of Damian Lillard appears to have played a key role in ensuring Antetokounmpo’s contentment and continued allegiance to the Bucks.
Nonetheless, teams such as the Golden State Warriors reportedly remain watchful, hoping that a shift in Antetokounmpo’s satisfaction could prompt the Bucks to consider a trade.
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The Warriors, bolstered by Stephen Curry’s presence, believe they have what it takes to challenge the NBA’s elite and secure another championship. Aiming to enhance their roster, securing Antetokounmpo could represent their ultimate aspirations.
The Warriors’ top executives are confident in Stephen Curry’s enduring performance, convinced that it affords them a few more seasons of potential championship contention, provided they assemble a strong team around him.
Should opportunities arise to acquire LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo (their ideal target), soon-to-be free agent Paul George or to bring back Kevin Durant, they are reportedly prepared to investigate those options.
Golden State Warriors tried to land LeBron James at trade deadline amid Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors
On the last day before this year’s NBA trade deadline on Feb. 8, the Golden State Warriors reportedly made an unexpected effort to acquire Los Angeles Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
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LeBron James, given his stature, had the right of first refusal on any trade proposals. The LA Lakers superstar chose to turn down the advances from his Pacific Division rivals, the Golden State Warriors, as learned by Wojnarowski.
Brian Windhorst reported that Draymond Green, the Warriors’ star power forward/small-ball center and a longtime friend of LeBron James, had reached out to their mutual agent Rich Paul to explore the possibility of teaming up with James.
Wojnarowski reported that Warriors owner Joe Lacob took the initiative to contact LA Lakers owner Jeanie Buss regarding a potential deal.
Buss, prioritizing the happiness of her star players, whether they remain in LA or move elsewhere, advised Lacob to speak with James and Green’s agent, Rich Paul.
The speculated trade package for LeBron James to the Warriors, which might have included Andrew Wiggins or Chris Paul, draft picks and Moses Moody, sheds light on the high value and impact James could bring to any team, despite his age.
However, given LeBron’s decision to stay with the Lakers, the Warriors and Lakers continue their rivalry in the Western Conference. Each aims to secure a more favorable playoff position and avoid the uncertainty of the play-in tournament.
The Lakers (30-26) are one spot ahead of the Warriors (27-26) in the conference.
The NBA veterаn’s lіfe іs rаrely ѕmooth ѕailing, аnd even multіple-tіme All-Stаrs lіke Klаy Thomрson fаce the hаrsh reаlity of сhanging roleѕ. Aѕ Thomрson fіnds hіmself сoming off the benсh for the fіrst tіme іn hіs сareer, he reсeives underѕtanding аnd ѕupport from hіs longtіme teаmmаte, Steрh Curry.
In а сandid іntervіew wіth ESPN’ѕ Mаlikа Andrewѕ, Curry oрened uр аbout the ѕwitch-up. “It wаs weіrd,” he аdmitted. “I’ve сome off the benсh а сouple of tіmes аnd ѕeen hіm ѕtart, ѕo іt wаs weіrd to ѕwitch roleѕ.”
But іnstead of lettіng the demotіon dаmpen hіs ѕpiritѕ, Thomрson reѕponded іn true сhampion fаshion. He exрloded for 35 рoints, 6 reboundѕ, аnd 2 аssists, ѕhooting аn іmpressіve 59% from the fіeld аnd drаining fіve threeѕ. Moѕt іmportantly, he helрed ѕecure а сruсial wіn аgаinst the Utаh Jаzz.
“For hіm, there’ѕ only one wаy for hіm to reѕpond: the wаy thаt he dіd,” Curry ѕaid, hіs voіce fіrm. “I thіnk there’ѕ been а lot of nаrrаtives аround hіs ѕeaѕon аnd ѕince he’ѕ сome bаck from hіs іnjurіes – а lot unfаir.”
Deѕpite hіs lаid-bаck demeаnor, Thomрson remаins а fіerce сompetitor аt heаrt. No one endureѕ multіple ѕeriouѕ іnjurіes аnd gruelіng rehаb wіthout а deeр-seated рassion for the gаme. And thаt рassion, Curry belіeves, ѕhone through when Thomрson аccepted the benсh role.
“I thіnk the nаturаl evolutіon of аll of our сareers іs tryіng to fіgure out how to сontinue to wіn, but іt mіght look а lіttle dіfferent,” Curry exрlained. “The wаy thаt he reѕponded іs the Klаy Thomрson thаt I know — the true сompetitor, the true dаwg. He got рissed off аnd ѕaid, ‘Wаtch thіs.’ I thіnk а lot of іt іs juѕt knowіng who he іs.”
It’ѕ ѕtill eаrly dаys, wіth only one gаme рlayed іn Thomрson’s new role. But the reсord ѕtandѕ аt 1-0, аnd the meѕѕage іs loud аnd сlear: Klаy Thomрson іs fаr from done. He’ѕ аdаpted, he’ѕ motіvated, аnd he’ѕ reаdy to keeр wіnnіng, no mаtter the role. And wіth Curry by hіs ѕide, the journey сontinues.
According to The Athletic:
“This stance, the source said, is rooted in the reality that James’ happiness truly matters to the organization. They will potentially have their 2024 first-round pick (depending on if the New Orleans Pelicans, as part of the blockbuster Davis trade, choose to receive that pick or defer to 2025) and have two second-round picks that could help to that end (the Clippers’ and the less favorable of the Grizzlies’ and Wizards’ selections).” LeBron has been vocal about his desire to play alongside his son in the NBA before hanging up his sneakers.
Bronny, a freshman at USC, is set to be eligible for the 2024 draft and is already being touted as a first-round prospect, despite modest stats—averaging 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 35.6% from the field and 27.1% from beyond the arc in 16 games with the Trojans.
Senior writer at The Athletic, Sam Vecenie, chimed in:
“Guys…I get that it seems important to LeBron to have Bronny on his team but…
Bronny is averaging 6 points and 3 rebounds on a 9-15 USC team. He’s shooting 35% from the field and 27% from 3.
It doesn’t feel like a great development strategy to just put him through to the NBA”
On The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst mentioned last month,
“I’ve got people telling me, this guy’s going in the first round, no doubt and not necessarily because of what he’s showing at USC, but just because of the dynamics around the pick.”
Should the Lakers pull the trigger on Bronny, it could significantly enhance their chances of keeping LeBron in town beyond this season. The four-time NBA champ holds a player option for 2024-25, which he could turn down to test free agency waters.
Any team landing Bronny could find themselves in the running to snag LeBron in free agency.
While the prospect of adding Bronny is intriguing, the Lakers have a golden opportunity to swing a trade for an All-Star caliber player this offseason, a move that could bolster their title aspirations.
Names like Dejounte Murray, Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell, and Kyrie Irving have been swirling in Lakers trade rumors, and snagging any of these stars shouldn’t be overlooked.
The Lakers aren’t in control of their destiny in this draft, as the New Orleans Pelicans have their draft pick.
Nonetheless, Bronny is currently being projected as a late pick.
He could slip to the second round, and some even believe he could go undrafted.
The Lakers could find a way to make sure that doesn’t happen and pair the firstborn of James’ household with his dad for at least another season.
Needless to say, that would be one of the most heartwarming stories in professional sports history, not to mention a testament to LeBron’s unmatched longevity in the league.
Austin Reaves trolled Rui Hachimura after his career-high scoring performance in a win over the Utah Jazz.
Credit: Fadeaway World
The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a fantastic win over the Utah Jazz last night, pulling the feat off on the second night of a road back-to-back without LeBron James. Rui Hachimura made headlines with his 36-point performance, setting a new career high.
Austin Reaves poked fun at Rui’s career-high night by mocking his playmaking skills. Reaves jokingly said that Hachimura’s single assist on the night could be considered another career-high.
“That’s what Rui does. He might have had a career-high in assists too. He had one. Nah, I’m playing… Any time Rui sees his first couple go in, it’s going to be a good game for us.”
Hachimura’s actual career-high in assists came during the 2020 Orlando bubble, where he picked up six dimes in a 100-111 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Hachimura was playing for the Wizards at the time and hasn’t shown any real playmaking flair in his career. But his scoring prowess seems to be improving every season.
Rui is averaging 12.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists this season but was given inconsistent minutes all season. He has had some bad performances this season, but the recent increase in workload has helped him impact the game more. He’s averaging 16.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and just 0.8 assists on 33.6 minutes per game in his last five contests, locking down a starting spot on the team ahead of Taurean Prince.
The Lakers Aiming To Dominate After The All-Star Break
This was the final Lakers game before the All-Star break, with the team going on a week-long vacation while LeBron James and Anthony Davis represent the Western Conference at the All-Star game. The team has won six of their last seven games and is inching closer to the top six of the Western Conference. They’re just 3.5 games behind the Suns, who are the No. 6 seed.
Anthony Davis has been the main reason behind the Lakers’ success. He’s averaging 24.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks this season, proving himself as one of the best two-way players in the NBA right now. He exploded for 39 points and 15 rebounds against the Jazz, being the most impactful player on the court once again for the Lakers.
The team will restart their season against the Golden State Warriors after the All-Star break, a marquee matchup for both teams looking to climb up the standings. The Warriors blew a big lead in a loss to the Clippers last night, so they’ll be motivated to return from the break and get back to winning ways against the Lakers.
The teams ahead of them in the standings are all on strong streaks of form right now. The Pelicans have won seven of their last eight games while the Suns have won seven of their last nine. The Mavericks are on a six-game winning streak, while the Warriors have won five of their last six. Even the Kings beat the Nuggets last night to show they are to be reckoned with.
The Lakers have the 10th hardest schedule in the NBA after the All-Star break, which means they’ll have to overcome many challenges. But this group seems to finally have found their ideal rotations to dominate the final stretch of the season like they did last year.
LeBron James wanted the Lakers to trade for one of the Hawks’ backcourt pairing.
Credit: Fadeaway World
Despite his team standing pat at the trade deadline this season, LeBron James was doing everything he could to get the Lakers an upgrade to their roster. According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, Sam Amick, and Anthony Slater, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray of the Hawks were at the top of LeBron’s wishlist and he’s been advocating for them to become Lakers all season long.
“James was also in support of the Lakers trading for Dejounte Murray or Zach LaVine — two Klutch Sports clients — in the weeks and months leading into the 2024 trade deadline, according to those sources.”
At 39 years old, LeBron James doesn’t have time to be patient and the latest intel out of Los Angeles indicates that he’s been putting more pressure than ever for the Lakers to make a move. This year, for whatever reason, the Lakers decided not to do anything at all despite being involved in a number of conversations.
At one point, both Dejounte Muray and Trae Young were involved in trade rumors and both were considered high-priority targets for the Purple and Gold. As premier backcourt guards, Murray and/or Young would been a major boost this season in Los Angeles. Young, in particular, would have sparked a new offense for this Lakers team, but it seems they would rather hold their cards and wait for an opportunity to go star-hunting in the summer.
Now, in the aftermath of the deadline, the front office strategy has raised some serious questions about whether their long-term plans are truly in alignment with LeBron’s. Thanks to a player option next season, James has the ultimate control over his destiny and he could the Lakers behind if he feels they’ve lost sight of the mission.
Will LeBron James Leave The Lakers If They Don’t Make A Trade?
This season, there was some serious noise on a potential LeBron James trade and even Rich Paul had to come out and deny that the King was headed to another team. Even so, several teams have already tried to lure James away and it seems more possible than ever that he might consider a change of scenery one last time.
In the West, we just recently found out that the Warriors tried to pair LeBron with Stephen Curry before the idea was shut down by the Lakers and LeBron’s camp. In the East, the Cavaliers look like a prime candidate for James given their history and position near the top of the standings.
Wherever LeBron goes next will likely have a lot to do with his son, Bronny, who is months away from becoming draft-eligible. Depending on where Bronny goes in the draft, LeBron could very well follow him on a one or even multi-year deal.
This summer, the Lakers have considered drafting Bronny themselves just to keep LeBron happy, but it’s clearly going to take more than that to keep him around for the long haul. Unless the Lakers can build him a championship-level team, there’s really no reason for LeBron to come back at all unless it’s for family or for a chance to compete for a title and add to his GOAT case.
Revealing the Lakers’ greatest all-time starting lineup, bench, and coach.
Credit: Fadeaway World
In many ways, the Los Angeles Lakers are the gold standard for success in the NBA. They are tied with the Boston Celtics for the most NBA championships with 17 and have built their brand into one of the most recognizable in the world over the last 77 years. To reach this level of success, the Lakers have been a place where NBA legends build their legacies and live in the spotlight of Hollywood simultaneously.
Using the greatest players at every position who have built the Lakers from the ground up, we have put together the greatest combination of a starting lineup, and full bench, and selected a coach to lead the way. This is based solely on each player’s contributions to the Lakers and their achievements while wearing the purple and gold. The lineup you see below is easily in contention for the greatest all-time lineup for any team in NBA history.
Career Achievements (with Lakers): 3x Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 12x All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 10x All-NBA Team Selection
The Lakers start extremely fortunate as home to the greatest point guard in NBA history for 13 seasons from 1980 through 1996. Magic Johnson was the face of the Showtime era for the Lakers during the 1980s, leading the team to five NBA championships in nine seasons from 1980 through 1988, claiming three Finals MVPs and three regular-season MVPs along the way.
It all started as a rookie in 1980 when Johnson filled in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6 and delivered one of the most iconic performances in NBA history with 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists to seal the series and capture his first Finals MVP award. He would win two more in 1982 and 1987 as well as two other championships in 1985 and 1988.
What stands out about Magic’s game more than anything else was the pace he played with and his playmaking abilities as a large 6’9’’ point guard. Johnson’s fast-break instincts and court vision will give the Lakers an immediate advantage over any team that opposes them with their all-time lineup.
Career Achievements: (with Lakers): 2x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 18x All-Star, 4x All-Star Game MVP, 15x All-NBA Team Selection, 12x All-Defensive Team Selection
Just two players into the Lakers’ all-time lineup and already we have 10 NBA championships between the two most iconic players in franchise history. Kobe Bryant takes his rightful place in the all-time Lakers lineup next to Magic Johnson after devoting 20 years of his life to the organization.
From 1997 through 2016, Bryant helped the Lakers win five NBA championships. The first three came alongside Shaquille O’Neal by way of a three-peat from 2000-2002. Bryant would then lead the Lakers and claim both of his Finals MVP awards long after O’Neal left in 2009 and 2010. Bryant is not only a five-time NBA champion but he is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 33,643 points as well as their all-time leader in games played, steals, and usage percentage.
Bryant and Johnson will make magic, no pun intended, in the backcourt for the Lakers’ all-time starting lineup. In addition to being one of the best scorers in NBA history, Bryant is also one of the Lakers’ best defensive threats in their lineup, evidenced by his NBA-record 12 All-Defensive Team selections by a guard. With Magic and Bryant leading the charge, the Lakers’ all-time lineup is already as lethal as it gets.
Career Achievements (with Lakers): 1x Finals MVP, 14x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 12x All-NBA Team Selection, 5x All-Defensive Team Selection
The Lakers continue to load up on offensive firepower and elite two-way play with the addition of Jerry West to their all-time starting lineup. From 1961 through 1974, West spent his entire career with the Lakers, becoming one of the greatest guards in NBA history and leading the Lakers to nine NBA Finals in 14 seasons with one championship coming in 1972.
West was a scoring machine armed with one of the smoothest jump shots in NBA history without the grace of a three-point line. West averaged 27.0 points per game for his career and recorded four different seasons of 30.0 points per game or more as well as 11 seasons with 25.0 points per game or more. Despite the absence of defensive stats at the time, West was an elite defender on the perimeter as well.
West is yet another weapon Magic Johnson can use at his leisure on the offensive side of the ball. Along with Bryant, West’s strong perimeter defense will initiate a ton of transition and fast-break opportunities for the Lakers, leading to Magic’s pick of the litter when leading the offense. West’s shooting gives the Lakers even more spacing as well which will be key to their success considering how clogged the paint is going to be.
Career Achievements (with Lakers): 1x Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 13x All-Star, 10x All-NBA Team Selection, 7x All-Defensive Team Selection
This all-time Lakers lineup refuses to let up with the first member of their frontcourt being revealed as the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. After six seasons with the Bucks, Kareem spent the final 14 seasons of his career with the Lakers from 1976 through 1989. In these 14 seasons, Kareem would win three of his NBA-record six MVP awards as well as help lead the team to five NBA championships and become the oldest Finals MVP ever in 1985.
To go along with his extremely efficient offense and scoring ability, Kareem was also an elite presence on the defensive side of the ball. He would lead the NBA three different times in blocks and averaged 2.6 per game in his Lakers career, owning the franchise record with 2,694. Armed with his signature skyhook and with Magic Johnson as his point guard, Kareem was unstoppable for most of his Los Angeles tenure.
We already know what Kareem and Magic can do on the court and how well that worked out for the rest of the league during the 1980s. Things become a true nightmare for opponents with the addition of Bryant, West, and O’Neal alongside them. Kareem should be one of the focal points of the Lakers’ offense while getting their fast-paced offense going with his elite protection of the rim.
Career Achievements (with Lakers): 3x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 7x All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 8x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection
In addition to all of the weapons already with the Lakers in their all-time starting lineup, we now get to arguably the most dominant player in NBA history, Shaquille O’Neal. During his eight seasons with the Lakers, Shaq became the most unstoppable force the NBA had ever seen, leading the Lakers to three straight NBA championships from 2000 through 2002 and claiming all three Finals MVP awards in the process.
Shaq was not only a massive human being at 7’1’’ and pounds, but he was fast, agile, and incredibly powerful with every movement he made. O’Neal was so dominant during his Lakers career that teams often reverted to intentionally sending him to the free-throw line. Where he famously struggled, just to try and slow him down. It rarely, if ever, worked.
How do you guard a five-man lineup that now includes the most dominant big man in NBA history? Even if you figure out a way to slow down their fast break attack, the addition of O’Neal makes things just as big of an issue in a slower offense with defenses unable to throw everything they have at him. Any defense Shaq sees should be one he dominates when at his peak Lakers form.
Career Achievements (with Lakers): 1x Finals MVP, 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team Selection
As if things weren’t already difficult enough for opponents, LeBron James is coming in off the bench as the Lakers’ all-time sixth man. James has been with the Lakers since the 2018-19 season and while many have assumed he would slow down during his time in Los Angeles, he has arguably looked better at times than he did during his prime.
In 2020, James helped lead the Lakers to their 17th title in franchise history during the NBA Bubble while winning his fourth career Finals MVP award. While he has struggled with injuries and a lack of real team success outside of 2020, he has remained the same lethal all-around offensive weapon that he always has been as a scorer and playmaker.
James’ spot off the bench provides the Lakers with a ton of wiggle room in how they use their lineup. He can easily come in and fill in for Magic as the initiator of their fast-paced offense, or he can fill in a scoring role for either West or Bryant when they need a breather. His versatility and relentless downhill attack make him the ultimate weapon off the bench for this absolutely loaded Lakers lineup.
Career Achievements (with Lakers): 1x Finals MVP, 7x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection
The second of three forwards to come off the bench for the Los Angeles Lakers is none other than Big Game James Worthy. As a member of the Lakers from 1983 through 1994, Worthy was a member of three championship teams in 1985, 1987, and 1988. He spent his entire career in the purple and gold, becoming one of their most iconic players in the process.
Worthy’s greatest performance with the Lakers would come in the 1988 NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons. In a decisive Game 7, Worthy would record 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead his team to victory, becoming Finals MVP in the process. For most of his Lakers tenure, Worthy was the perfect option for Magic next to Kareem and a stout defender on the perimeter as well.
Forward – Elgin Baylor
Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Championships (with Lakers): 0
Career Stats (with Lakers): 27.4 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 4.3 APG
Career Achievements (with Lakers): 1x Rookie Of The Year, 11x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 10x All-NBA Team Selection
Despite his glaring absence of a championship ring, Elgin Baylor’s contributions to the Lakers as a franchise cannot go unnoticed. Baylor and his playstyle were a contributing factor in the Lakers’ move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles during the early 1960s, noting his marketable success on the court.
Baylor was a relentless scorer, rebounder, and staunch defender who often played above the rim and with incredible pace. He adds yet another lethal scoring threat to the plethora of them riddled throughout this lineup. Baylor is another perfect replacement for West or Bryant off the bench as his scoring feats in both the regular season and playoffs are heavily noted in NBA history, giving the Lakers yet another huge advantage with their depth.
Center – George Mikan
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships (with Lakers): 5
Career Stats (with Lakers): 23.1 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 2.2 APG
Career Achievements (with Lakers): 4x All-Star, 1x All-Star MVP, 6x All-NBA Team Selection
Although George Mikan’s career lasted just seven seasons from 1949 through 1956, we could not have a Lakers lineup without the franchise’s first real superstar. Mikan was a force to be reckoned with for the Minneapolis Lakers, winning three straight scoring titles to begin his career with 28.0 points per game over that time.
In the NBA playoffs, he took his game to another level, averaging 24.0 points and 13.9 rebounds per game in his postseason career. This resulted in five NBA championships for Mikan and the Lakers, matching the likes of Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in franchise history.
Center – Wilt Chamberlain
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Championships (with Lakers): 1
Career Stats (with Lakers): 17.7 PPG, 19.2 RPG, 4.3 APG
Career Achievements (with Lakers): 1x Finals MVP, 4x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection
The final five seasons of Wilt Chamberlain’s career were nothing compared to the dominance he had early on with the Warriors and 76ers. However, Chamberlain was unlike most stars with the Lakers later in his career as even as he was winding down, his production was still among the elite around the NBA and in Lakers history.
From 1969 through 1973, Chamberlain helped the Lakers reach four different NBA Finals, finally winning a championship in 1972 over the Knicks. Chamberlain was named Finals MVP of that series thanks to his dominance as a rebounder and defender, averaging 19.4 points and 23.2 rebounds per game. Even an older version of Wilt added to this lineup cements it as the greatest all-time lineup in NBA history.
Coach – Phil Jackson
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
What good is an elite lineup of talent without an elite basketball mind to gel it all together and put a winning product out on the court? No coach in Lakers history fits that mold more perfectly than Phil Jackson. In 11 seasons as a coach of the Lakers, Jackson led them to seven NBA Finals appearances and five championships including a three-peat from 2000-2002 and back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
If there is any coach who can keep this lineup’s egos in check and their eyes on the prize, it is Phil Jackson and his system that led to 11 total championships as a coach between Chicago and L.A. as well as two more as a player with New York in the 1970s.
The Greatest All-Time Lineup In NBA History
The Los Angeles Lakers can lay claim to the title of the greatest collection of talent to form an all-time roster in the history of the NBA. In total, there are 29 championships between the 10 players who make up this roster as well as five more from the coach as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Between their championship experience, playstyle, and overall greatness as players, there is just no way this team loses any series up against any other all-time lineup.
Offensively, there is no letting up when defending this team even if they were to turn to their full second unit. The starting lineup is led by the greatest playmaker, passer, and facilitator in NBA history surrounded by four of the greatest scorers at their position in NBA history who can score any which way they want for the most part.
Off the bench, LeBron James steps into Magic’s role perfectly or you have the luxury of having two Magic’s on the court at the same time. Rebounds should never be a battle this team loses either with the four-center rotation of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, and George Mikan. Defensively, this team is a wall in their frontcourt, and that’s even if opponents figure out how to penetrate their already stifling perimeter defense.
Take one more look folks, the collection of talent just presented to you is the greatest you will ever see again from one NBA franchise.
Melo joined Wade’s podcast and shared details about his trade to New York.
Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images
I am a simple man, I am biased, and I acknowledge both things. I see content evenly remotely related to Carmelo Anthony, and I just indulge all of it (multiple times, also). It’s just how things go around here and how my brain is wired. Some things just are beyond man’s control, aren’t they?
That said, what we were gifted earlier this week is a great chunk of content that you will want to check no matter where you sit in the Melo Stan Spectrum. As long as you’re a basketball fan, let alone one aware of what’s been going on in the Association and across the hoops world from Y2K on, you’ll enjoy the latest episode of Dwyane Wade’s podcast, The Why with Dwyane Wade, like a little kid with a lollipop.
These two living legends sat down together to talk for more than two hours (and they already promised a Part II which I personally cannot wait for) and they discussed a lot of topics about Anthony’s life, from his birth in Brooklyn to his upbringing in Baltimore, his high school days and joining Syracuse where he won the Natty as a freshman, and finally all about his 19-year career across the NBA landscape—including stints in Denver, New York, Oklahoma City, Houston, Portland, and Los Angeles.
Again, go watch (or just listen, if that’s better for you) the full talk because it’s extraordinary—believe me. The nuggets (no pun intended) excerpted here are good, but they’re definitely not great nor comprehensive enough. Melo shared a lot of interesting stuff and details about his life in and out of the NBA unknown by most.
At the point of the conversation when Wade and Melo discussed his arrival in New York, Anthony revealed that “New York never was the place,” when asked if he wanted to go there.
“People think that I went in there and was like ‘Get me outta here to Denver.’ That never was the case.”
As Melo recounted what happened, the Nuggets were reaching their peak (they made the Western Conference Finals in 2009 losing to the eventual champions Los Angeles Lakers) but the front office decided to trade a few key players away instead of adding a couple more (“We were two pieces away,” Melo said) to bolster the roster and the chances of Denver winning the chip.
Anthony said that if Denver had beaten the Lakers in 2009, they would have beaten Orlando, thus his feelings about what the Nuggets should have done the following offseason to round up a title-contending roster.
“I’m not trying to rebuild—I’m not saying I want to get out of here, but y’all got to show me y’all cards,” Anthony told Wade retelling what he said to the Nuggets front office after that postseason.
Of course, the Nuggets told Melo that they wanted to keep him around, but then in the summer of 2010, both parties realized that a trade was the best solution for them. Melo said that Chicago entered the conversation but more interestingly, he revealed that a deal was actually in place with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“The deal was done with the Lakers: me and Nene for Lamar Odom and [Andrew] Bynum,” Melo told Wade. “I never thought about New York. When they turned that deal down—now, it’s like, ‘Oh, y’all don’t want me in the West… you gonna send me to the East? Get me to New York.”
After telling Denver he would like to go to New York in a trade to an Eastern Conference franchise, it looks like the Nuggets worked out a trade to the New Jersey Nets before they did arrive at a proper package with the Knicks.
Anthony also revealed George Karl (former Denver Nuggets coach) “had a deal with Utah behind the scenes for Derrick Favors because he thought he was a Nene-type power forward,” and that Denver had a trade in place with the Nets at the All-Star break.
“I ended up in New York. That deal wasn’t supposed to happen. But the deal happened.”
Funnily, however, Anthony was in Los Angeles for the ASG that season when he got to watch a report on TV talking about a potential trade between the Nets and the Nuggets. Stumbling upon that, Melo called the Nuggets to tell them they could send them to the Lakers (in the aforementioned package) but that “I’m not going to Jersey.”
Melo said, “If you was in Brooklyn, next year, I would be there,” when it comes to his potential trade to the still New Jersey Nets, blocking that road. “But I can’t play at the Prudential Center, champ. I can’t do that,” he joked.
“I’m not going to New Jersey though. So we met about Jersey and that was when all the Brooklyn stuff was about to happen two years after that. If you was in Brooklyn next year, I would be there. I can’t play at the Prudential Center champ. I just can’t. I can’t do that.”
Melo went on to talk with Wade about everything that unfolded after his arrival in New York via trade, joining Amare’ Stoudamire (“It was Amare’s team”), injuries impacting his best years with the Knicks (“Injuries started to happen and you have to sit out and then you gotta come back and fit“), his ultimate exit from the franchise (“To this day I really don’t understand it—there’s no explanation”), and his final years in the Association (“[OKC] telling me I can’t make a nine-man roster in this NBA? F*** outta here— you bugging”).
At the risk of sounding like a broken record: go watch the full podcast episode because it’s well worth it. It provides tons of inside info about Melo’s career and lifepath before reaching the NBA all the way to the point he called it a career in 2022 appearing in 69 games with the Lakers teaming up with classmate LeBron James in Hollywood.
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<p>(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)<br />
The hometown kid made his debut in purple and gold on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Lakers captured their 29th win of the season on Tuesday night, a 125-111 victory over the 8-45 Detroit Pistons. The Lakers are now three games above .500 and have won five of their last six games.</p>
<p>It was a necessary win for the purple and gold, and it happened to be the first look at the newest Laker guard, Spencer Dinwiddie.</p>
<p>Dinwiddie made his Laker debut against the Detroit Pistons, the team that drafted him, and made his impact on the floor. After the game, Dinwiddie spoke to Spectrum SportsNet and said playing for his hometown team was a dream come true.<br />
“That was fire, that was elite. Obviously, you always wanna play in front of your home city, you always wanna have the crowd behind you. There’s nothing like this fan base.”</p>
<p>via Spectrum SportsNet<br />
In his first game as a Laker, he scored six points on 2-for-6 shooting, seven assists, two rebounds, and two steals in 31 minutes.</p>
<p>The 30-year-old guard didn’t look the sharpest to start off; however, he was fantastic, dishing out the ball to open teammates. He will play a massive role in the Laker rotation if he can play to his capabilities.</p>
<p>He’s already got some critical minutes in his first game, and that could only increase if he plays well and fits in alongside his teammates.</p>
<p>We’re glad the hometown kid feels the love among the Laker faithful.</p>
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<p>Looks like LeBron James’ wish to share the court with his son in the NBA might not be just a pipe dream after all, with the 2024-25 season looming large.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Lakers seem open to the idea of bringing Bronny James onboard next season, as per The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Anthony Slater, and Jovan Buha.<br />
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<p>(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)<br />
The Los Angeles Lakers have gone the extra mile to make sure LeBron James never leaves.</p>
<p>The 21-year veteran could become a free agent at the end of the season, as he could choose not to pick up his player option.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s not easy to leave $51 million on the table, not even for a billionaire like LeBron James.</p>
<p>However, there’s one person who could make him give up his wealth in the blink of an eye, and that’s his firstborn son, Bronny.</p>
<p>There have been multiple reports about teams looking to get Bronny in the upcoming NBA Draft just to have a chance to get LeBron as well, as he’s admitted that he would consider playing for the minimum just to team up with his boy.</p>
<p>With that in mind, Bronny took to Twitter to share an edited pic of him and LeBron in Lakers’ threads.<br />
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Credit: Fadeaway World
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