Los Angeles Lakers

SOURCE SPORTS: Lakers Owner Jeanie Buss Calls Russell Westbrook the Team’s Most ‘Consistent’ Player Last Year

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Russell Westbrook Said "He Was Disappointed" That He Was Benched In Latest Lakers Loss

The Los Angeles Lakers are seemingly heading into another season with Russell Westbrook. Ahead of training camp, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss spoke with The Athletic and said Westbrook was the “best player” on the team last year but would reverse the claim.

Westbrook’s 2021-22 campaign wasn’t the most glamorous for the superstar, but Buss held him down in conversation with Sam Amick. After calling him the best player, Buss responded to a follow-up note, in which she instead cited him as the most “consistent.”

The word I should have used was ‘consistent,’” Buss shared via text. “He played 78 games last season.”

Availability was indeed Westbrook’s best ability, and he averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 assists. If he remains with the Lakers, Westbrook will be teammates with who many would consider his archnemesis in Patrick Beverley.

In the late hours of last Wednesday night, ESPN reported the Los Angeles Lakers would acquire guard Patrick Beverley from the Utah Jazz. The Lakers will send Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson to the Jazz.

Beverly is no stranger to playing in Los Angeles, having a stint with the Clippers from 2017 to 2021. This past season he played with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Early Thursday morning, Beverly hit Twitter to express his joy in going back to L.A.

Beverly is expected to help anchor a stingy Lakers defense under new head coach Darvin Ham.

Fans online immediately wondered how Patrick Beverly would align next to Russell Westbrook as the two have not been the fondest of each other over the years.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Patrick Beverly to Join Lakers in Trade From Utah Jazz

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In the late hours of Wednesday night, ESPN reported the Los Angeles Lakers would acquire guard Patrick Beverley from the Utah Jazz. The Lakers will send Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson to the Jazz.

Beverly is no stranger to playing in Los Angeles, having a stint with the Clippers from 2017 to 2021. This past season he played with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Early Thursday morning, Beverly hit Twitter to express his joy in going back to L.A.

Beverly is expected to help anchor a stingy Lakers defense under new head coach Darvin Ham.

Fans online immediately wondered how Patrick Beverly would align next to Russell Westbrook as the two have not been the fondest of each other over the years.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Patrick Beverly to Join Lakers in Trade From Utah Jazz appeared first on The Source.

LeBron James Makes History With Lakers Two Year $97.1 Million Extension

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The Los Angeles Lakers are signing their star forward LeBron James to a two-year extension worth $97.1 million.  Multiple reports said the deal includes a player option for the 2024-25 season.  

With $532 million in guaranteed career earnings, this epic new contract makes the 37-year-old the highest paid player in terms of salary in the league’s history, surpassing Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets.

READ MORE: SOURCE SPORTS: Bronny James Poster Dunk Sends The Internet and LeBron James Into Frenzy

James was going to enter the final year of his current deal this upcoming season. Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports reportedly said King James had a  final year deal worth $44.5M.

 LeBron  joined the Lakers as a free agent in 2018 and won the NBA Championship with the team in 2020. 

Continue the conversation on social media.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Los Angeles Lakers Announce the Retirement of Pau Gasol’s Number

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The Los Angeles Lakers have announced the retirement of Pau Gasol’s No. 16 jersey number. The ceremony will occur during the March 7, 2023, game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

During his seven-season run with the Lakers, Gasol aided Los Angeles in capturing back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. He was selected to the All-NBA Second Team in 2011 and to the All-NBA Third Team in 2009 and 2010 while wearing the purple and gold. He earned three of his six career NBA All-Star awards while playing for the Lakers (2009–2011).

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SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron James Agrees to New Deal with Lakers to Become Highest Earning Player in NBA History

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LeBron vs. Luka and Steph vs. Ja Reportedly Part of NBA's Christmas Day Lineup

LeBron James will be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for the foreseeable future. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, James and the Lakers have agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million extension.

The new deal includes a 15 percent trade kicker, which makes King James the highest earning player in NBA history with $532 million in guaranteed money.

The new contract contains a player option for the 2024-25 season. The deal can increase to $111 million if the salary cap increases in 2023-24.

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SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron James Says of the Two Finals Teams He Would Play for the Golden State Warriors

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LeBron James must really want to play with Stephen Curry before his career is over. When asked what NBA superstar he wanted to play with, James didn’t hesitate with his answer. Off the rip, he said, “Steph Curry.”

He’s back at giving hints of joining the Warrior dynasty. In the preview trailer for the upcoming episode of HBO’s The Shop, James said the Warriors are the one remaining playoff team he’d join.

“It’d be Golden State. I would love getting into a pissing match with Draymond [Green]; I love when somebody cusses me out,” James said.

Prior to LeBron making this statement about joining Golden State, he appeared on The Shop and said he wanted to play with Steph. He even gave his reason why.

“In today’s game, s–t, there some motherf–kers in today’s game, but Steph Curry,” James said on The Shop. “Steph Curry is the one that I want to play with for sure in today’s game. … I love everything about that guy. Lethal. Steph, when he get out his car, you better guard him right from the moment he pulls up to the arena. Soon as he get out of his car, you better guard his ass.”

Could you imagine LeBron and Steph Curry on the same squad? The best shooter ever with arguably the best player ever? Well, Chef Curry couldn’t imagine it either. He quickly shut down the idea of him and James teaming up.

“Well, he’s got his wish,” Curry said on 95.7 The Game (h/t NBC Sports). “When he’s the captain, he’s picked me the last two All-Star Games. I don’t know if that suffices, but I’m good right now. Whenever you get the interest or curiosity of what it would be like to play with the MVP-caliber dude that he is, one of the greatest of all time, it’s cool. That’s amazing. We all can live in that fantasy world.”

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SOURCE SPORTS: Rasheed Wallace Set to Join Los Angeles Lakers Coaching Staff

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Rasheed Wallace Set to Join Los Angeles Lakers Coaching Staff

The Los Angeles Lakers coaching staff won’t take any mess. Joining new Lakers coach Darvin Ham on the sidelines will be former NBA All-Star and Detroit Pistons legend Rasheed Wallace.

According to Shams Charania, Wallace is set to join as an assistant coach, continuing a relationship that started when he and Ham led the Pistons to a championship in 2004.

Wallace last played in the NBA in 2013, and last season spent time with Penny Hardaway as an assistant coach at the University of Memphis. Memphis coach Penny Hardaway teased it days in advance to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

“I think Rasheed might be going to LA with Darvin Ham. That was the deal from the beginning. If Darvin had gotten a job last year, Rasheed had already promised him that he was going to go with him. So, I’m thinking this year, with him getting the Lakers job, (Wallace) might still be going along with that process.”

– Penny Hardaway

Excited to see Wallace on the Purple and Gold sidelines this year?

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SOURCE SPORTS: Los Angeles Lakers Select Darvis Ham as Next Head Coach

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The Los Angeles Lakers have found their next head coach and LeBron James is excited. According to ESPN, Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham has agreed to a four-year deal to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Adrian Wojnarowski notes Ham became the standout candidate in recent dates leading to the offer. The Lakers brass believes Ham’s stature and toughness, in addition to his championship experience as both a player and a coach, be a proper fit for the franchise. Ham also worked with the Lakers from 2011-2013.

Ham will now take on the task of coaching Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, and James, the latter of who welcomed the coach on Twitter.

“So damn EXCITED!!!!!!!! Congrats and welcome Coach DHam!!” James tweeted online.

Ham won a championship as a player with the 2004 Detroit Pistons and as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks last year.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Jerry West Demands Apology From HBO and Producers of ‘Winning Time’ Lakers Series

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First, it was Magic Johnson, and now it’s the logo Jerry West, who isn’t a fan of his portrayal on HBO’s Winning Time series.

In a statement obtained by ESPN, which the outlet states was sent to the network and executive producer Adam McKay, representatives for the former Lakers player, coach, and general manager said the series “falsely and cruelly portrays Mr. West as an out-of-control, intoxicated rage-aholic.” The series, centering on the Showtime era of the storied Lakers franchise during the 1980s, includes Jason Clarke as West and John C. Reilly as then-team owner Dr. Jerry Buss.

The show is based on Jeff Pearlman’s book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s. West himself referred to the series as a “baseless and malicious assault” on his character. 

Skip Miller, one of West’s lawyers and a partner at Miller Barondess, LLP law firm, said the show is based on the fabrication that attempts to create facts that have “caused great distress to West and his family.” 

“… Jerry [West] had nothing but love for and harmony with the Lakers organization, and in particular owner Dr. Jerry Buss, during an era in which he assembled one of the greatest teams in NBA history,” the statement said, per ESPN.

West has long been considered one of the best men and mentors to several generations of NBA talents to step foot in the league. It’s very easy to see how upset he could be with the HBO show’s view of him, considering he is considered a Laker legend and never that of a tyrant.

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