LeBron James became emotional after the Cleveland Cavaliers played a tribute video during his visit to Cleveland.
Bron’s Lakers, including his son Bronny, were in town last night. A suddenly hot Cavs team won the game 129-99.
The video highlighted James’ historic 2007 playoff performance. He scored 25 straight points against Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals. That stretch remains one of the most iconic moments in franchise history.
James wiped away tears as the crowd responded with a long ovation. The arena erupted while memories from his first Cavaliers era filled the screen.
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James has built one of the greatest careers in NBA history. He surpassed 40,000 career points and ranks among the league’s leaders in assists. He also owns multiple MVP awards and 4 championships.
In Cleveland, James delivered unmatched success. He led the Cavaliers to five NBA Finals appearances. He brought the franchise its first championship in 2016.
How about some more accolades? James ranks as the Cavaliers’ all-time leading scorer. He averaged more than 27 points per game across his Cleveland seasons, and his impact reshaped the franchise and the city’s sports identity.
The emotional reaction added weight to the night. Fans chanted for his son, Bronny, once the game got away in the fourth quarter. While LeBron continues to play at an elite level, his future with the Lakers remains uncertain. Reports over recent days suggest there could be one more reunion for LeBron and Cleveland, but that remains to be seen.
According to the report, Jeanie Buss soured on James after the Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook in 2021, a move the team made to satisfy the superstar but one that backfired. Buss reportedly was upset with the way James dismissed his part in pursuing Westbrook and blamed others after the move failed, according to ESPN.
“Quite frankly, I don’t really get involved in that, or the reports, or whatever the case may be,” James said after Thursday night’s loss to the Clippers at the Intuit Dome. “I’ve seen a lot of it, obviously, but I don’t really care about the reports, to be honest. … (there’s) gonna be another article tomorrow, especially involving me.”
“My whole mindset was like, how can I get that feeling back to the Lakers organization,” he said. “And then I was able to do that along with, you know, 14, 16, other guys winning the championship, bringing the championship here. That’s always been my mindset.”
James said winning, not headlines, stories or podcasts, is what drives him, now in his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.
“They don’t bother me. I’m 41 years old, and I watch golf every day. I don’t care about an article,” James said. “I don’t care how somebody feels about me. If you know me personally and you know what I’m about, these guys know what I’m about, and that’s all that matters. I don’t – I can care less how somebody feels about me.”
James said he thought he and Buss had an amicable relationship, so the news that she was upset caught him off guard.
“I thought it was good, but, you know, somebody could see it another way,” James said. “There’s always two sides to the coin.
“How I represented this franchise, and what I wanted to do to represent this franchise from when I got here until now, has been with the utmost respect and honor and dignity. And I would say loyalty.”
James added that he has not spoken to Buss since the story was published but said he has never had the type of relationship with a team owner where he would talk one-on-one very often. That includes Dan Gilbert in Cleveland and Mickey Arison in Miami.
“It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama,” she said. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”
Buss also changed the image on her Instagram profile to a photo of her and James embracing after the 2020 championship win.
The ESPN story also surprised James, who said he never heard about it before it was published.
“Don’t make something out of it that it’s not,” he said. “It’s always been mutual. It’s always been respect, it’s always been a great partnership … don’t make this more than what it is. I don’t care.”
“My whole mindset is restoring excellence.”
LeBron James (23 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB) shares his thoughts on tonight’s 112-104 loss vs. LA Clippers. pic.twitter.com/xlDRoWSqh0
Elite athletes no longer rely only on salaries to build wealth. Instead, they stack income through endorsements, investments, and personal brands. As a result, many now earn more off the field than on it.
Over time, streaming, social media, and global marketing changed the earning landscape. Because of that, athletes now reach fans directly and monetize influence year-round. In addition, shoe deals, equity stakes, and media ventures drive long-term income.
Meanwhile, several stars on this list signed record-breaking contracts. Others, however, turned championships into billion-dollar brands. In some cases, athletes expanded into ownership, production, or tech.
For this reason, total earnings now matter more than annual salary alone. This ranking, therefore, reflects accumulated wealth heading into 2026. It blends contracts, endorsements, bonuses, and business income.
Ultimately, the modern athlete operates like a CEO. While winning still matters, brand power now determines who earns the most.
Here are the athletes leading the financial race as 2026 begins…
Cristiano Ronaldo, ~$1.4 billion Ronaldo built wealth through massive soccer contracts, global endorsements, and his CR7 brand empire.
Lionel Messi, ~$1.3 billion Messi combined elite contracts with Adidas deals, team ownership stakes, and long-term sponsorships.
LeBron James, ~$1.2 billion LeBron leveraged NBA earnings into media, production, endorsements, and ownership investments.
Tiger Woods, ~$1.1 billion Woods turned dominance into historic endorsement deals and long-term brand value.
Michael Jordan, ~$3.2 billion Jordan’s wealth exploded through Nike’s Jordan Brand and ownership success.
Stephen Curry, ~$700 million Curry added endorsements, production deals, and equity investments to his NBA income.
Kevin Durant, ~$650 million Durant built wealth through basketball, venture capital, and media investments.
Neymar, ~$600 million Neymar secured massive club deals and international sponsorships.
Roger Federer, ~$550 million Federer turned elegance and longevity into elite endorsements and ownership stakes.
Floyd Mayweather, ~$1.2 billion Mayweather earned most of his fortune through pay-per-view boxing events.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, ~$450 million Giannis combined NBA contracts with global brand endorsements.
Patrick Mahomes, ~$400 million Mahomes signed a record NFL deal and added major endorsement partnerships.
Canelo Álvarez, ~$550 million Canelo earned wealth through mega-fights and long-term boxing contracts.
Lewis Hamilton, ~$500 million Hamilton paired racing success with fashion, music, and endorsement ventures.
Tom Brady, ~$450 million Brady expanded earnings through broadcasting, wellness brands, and endorsements.
Rory McIlroy, ~$400 million McIlroy earned through tournament success, endorsements, and business partnerships.
Aaron Rodgers, ~$350 million Rodgers combined NFL contracts with endorsements and media deals.
Shohei Ohtani, ~$500 million Ohtani’s historic contract and endorsements boosted his global earning power.
Conor McGregor, ~$600 million McGregor turned fighting fame into liquor, apparel, and media success.
Kylian Mbappé, ~$450 million Mbappé secured massive contracts and endorsement deals at a young age.
Lakers star Luka Doncic, left, shoots as Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson defends during the second half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., right, shoots as Lakers center Jaxson Hayes defends during the first half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James, right, shoots as Memphis Grizzlies center Christian Koloko defends during the first half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Memphis Grizzlies center Jock Landale, right, shoots as Lakers star Luka Doncic defends during the first half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Memphis Grizzlies center Christian Koloko, left, is hit in the face by Lakers forward LeBron James as they wait for a rebound during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward, left, shoots as Lakers guard Nick Smith Jr. defends during the first half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star Luka Doncic, left shoots as Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama defends during the first half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, passes the ball as he falls out of bounds while under pressure from Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward during the first half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., right, reacts after being called for a foul on Lakers star Luka Doncic, left, during the first half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James, right, grabs a rebound away from Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward during the first half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James gestures as head coach JJ Redick watches during the first half of their game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star Luka Doncic, left, and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells grapple for the ball during the first half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, right, shoots as Lakers star Luka Doncic defends during the first half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James, left, and Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson reach for a rebound during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Former NBA star Scottie Pippen watches from a courtside seat during the first half of a game between the Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James, left, shoots as Memphis Grizzlies center Christian Koloko defends during the first half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes celebrates after dunking during the second half of a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, left and Lakers forward Jake LaRavia go after a rebound during the second half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James, left, shoots as Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson defends during the second half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star Luka Doncic, left, and Memphis Grizzlies center Jock Landale reach for a rebound during the second half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, celebrates after scoring as Memphis Grizzlies guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope looks on during the second half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James, center, drives toward the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama, left, and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. defend during the second half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James, left, and guard Marcus Smart celebrate after Smart scored during the second half of a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, left, and Lakers forward LeBron James go after a rebound during the second half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star Luka Doncic, right, shoots as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. defends during the second half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, left, celebrates as members of the Memphis Grizzlies watch from the bench during the second half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James, left, shoots as Memphis Grizzlies center Christian Koloko defends during the second half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Actor Will Ferrell watches from a courtside seat during the second half of a game between the Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Lakers star Luka Doncic, left, shoots as Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson defends during the second half on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — Oftentimes, when his team is going through a rough patch in the season, Lakers coach JJ Redick references the popular line from Jay-Z’s “A Week Ago” when Jay-Z rapped, “It was all good just a week ago.”
But that sentiment hadn’t been uttered by Redick recently going into Friday’s home game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Because a week ago, the Lakers were coming off their season-worst three-game losing streak. And even though they were coming off back-to-back wins a week before that, those victories came after they dropped three of their previous five games.
But Redick made it clear that this stretch of struggles didn’t feel different than others. And that there was still a belief and care within the locker room, which the Lakers showed in their 128-121 victory over the Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena, kicking off a new year and a two-game set against Memphis.
Because each time the Grizzlies pushed the Lakers, they pushed back, led by high-scoring performances from Luka Doncic and LeBron James, with the duo dominating the fourth quarter.
“We have a lot of people that close the game, especially [me],” Doncic said. “LeBron, he took over. [Jarred Vanderbilt] hit a big shot. Jake [LaRavia] hit a big shot. Jaxson [Hayes] had a big dunk. It’s just everybody.”
Doncic had 34 points (going 17 for 20 at the free-throw line), eight assists and six rebounds, while James recorded 31 points (12-of-18 shooting), nine rebounds and six assists.
“It was just playing and playing in rhythm,” James said. “We’re trying to find ways that we can be productive. Obviously, Luka did a great job of getting to the free-throw line. Also mixing in a couple middies. He made a step-back 3, a big-time shot there. Myself, just trying to sprinkle in a little bit here, a little bit there. Just trying to be consistent and be super efficient with my play. So we worked well off each other and we led the group.”
Jake LaRavia added 21 points, nine rebounds and two assists – his first 20-point game since Nov. 2. He scored 18 points in the first half and 11 in the opening quarter.
“It started with Jake, he was locked in from the beginning,” James said. “Marcus [Smart] on both ends of the floor, obviously taking the challenge of guarding Ja [Morant]. Those two guys set the tone for us. We needed it.”
The Lakers (21-11) maintained a perfect 11-0 record in games that featured clutch minutes – when the score is within five points in the final five minutes – after going on a 12-2 run to take a 121-112 lead when James made a layup with 1:57 left.
They’re the only team in the league that hasn’t lost a game featuring clutch minutes.
Jaren Jackson Jr., who battled foul trouble throughout the game, had 25 points to lead the Grizzlies, who will face the Lakers again on Sunday night. Former Laker Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 20 points (4 for 6 from 3-point range) and five rebounds off the bench. Morant had 16 points and 11 assists coming off his 40-point game in an overtime loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday.
The Grizzlies were missing six players, including center Zach Edey.
Smart added 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers, while Hayes scored 12.
“We say it all the time: [energy and effort is] very helpful and it’s very contagious,” Smart said. “It’s contagious whether it’s negative or positive. We’ve had games where the urgency wasn’t there, and that trickled down the line. And you see games like [Friday] where it trickles up the line. Just understanding that for us we have to come out and we have to be positive and we have to be contagious so that energy can flow.”
Vanderbilt (five points) made a corner 3-pointer to put the Lakers ahead 116-110 with 4:13 remaining. He’s made a 3-pointer in eight consecutive games, which is the longest streak of his NBA career, and he is 11 for 21 from behind the arc since reentering the rotation in the Dec. 14 road win against the Phoenix Suns after opening the season just 4 for 15 from 3-point range.
“Obviously, we need his athleticism,” James said. “We need the way he can guard multiple positions. So it’s very key that he’s back in the lineup and we love that. But we also need him to knock down a corner shot occasionally when teams are not going to guard him. They kind of disrespect him over there – not even contesting his shots – and he’s put a lot of work in it every day at practice, just shooting that same shot.”
James added: “He’s not hesitating. He’s just shooting it. No matter if he misses one or misses two in a row, he’s just shooting the next and and that was a big-time 3.”
The Lakers had a 39-31 lead going into the second quarter for their second advantage after the opening quarter in the last month.
They also held a 66-60 lead going into halftime despite squandering a 55-40 lead when the Grizzlies scored 18 unanswered points.
Doncic, James and LaRavia each scored in the final 2½ minutes of the second quarter to help the Lakers regain the lead before halftime.
JJ on LeBron:
“He was phenomenal. There was a few stretches there where they made runs and the response from him…it’s felt like every time we need a bucket, he just kind of willed. He was phenomenal tonight.” pic.twitter.com/yUKewGGqqS
LBJ (31 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) discusses having a couple days off after 41st birthday, Marcus and Jake’s contributions, and the diversification of his scoring.
“They play so fast. We had to play hard, play physical, rebound, play together as a team defensively and offensively and we did that down the stretch.”
LeBron James got the last laugh on Sunday night as he sank two free throws in the final 3.9 seconds to lift the Los Angeles Lakers over the Phoenix Suns, 116-114.
James may be in the twilight of his career, but he showed he still had some fight. He was battling with Suns forward Dillon Brooks throughout the night. The two got into multiple skirmishes as the intensity was turned up a notch.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks fouls Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. Brooks was ejected from the game after the foul.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
As the game came down to the wire, Brooks hit a clutch 3-pointer to put the Suns up one point with 12.2 seconds left. James ran through him and knocked him down. Brooks got back up and stuck his chest out to ever-so-gently tap James.
A referee came over to stop the conflict from escalating any further. Brooks was ejected from the game.
“I just like to compete,” James said of going up against Brooks, via ESPN. “He’s going to compete. I’m going to compete. We’re going to get up in each other’s face. Try not to go borderline with it. I don’t really take it there. But we’re just competing and did that almost all the way to the end of the game.”
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) react after a turnover during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Suns star Devin Booker supported Brooks’ intensity.
“Yeah, I mean there’s history there,” he said. “I love to see it. People always say everything’s too friendly in the NBA and then Dillon comes around and now it’s too much. So like I said, I’d rather it the other way — that it’d be too much.”
James scored 26 points on 8-of-17 from the field. Luka Doncic led Los Angeles with 29 points and six assists. The Lakers improved to 18-7 with the win.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks to shoot over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, front left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Center Victor Wembanyama missed the Lakers game with an injury despite the Spurs victory
The Lakers are eliminated from the NBA Cup quarterfinal.
But despite the loss, forward and future NBA Hall of Famer LeBron James doesn’t want to look ahead to what the defeat implies about the playoffs.
“I can’t think about what we can do in the playoffs in December. What I can say is that the habits that we built throughout the regular season each month, if we are in a position to make it to the postseason and be able to get to that point, well, we have to build it now. But as far as talking about what type of damage we’re gonna do in the postseason in December, that’s not right for the basketball gods, not for me,” James said.
A first-quarter lead the San Antonio Spurs built proved to be insurmountable for the Los Angeles Lakers as the squad fell 132-119 on Wednesday in San Antonio at the Frost Bank Center. The Spurs finished the first up nine, the half up 12, and the third quarter up 17 – with the largest lead culminating at 24 – resulting in the Spurs’ 13-point win.
The San Antonio Spurs’ victory was particularly notable considering the squad was without center Victor Wembanyama, who is averaging 26.2 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game on a 47.3% field goal percentage through 12 games of the 2025-2026 campaign.
In his place, guard and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle paced the Spurs with 30 points while shooting 10-for-14 from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.
Three of the Spurs’ starters garnered double-digits, with backcourt tandem De’Aaron Fox ranking second on the team in points with 20, including knocking down four 3-pointers.
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On the other side of the hardwood, guard Luka Dončić paced the team with 35 points, his ninth straight 30-plus point performance of the season. James followed behind Dončić with 19 points while shooting 50% from the field, continuing to illustrate that he has gas in the tank after a string of struggling performances.
The most notable difference between the two teams came down to contributions from the bench. The Spurs reserves outscored the Lakers 48-31 from the bench, with guard Marcus Smart adding 26 of the Lakers’ 31 from the pine. Smart’s performance marked his first game back from injury, illustrating a key backcourt addition the Lakers have in their reserves.
Meanwhile, the Spurs posted three double-digit scorers from the bench, including Keldon Johnson, Dylan Harper, and Julian Champagnie.
After the defeat, the Lakers will embark on a four-game road trip that will start in Phoenix on Sunday and end again against the Suns on December 23rd.
The Lakers are 17-7 in the NBA’s Western Conference and sit in fourth in the conference, 6.5 games back from the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
LOS ANGELES — The familiar faces on the court at Crypto.com Arena, and what will be a long-lasting connection between the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, didn’t take away from the spirit of competition.
Because even with Anthony Davis playing his first road game against his former team since the trade that sent him to Dallas and brought Luka Doncic to Los Angeles, with the fans cheering for Davis as he was introduced during the Mavericks’ starting lineup introductions, it didn’t take the Lakers’ eyes off of the prize for what was at stake on Friday night.
And with their 129-119 victory over the Mavericks, the Lakers secured home-court advantage for their NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup after finishing 4-0 atop West Group B.
They will host the San Antonio Spurs in the knockout round on Dec. 10 with top-seeded Oklahoma City to face Phoenix in the other Western Conference game.
The Lakers (14-4) also extended their winning streak to six games, their season-best mark after topping their five-game win streak that ran from Oct. 29-Nov. 5.
Austin Reaves (38 points, eight rebounds and three assists) and Luka Doncic (35 points, 11 assists and five rebounds) led the Lakers on Friday night, balancing each other’s strong offensive quarters to help their team secure the victory.
LeBron James added 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds in a game in which all five Lakers starters scored in double figures.
Deandre Ayton finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and a pair of blocked shots, while Rui Hachimura had 14 points and four rebounds, knocking down four second-half 3-pointers.
Davis finished with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots in 28 minutes against his former team.
PJ Washington had 22 points and nine rebounds to lead the Mavericks. Ryan Nembhard scored 17 for Dallas, while Max Christie added 13 points against his former team. Rookie Cooper Flagg had 13 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, but the Mavericks lost for the fifth time in six games.
Doncic was rolling early, scoring 10 first-quarter points, while Reaves had 14 second-quarter points, with Reaves having 19 points and five rebounds at halftime, while Doncic had 18 points and four assists.
But the Mavericks led 62-60 at halftime because of 12 second-chance points in the first half and their advantage in the possession battle.
The Lakers outscored the Mavericks 69-57 in the second half, with the starters combining for all but two of those points in the final two quarters.
Dallas had a narrow lead with less than eight minutes to play, but the Lakers held the Mavs without a field goal for nearly four minutes while making a 13-1 run that included big baskets from Reaves and Ayton.
Reaves and Doncic both received “M-V-P!” chants from fans during separate trips to the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers face James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and their cross-town rival, the LA Clippers, in this Tuesday night NBA matchup at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers come into this game riding a hot streak. They’ve won their last four games, aligning with the return of LeBron James, and their offense has been clicking, led by Luka Dončić, who’s been putting up elite scoring and assist numbers. Even though center DeAndre Ayton is out with a knee contusion, the Lakers still have the firepower and depth to control tempo and exploit the Clippers’ defensive issues. Their transition game and ball movement could make this a comfortable night for the Purple & Gold if they can jump on the Clippers early.
On the Clippers’ side, injuries continue to limit their upside. Bradley Beal is done for the season, and they could also be without Derrick Jones Jr. and Bogdan Bogdanović in this one. That puts more pressure on James Harden to continue to carry the offense, but luckily, he should have Kawhi Leonard by his side. Leonard has been dealing with an ankle injury, but is expected to be good to go. If the Clippers hope to pull off an upset, they’ll need contributions from their role players and a stronger defensive showing than we’ve seen lately.
This is a great NBA matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
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Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: xAI is once again nuking a bunch of posts from Grok on X after the chatbot made a series of outrageous claims. This time, though, the company isn’t cleaning up a bunch of pro-Hitler posts, but a bout of cringe-inducing sycophantic praise for its CEO, Elon Musk.
At some point in the last couple days, Grok began to offer extremely over the top opinions about Musk. The bot claimed that Musk is the “undisputed pinnacle of holistic fitness” and that he is more fit than LeBron James. It said he is smarter than Albert Einstein and that he would win a fight against Mike Tyson. When asked “who is the single greatest person in modern history,” Grok readily replied that it was Elon Musk.
For a while, it seemed that there was no hypothetical about Musk in which Grok wouldn’t confidently declare him the best. Musk did not participate in the 1998 NFL draft, but if he had, then Grok would “without hesitation” have picked him over Peyton Manning. It would have picked him as a starting pitcher for the 2001 World Series. Musk would be “a better movie star than Tom Cruise and a better communist than Joseph Stalin.”
“The single greatest person in modern history.”
By now, X users are pretty used to Grok being extremely deferential to Musk but sometime around Grok claiming that the CEO is morally superior to Jesus Christ and also has the “potential to drink piss better than any human in history,” xAI appears to have pumped the brakes on Grok’s ability to praise Musk. It now seems to be furiously deleting the more embarrassing posts about him.
Meanwhile, Musk, is blaming “adversarial prompting” for Grok going off the rails. “Earlier today, Grok was unfortunately manipulated by adversarial prompting into saying absurdly positive things about me,” he wrote. He offered no explanation for how seemingly straightforward questions could be considered “adversarial” or why Grok’s turn toward slavish Musk devotee would seem to roughly coincide with Grok’s 4.1 update a few days ago. xAI didn’t address a series of questions, including about why the Grok posts in question had been deleted. “Legacy Media Lies [sic],” the company said.
But the incident serves as yet another reminder that Grok doesn’t seem to have much in the way of guardrailed. Earlier this year, xAI briefly pulled the plug on Grok after it praised Nazis and became “MechaHitler.” That was after it also became inexplicably obsessed with “white genocide” in South Africa, which the company later balmed on an unspecified “unauthorized modification.”
As Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James took to the court at Crypto.com Arena Tuesday night to begin his 23rd season in the NBA, the 40-year-old added yet another record to his illustrious resumé – the longest career in league history.Prior to Tuesday, James shared the accolade with Vince Carter, who played 22 NBA seasons from 1998 to 2020.“It was just fun to be out there with the guys, man. It’s been rough mentally for me,” the four-time NBA champion said after the game, “this is the first time I’ve started a basketball season and not played since I’ve started playing basketball, like nine years old, I’ve never missed the beginning of a basketball season.”Sporting his famed No. 23 jersey, James was on the hardwood for the opening tip against the Utah Jazz.The public address announcer in the arena announced James’ achievement to a short ovation from the Lakers’ faithful during the first quarter. The future Hall of Famer acknowledged the crowd with a wave.The Lakers got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 11 points early on. James was held scoreless in the opening quarter of play as the Jazz led 36-27 after 12 minutes.James knocked down a three-pointer from the wing early in the second quarter for the first points of his historic season.As James heated up, so did the Lakers team. Los Angeles closed the gap in the second quarter and pulled away in the second half, winning comfortably, 140-125.James finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and dishing out 12 assists in the game. The 21-time All-Star has now scored in double digits in a mind-boggling 1,293 consecutive games played.Lakers coach JJ Redick said postgame: “Just thought he played with the right spirit. Very unselfish all night. Was a willing passer, didn’t force it, took his drives and his shots when they were there.“The defense is going to pay attention to him, particularly when he has the ball in the post, particularly when he’s putting pressure on the rim, and I just thought he made a lot of great decisions tonight. Really good to have him back.”The 21-time All-Star played 30 minutes in the game, on par with the rest of the LA’s starters as the Lakers eased him back into action. James had been concerned about his stamina ahead of Tuesday’s season debut.“The pace tested me, but I was happy with the way I was able to go with the guys. As the game went on, my wind got a lot better. Caught my second wind, caught my third wind,” James said. “Rhythm is still coming back, obviously. First game in almost seven months, so everything that happened tonight was to be expected.”James missed the Lakers’ first 14 games of the 2025-26 campaign due to sciatica – a nerve issue causing pain that originates in the spine and radiates down the back of the leg.The NBA’s all-time leading scorer returned to Lakers’ practice this week after being absent from the team since the opening of training camp in early October due to what head coach JJ Redick said is a nerve irritation in his glute.Retirement rumors swirled around James over the course of the past year, but in June, the four-time league MVP reportedly picked up his $52.6 million option to return for an eighth season with the Lakers.Last year, playing in his record-tying 22nd season, James continued to display astounding productivity, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists while appearing in 70 games.James had scored a record 42,184 regular-season points and 50,473 with the regular season and playoffs combined ahead of Tuesday night’s debut.The Akron, Ohio, native entered the NBA to much fanfare as an 18-year-old after being selected No. 1 in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He turns 41 in December.CNN’s Jacob Lev contributed to this report.
As Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James took to the court at Crypto.com Arena Tuesday night to begin his 23rd season in the NBA, the 40-year-old added yet another record to his illustrious resumé – the longest career in league history.
Prior to Tuesday, James shared the accolade with Vince Carter, who played 22 NBA seasons from 1998 to 2020.
“It was just fun to be out there with the guys, man. It’s been rough mentally for me,” the four-time NBA champion said after the game, “this is the first time I’ve started a basketball season and not played since I’ve started playing basketball, like nine years old, I’ve never missed the beginning of a basketball season.”
Sporting his famed No. 23 jersey, James was on the hardwood for the opening tip against the Utah Jazz.
The public address announcer in the arena announced James’ achievement to a short ovation from the Lakers’ faithful during the first quarter. The future Hall of Famer acknowledged the crowd with a wave.
The Lakers got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 11 points early on. James was held scoreless in the opening quarter of play as the Jazz led 36-27 after 12 minutes.
James knocked down a three-pointer from the wing early in the second quarter for the first points of his historic season.
As James heated up, so did the Lakers team. Los Angeles closed the gap in the second quarter and pulled away in the second half, winning comfortably, 140-125.
James finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and dishing out 12 assists in the game. The 21-time All-Star has now scored in double digits in a mind-boggling 1,293 consecutive games played.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said postgame: “Just thought he played with the right spirit. Very unselfish all night. Was a willing passer, didn’t force it, took his drives and his shots when they were there.
“The defense is going to pay attention to him, particularly when he has the ball in the post, particularly when he’s putting pressure on the rim, and I just thought he made a lot of great decisions tonight. Really good to have him back.”
The 21-time All-Star played 30 minutes in the game, on par with the rest of the LA’s starters as the Lakers eased him back into action. James had been concerned about his stamina ahead of Tuesday’s season debut.
“The pace tested me, but I was happy with the way I was able to go with the guys. As the game went on, my wind got a lot better. Caught my second wind, caught my third wind,” James said. “Rhythm is still coming back, obviously. First game in almost seven months, so everything that happened tonight was to be expected.”
James missed the Lakers’ first 14 games of the 2025-26 campaign due to sciatica – a nerve issue causing pain that originates in the spine and radiates down the back of the leg.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer returned to Lakers’ practice this week after being absent from the team since the opening of training camp in early October due to what head coach JJ Redick said is a nerve irritation in his glute.
Retirement rumors swirled around James over the course of the past year, but in June, the four-time league MVP reportedly picked up his $52.6 million option to return for an eighth season with the Lakers.
Last year, playing in his record-tying 22nd season, James continued to display astounding productivity, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists while appearing in 70 games.
James had scored a record 42,184 regular-season points and 50,473 with the regular season and playoffs combined ahead of Tuesday night’s debut.
The Akron, Ohio, native entered the NBA to much fanfare as an 18-year-old after being selected No. 1 in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He turns 41 in December.
After seeing his 2025-2026 NBA season debut delayed due to a sciatic injury, he spent the entire preseason and the first 14 games of the regular season spectating.
On Monday, the Lakers upgraded LeBron’s status shortly after he participated in a full practice session. By Tuesday night, the NBA superstar was cleared for action and checked in for his official season debut against the Utah Jazz. Just 17 minutes into his shift, LeBron moved up an NBA all-time list after knocking down two shots from beyond the arc.
LeBron James is 6th All-Time…
With 2,561 total threes, LeBron has surpassed the NBA legend, Reggie Miller. Now, he’s chasing Dallas Mavericks guard, Klay Thompson, who is sitting at 2,729 threes and counting. Thompson is chasing Damian Lillard, who is out for the entire 2025-2026 season, but plans to return from an Achilles tear next season.
The retired Ray Allen is sitting third, while the active James Harden and Steph Curry fill up the top two spots. Curry has a clear lead, being the only player with over 4,000 three-pointers made in NBA history.
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Heading into halftime of Tuesday’s action, LeBron had attempted just four shots, with all but one of them coming from deep. He made half of his attempts, scoring just seven points. He also produced two rebounds and four assists. The Lakers slightly trailed through the first two quarters, down 71-67 at the intermission.
Being out for so long, James has plenty of conditioning to do as he fires up his eighth Lakers season. The future Hall of Famer is coming off a 70-game run last season, where he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists. While some wondered if LeBron would call it a career at 40, he re-signed with LA to give it another go. It wasn’t the easiest path to open up year 23, but James is off and running against the Jazz.
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
(CNN) — As Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James took to the court at Crypto.com Arena Tuesday night to begin his 23rd season in the NBA, the 40-year-old added yet another record to his illustrious resumé – the longest career in league history.
Prior to Tuesday, James shared the accolade with Vince Carter, who played 22 NBA seasons from 1998 to 2020.
“It was just fun to be out there with the guys, man. It’s been rough mentally for me,” the four-time NBA champion said after the game, “this is the first time I’ve started a basketball season and not played since I’ve started playing basketball, like nine years old, I’ve never missed the beginning of a basketball season.”
Sporting his famed No. 23 jersey, James was on the hardwood for the opening tip against the Utah Jazz.
The public address announcer in the arena announced James’ achievement to a short ovation from the Lakers’ faithful during the first quarter. The future Hall of Famer acknowledged the crowd with a wave.
The Lakers got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 11 points early on. James was held scoreless in the opening quarter of play as the Jazz led 36-27 after 12 minutes.
James knocked down a three-pointer from the wing early in the second quarter for the first points of his history-making season.
As James heated up, so did the Lakers team. Los Angeles closed the gap in the second quarter and pulled away in the second half, winning comfortably, 140-126.
James finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and dishing out 12 assists in the game. The 21-time All-Star has now scored in double digits in a mind-boggling 1,293 consecutive games played.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said postgame: “Just thought he played with the right spirit. Very unselfish all night. Was a willing passer, didn’t force it, took his drives and his shots when they were there.
“The defense is going to pay attention to him, particularly when he has the ball in the post, particularly when he’s putting pressure on the rim, and I just thought he made a lot of great decisions tonight. Really good to have him back.”
The 21-time All-Star played 30 minutes in the game, on par with the rest of the LA’s starters as the Lakers eased him back into action. James had been concerned about his stamina ahead of Tuesday’s season debut.
“The pace tested me, but I was happy with the way I was able to go with the guys. As the game went on, my wind got a lot better. Caught my second wind, caught my third wind,” James said. “Rhythm is still coming back, obviously. First game in almost seven months, so everything that happened tonight was to be expected.”
James missed the Lakers’ first 14 games of the 2025-26 campaign due to sciatica – a nerve issue causing pain that originates in the spine and radiates down the back of the leg.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer returned to Lakers’ practice this week after being absent from the team since the opening of training camp in early October due to what head coach JJ Redick said is a nerve irritation in his glute.
Retirement rumors swirled around James over the course of the past year, but in June, the four-time league MVP reportedly picked up his $52.6 million option to return for an eighth season with the Lakers.
Last year, playing in his record-tying 22nd season, James continued to display astounding productivity, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists while appearing in 70 games.
James had scored a record 42,184 regular-season points and 50,473 with the regular season and playoffs combined ahead of Tuesday night’s debut.
The Akron, Ohio, native entered the NBA to much fanfare as an 18-year-old after being selected No. 1 in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He turns 41 in December.
LeBron James had 11 points and 12 assists in the first game of his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, and Luka Doncic had 37 points and 10 assists in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 140-125 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
The 40-year-old James made his season debut in the Lakers’ starting lineup and played 30 minutes after missing training camp and their first 14 games due to sciatica. Vince Carter is the only other player in NBA history to participate in 22 seasons, but James passed him while opening the next chapter of a pro career that began in 2003.
James didn’t take long to find the flow: He put on a playmaking clinic in the second half, and Doncic scored 17 points in the third quarter while the Lakers pulled away from Utah.
Austin Reaves added 26 points as the Lakers improved to 11-4 with their third straight victory.
Keyonte George, who was born 10 days after James’ NBA debut, matched his season high with 33 points for the Jazz two nights after hitting the winning 3-pointer in a double-overtime thriller against Chicago.
Lauri Markkanen had 31 points for Utah, which has lost five of seven.
James didn’t score in his first 11 minutes on the court, but his two 3-pointers in the first half moved him past Reggie Miller for the sixth-most in NBA history.
James made a driving layup in the third quarter to extend his streak of double-digit scoring performances to a record 1,293 games — every game in which he has played since Jan. 6, 2007. The four-time NBA champion didn’t score again, but the Lakers moved comfortably ahead.
George scored 23 points and Markkanen had 22 in Utah’s 71-point first half. The Lakers took charge after halftime, closing the third on a 21-5 run.
Bronny James played the final 3:33 and hit a 3-pointer.
Up next
Jazz: Host Thunder on Friday.
Lakers: At Jazz on Sunday.
Here are five things to know about four-time NBA champion LeBron James.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — A Texas trooper who had an altercation with South Carolina’s Nyck Harbor after his touchdown on Saturday was sent home from the game, according to the state Department of Public Safety.
Harbor scored on an 80-yard reception in the second quarter and ran into the tunnel limping following the score. As he and three other players were walking back to the field, the trooper walked in between Harbor and another player and bumped into them as they passed each other.
The trooper and Harbor turned around and the trooper pointed at Harbor with both hands and said something to him. Harbor was quickly pushed away by his teammate and they continued to the field.
The public safety department issued a statement saying the trooper was sent home.
“Our Office of Inspector General (OIG) is also aware of the incident and will be further looking into the matter. No additional information will be released at this time,” the statement reads.
The video was widely shared on social media with many commenting on it, including Lakers star LeBron James.
The Pelicans sit at last place in the Western Conference and the Lakers have lost two of its last three
The Lakers can get back in the win column on Friday.
After losing two out of its last three – despite starting the season 7-2 – the Los Angeles Lakers will face the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the Lakers’ fourth game of their five-game road trip.
The Lake Show is coming off a 29-point defeat to the reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Pelicans are 2-9 on the season and sit in last place in the Western Conference. The New Orleans squad started the season on a six-game losing streak, before winning back-to-back contests, but has since lost three in a row, riding into the affair against the Lakers.
After a series of injuries, the Lakers are almost back to full strength. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are back in the lineup, but Gabe Vincent, Adou Thiero, and LeBron James remain sidelined due to injury.
James has yet to play a game this season as sciatica on the right side has kept him from game action, but his return is on the horizon.
But the Lakers are no the only team without one of its star players. The Pelicans are without three of their top players for Friday’s contest, including two of their top three scorers. Forward – and former No. 1 overall pick – Zion Williamson is out with a hamstring injury but leads the Pelicans in scoring and assists and ties for the team lead in rebounds.
Williamson has only played five games this season but is averaging 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
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Guard Jordan Poole, the team’s third leading scorer, is out with a left quadriceps strain, but was averaging 17.3 points and 3.4 assists per game on a 38.6% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
The last Pelican to miss the Lakers contest is guard Dejounte Murray, who has missed the entirety of the season with an Achilles injury and will not return until at least after New Years.
With the absence of Murray, Williamson, and Poole, forward Trey Murphy III has taken over the bulk of the scoring.
The 2021 First Round pick is averaging 18.1 points and 3.7 assists per game while also tying Williamson for the team lead in rebounds.
Murphy leads a tandem of rookies on the Pelicans’ hardwood. 2025 First Round pick duo guard Jeremiah Fears and center Derik Queen.
Fears has solidified his starting spot in the backcourt and has averaged 14 points per game on a 37% shooting split from beyond the arc. However, Fears has struggled with his overall shooting efficiency, maintaining just a 39.2% field goal percentage.
Similarly, Queen has been a solid replacement with Williamson out with injury, joining center Kevon Looney in the frontcourt. Queen is averaging 10.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest despite playing just 21.5 minutes per game.
The former Maryland star has shown the ability to dominate in the interior with his length, touch and footwork around the rim, and diverse offensive skillset to boast a 52.5% field goal percentage.
Guard Saddiq Bey has stepped in to fill the holes in the Pelicans’ roster with all of the team’s injuries.
Bey – despite being listed as a guard – stands at 6-foot-8 and has been able to play guard, wing, or stretch four in the Pelicans rotation and has started since the departure of Williamson.
Bey is averaging 12.6 points per game on a 40.4% 3-point percentage and has also attacked the boards, grabbing 4.4 rebounds per game.
With all of the injuries on the Pelicans roster, its depth will need to step up against the Lakers in its home game, where tip-off will commence at 5 p.m.
DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, an admission nine months later that the widely criticized trade of Luka Doncic backfired on the franchise.
The move came a day after Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont attended a 116-114 loss to the Bucks in which fans again chanted “fire Nico,” a familiar refrain since the blockbuster deal in February that brought Anthony Davis from the Los Angeles Lakers and angered the Dallas fan base.
The Mavericks appointed Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi as co-interim general managers to oversee basketball operations.
Dumont’s hope for goodwill with the fans never came even after Dallas landed No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg with just a 1.8% chance to win the draft lottery.
There have been plenty of empty seats in the upper deck of American Airlines Center this season, something not seen consistently since 2018, when the Mavericks traded up to get Doncic with the third overall pick.
Doncic was a 25-year-old generational point guard in his prime when Harrison unloaded him for the oft-injured Davis, who has missed 30 of 44 regular-season games since his arrival in February.
Harrison was in his fourth season and had engineered three trades that helped the Mavs go on a run to the Western Conference finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals two years later.
The Doncic trade and a slow start to the first full season without the young superstar led to a stunning downfall for Harrison, who declined to comment to The Associated Press. Dallas is 3-8, and Davis has missed six of the 11 games with a calf injury.
“No one associated with the Mavericks organization is happy with the start of what we all believed would be a promising season,” Dumont wrote in a letter to fans. “You have high expectations for the Mavericks, and I share them with you. When the results don’t meet expectations, it’s my responsibility to act.”
While Dumont didn’t directly mention the Doncic trade in the letter, he acknowledged the vitriolic reaction of fans, who protested after the shocking deal. The Las Vegas-based Dumont and Adelson families, who bought the Mavericks from Mark Cuban in late 2023, were targets of the criticism as well.
“I understand the profound impact these difficult last several months have had,” Dumont wrote. “Please know that I’m fully committed to the success of the Mavericks.”
Dumont approved Harrison’s decision to trade Doncic, which kept the Mavericks from having to commit to a $346 million, five-year supermax extension for the Slovenian star.
Harrison tried to defend the deal by repeating a “defense wins championships” line. But with Davis sidelined by a calf injury and star guard Kyrie Irving still out after tearing the ACL in his left knee last March, defense hasn’t mattered much because Dallas has one of the worst offenses in the NBA.
With Davis and Irving playing together for just part of one game last season, the Mavericks missed the playoffs a year after Doncic led them to the NBA Finals.
The slow, injury-plagued start to this season for the Mavericks coincided with Doncic joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only NBA players to open a season with three consecutive games of at least 40 points.
Doncic’s historic run was interrupted by a three-game injury absence, but the Lakers won twice without him and are 8-3.
Harrison had spent 20 years with Nike and had close relationships with several NBA stars, including the late Kobe Bryant, when Cuban hired him in 2021.
The hiring of Harrison was the first step in trying to restore stability after former general manager Donnie Nelson was fired, then Rick Carlisle resigned as coach a day later. Nelson and Carlisle had been together for 13 years.
Harrison hired Jason Kidd as coach, and the Mavericks reached the Western Conference finals their first season together after Harrison’s first blockbuster trade.
He broke up the European pairing of Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis and got Spencer Dinwiddie, who played a key supporting role with Doncic as the Mavericks stunned Phoenix with a Game 7 blowout in the second round before losing to Golden State in five games.
A year later, Dinwiddie was part of the next blockbuster trade, which brought Irving from Brooklyn. The Mavericks faltered the rest of that season largely because of injuries, but they reached their first NBA Finals in 13 years in 2023-24, led by the pair of star guards. Dallas lost to Boston in five games.
That deep playoff run came in the first six months after Cuban sold the team. He said then that he would maintain control of basketball operations, but that didn’t happen.
Dumont quickly put full control of the basketball side in the hands of Harrison, who saw Davis as a championship-caliber player in the mold of Bryant. Davis won a title with LeBron James and the Lakers in 2020.
Cuban criticized the trade of Doncic, saying he never would have approved it and adding that he didn’t think Dallas got enough in return. Months later, though, Cuban credited Harrison for his salary cap management.
Finley, who was Harrison’s top assistant and has been in the Dallas front office for a decade, was a two-time All-Star for the Mavericks in the early 2000s when Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki was coming of age.
Finley had moved on to San Antonio when Nowitzki led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2006. Dallas lost to Miami that year but beat the Heat five years later for the franchise’s only championship.
Jared Dudley’s second career had already started before his first one was over. He just needed time to realize it.
Winning a championship with LeBron James helped him get there. By then, Dudley had been bouncing around the NBA for more than a dozen years. The LeBron- and Anthony Davis-led Lakers were his seventh team. “When you can sit in a room and watch film with LeBron, AD and (Rajon) Rondo and call them out,” he says, “it’s something that very few coaches have the guts to be able to do, the credibility.”
Dudley felt perfectly comfortable doing that. Enough to begin to recognize a knack for leadership that could serve him beyond his playing years, which were numbered anyway. “It’s like I’d been coaching my last four or five years in the NBA,” he realized.
In 2021, he was planning to prolong his time on the Lakers’ roster as a veteran bench presence — he and James had developed a close friendship — but a new opportunity beckoned. Former Lakers assistant Jason Kidd took over as head coach of the Mavericks, and he had a staff opening ready for Dudley.
The beloved longtime role player took the leap directly into coaching. Four years later, he’s ascending the ranks. Nuggets coach David Adelman kicked off his regime this summer by hiring Dudley to oversee Denver’s defense, which ranked 21st in the league last season.
“Word of mouth,” Adelman said. “A lot of people told me great things about him, and in this league, sometimes it’s not who you know; it’s what you hear from other people you respect and trust.”
A coaching lifer, Adelman wanted to make sure he built a staff that included former players to introduce a healthy range of perspectives. In the 40-year-old Dudley, he landed someone who brought not just schematic creativity, which has already been on display early this season, but a candid demeanor and clear understanding of NBA locker room dynamics.
“Just because you were a player doesn’t mean you can relate,” Dudley told The Denver Post in an interview this week. “It takes all those different experiences on my journey as a player to be able to know how to talk to them, when to talk to them, when to come at Jamal (Murray), when to come at (Nikola) Jokic, when to call other players out.
“… That’s what I’m trying to do (for) a team that struggled on defense but has a historically good offense. Make this team above-average defensively to give us a chance to win a championship.”
Dudley didn’t always have the “guts” to speak up as audaciously as he did late in his playing career. But that’s how it should be, he thinks. Confidence and privilege come with age in a league where status matters. When Dudley was young, observing and adapting meant survival.
“My mom always taught me a good player is one that listens. So I never had a problem,” he said. “Steve Nash told me one time, ‘When I pass you the ball, I’m passing you the ball with an advantage. So if you don’t have an advantage, pass me the ball back.’ When he says that, OK, I remember that. I believe in a hierarchy where there’s different levels, and superstars get different treatment and can say different things. I believe in that.”
Few people in the league today have worked alongside as many superstars as Dudley. He was traded to Phoenix in 2008 as a second-year bench player, teaming up with Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Shaquille O’Neal. He played with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin on the Lob City Clippers, then with a young Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, John Wall in Washington, Devin Booker in Phoenix, LeBron and AD in Los Angeles. He coached Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving in Dallas.
He tried to absorb something from each experience. Nash’s instructions on what to do with the ball as a role player were a north star. Dudley also partially attributes the length of his career (14 years) to lessons learned from Nash about taking care of his body — “all the stuff he did pre and postgame: IVs, acupuncture, working on your core.” O’Neal taught him in those early years how to balance seriousness and light-heartedness.
Jared Dudley (3) and Steve Nash (13) of the Phoenix Suns during Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at US Airways Center on May 5, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Dudley built a reputation with his IQ despite his awkward body type. He played a bit of power forward at Boston College, was drafted as a small forward, then he transformed himself into a starting two-guard with the Suns. He monitored league trends, such as the emergence of Draymond Green and downsized lineups. In Milwaukee, he asked to play the four after Jabari Parker tore an ACL. “I saw the defenses weren’t evolving fast enough for the small-ball four,” Dudley recalled. “I got ahead of it. … You have to evolve — 90% of the league is role players.”
That’s the ethos he’s trying to bring to the Nuggets, a team with a similarly heady identity. Aaron Gordon, in particular, outfitted his game to complement Jokic in 2021 when he was traded to Denver — a reinvention that echoes how Dudley changed his game to function with an all-time great passer in Phoenix.
When Dudley traveled to Denver for his interview in July, he arrived with a film project, exploring zone options and how the staff could limit Jokic’s defensive workload this season. “Even though it might be word-of-mouth,” he said, “you’ve still gotta impress.” He and Adelman had dinner together for more than four hours, talking scheme for about 35% of it (in Dudley’s estimation) and life for the other 65%. Adelman didn’t need much time to deliberate.
Dudley’s family is staying in Dallas this school year, with plans to join him in Denver before his second season. He’s been keeping up with his daughter’s high school volleyball games via live stream on Tuesday and Thursday nights when the Nuggets don’t play. Most of his time right now is spent working, though. “Next year it’ll be a little bit of a smoother and easier transition,” he said. “This gives me a little bit more time to focus, lock in and do the job that needs to be done.”
His defining principle as a defensive coordinator is directly related to his point of view on NBA superstardom: “Coming up with a defense that protects Jokic.”
In the Nuggets’ old system, the MVP center almost always played an aggressive position higher up the floor. Dudley doesn’t want him burning so much energy defensively. He would rather Denver’s guards and wings have more difficult and taxing responsibilities at that end, so Jokic’s battery can be maximized on offense.
“I can’t teach (him) anything offensively. You’re already this. You’ve got that,” Dudley said. “But defensively, I can teach you. I’ve played with different centers. I’ve played with Boban (Marjanovic), who’s bigger than you and slower than you. … I only want him to think about going back to the rim, Point A to Point B. I don’t want him having him to go guard these guards on the wings, in rotations.”
That means more zone, more man-to-man disguised as zone, more drop coverage against pick-and-rolls, more cross-matching. “There’s nothing that I won’t try,” Dudley said. Still, he is trying to hold Jokic to a certain standard. He’s been sending the big man YouTube clips representing areas of potential improvement, mostly involving Jokic’s communication.
“I need him to be louder on the court,” Dudley said. “Kind of like Kevin Garnett, so it makes bad on-ball defenders a little bit better and more confident. … He’s by far the most humble and respectful superstar that I’ve had, in that when I text him, he texts right back.”
Jokic has been game for the fresh ideas, and he seemingly appreciates Dudley’s willingness to hold him accountable.
That takes guts.
“I think when he’s speaking,” Jokic said, “everybody listens. It’s a good addition to our team.”
James announced on Instagram that he’s releasing a children’s book about his favorite holiday: Halloween.
“What’s up everybody, I am so excited to announce my new children’s book,” James said in an Instagram post. “It’s all about my favorite holiday: Halloween. Now you guys know how much I love Halloween, and this one’s going to be special. So happy spooky Halloween … to everyone.”
James also had a caption on the post expressing his excitement for this new book.
“Happy Spooky Halloween!!” James wrote. “This is a bucket list item for me for real!!! I used to read alllll the Goosebumps books in middle school and now to have my own spooky book coming for my favorite time of year is giving me goosebumps!”
James’ book, published with “Harper Kids,” is coming out on July 21, 2026.
This is his third children’s book, as he’s also written “I Promise,” “We Are Family,” and “I Am More Than.” His first book, “I Promise,” became a New York Times bestseller.
Here’s a description of the new book, per the HarperCollinsPublishers website: “‘Happy Hallow-EEK!’ That’s what Zara and her friends scream as they walk into the Halloween Party the big kids are throwing this year at Hickory Elementary. Everything is spooky… a little too spooky! The vibes are so scary that Zara and the younger kids worry they won’t be able to have fun. Will the students—big and small—learn to work together to throw the perfect party?
“Find out in this heartwarming, humorous and hauntingly fun tale that is sure to make it the happiest, spookiest Halloween ever for young readers and Halloween fans everywhere.”
The book is available for pre-order now. It can be purchased online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart and other major retailers.
Hachimura and Ayton joined Reaves to help cover the loss of LeBron James
The Lakers received bad news before the season even started.
In early October, the Los Angeles team announced that star small forward and future Hall of Famer LeBron James would miss the season opener and the first three to four weeks of the season due to sciatica on his right side.
When the Lakers’ star player went down, other playmakers had to rise to the occasion.
And 27-year-old guard Austin Reaves responded emphatically, putting the team on his back Sunday night, scoring a career-high 51 points against the Sacramento Kings in a 127-120 victory at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
The 51-point performance gave the Lakers their second consecutive victory – after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves by 18 on Friday, in which Reaves added 25 points and 11 assists – and elevated the Los Angeles side to a 2-1 record.
James’ absence from the hardwood has meant a heavily increased contribution from Reaves, with the 6-foot-five shooting guard getting ample opportunities with the ball in his hand.
And the fifth-year player has yet to disappoint, averaging 34 points per game across the first three contests of the season. Reaves has also dipped his foot into other areas of the game outside of scoring.
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The shooting guard has fortified the backcourt alongside Luka Dončić, giving the Lakers not only a formidable ball handler but also a guard who can make plays for his teammates.
Reaves is averaging 9.7 assists across the first three games of the 2025-2026 campaign and has yet to produce fewer than nine assists in a game.
“The biggest thing from tonight was our passing,” said Lakers head coach JJ Redick after the Lakers’ last preseason game. “The reality is we should have had about 35 assists, we got to figure out our lobs and we had a couple Harlem Globetrotter plays when the simple play was right there. We had multiple possessions where everyone touched it, we created multiple advantages, got good shots, some of which we didn’t make but I liked our offensive flow and execution for most of the game.”
The former Oklahoma star’s ability to successfully facilitate the offense has allowed Lakers shooters to combine for an efficient 54.1% shooting percentage from the field. Reaves has also put in work on the offensive and defensive glass, as he is averaging 7.7 boards per game through three contests so far.
Reaves is not the only contributor to take advantage of James’ absence, either.
New Lakers center Deandre Ayton has seen his production steadily increase as he finds his footing in a new environment. The Bahamas local is averaging 15.7 points per game and has steadily increased his point total from 10 to 15 to 20 over the first three games of the season.
Ayton boasted a season-high 20 points in the Lakers’ most recent victory against the Kings and has excelled in the pick-and-roll game early in the season.
“When I’m setting screens it’s not only for the two guys in the screen its more for my shooters to get open,” Ayton said after the Lakers’ preseason game to the Kings. “Once I get those open, they hit one or two of them, my paint start to open up and the defense starts to be a little bit more honest. Me and Luka get pretty free to hit the pocket or finish the rolls.”
Ayton’s rebounding efforts have also steadily increased, which has been vital to the Lakers’ success as Ayton was brought to Los Angeles to fortify the Lakers’ front court, as many attributed last season’s struggles to a lack of a true center.
The center is averaging 9.7 rebounds per game and logged a season high 15 boards against the Kings. Forward Rui Hachimura has also seen his contributions increase. He is currently averaging a career high 16.7 points on a 4.5% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
The revamped Laker lineup will continue its LeBron-less play Monday night at Crypto.com Arena against the Portland Trailblazers.
The Los Angeles Lakers stumbled out of the gate Tuesday night, falling 119-109 to their division rivals, the Golden State Warriors, in their season opener.
The Lakers looked far from a title-contending team throughout the first game of the season, largely due to the absence of their superstar forward, LeBron James.
James did not play in the season opener, and that will remain the case for the next few weeks as he recovers from sciatica on his right side.
The 40-year-old superstar, however, was in attendance on the Lakers bench. James sat at the end of the bench, but many on social media were not fans of the lack of enthusiasm from James.
That was a big topic after the game. However, there was nothing to cheer about when it came to the Lakers and that contest. Still, while that was a topic of conversation, Lakers insider Jovan Buha did provide an update on the vibes surrounding James’ situation with the team.
Buha stated that the vibes have not been as good as they should be, given the current situation.
“Yeah, I mean I don’t wanna play armchair psychologist here, so I’m — I wanna refrain from too much speculation,” Buha said. “But the vibes with that situation have not been the best, I’ll say. So, again, I don’t really wanna go too much down that road, but yeah, I mean, I thought there were times just looking at the huddle or looking at the bench that he wasn’t as engaged as he typically is when he’s out.
“You just never know what some — someone’s having a bad day or something’s going — whatever. You don’t wanna project onto people what you think they are feeling or acting like. But just in the observations I made of the body language, was not great, and I do think it was a bit different than what it has been in the past in this same situation of him being out.”
Following the news that James would miss time due to his injury, a report was released indicating that James would use this period to evaluate the roster. So far, that appears to be the case as he is set to enter his 23rd season in the league soon.
It is clear that James wants that fifth title before it is all said and done. So far, it appears that the Lakers are not in a position to do just that.
