Lakers

2022 - 10 - 31

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Deadspin"

The feel-good story of a sports Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers? (Deadspin)

Once the Bills were done pounding the Packers, the Lakers looked pretty good in their first win of the season.

If they lose two more in a row the jokes will return, but for one night the Lakers got to feel good about themselves. Perhaps the best sight of the game was Westbrook interacting with the Crypto.com crowd that has been hard on him for much of 2022. Austin Reaves was +15 in 27 minutes on the floor and scored some of the biggest baskets of the game late in the third and early in the fourth quarter. got the start and went 4-8 from the field in 26 minutes and grabbed six rebounds. Russell Westbrook got benched in the fourth quarter and within hours of the game’s conclusion, it was leaked that the move had the full support of management. However, it became clear in January, when both of them were on the court around the time of the All-Star break, that the Lakers would not be a team of any importance come postseason time.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CNN"

LeBron James stars as the LA Lakers end their miserable start to the ... (CNN)

The win, inspired by top scoring performances from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, ends a disappointing run of five consecutive defeats. “Tonight, we needed to ...

And tonight was that night to see guys making shots, competing, and that’s all you can ask for.” “One day, I feel great. “Tonight, we needed to prove something to ourselves. “It’s day by day,” Davis said on his recovery. Not to the world, not to the media, to ourselves,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham told reporters. [Los Angeles Lakers ](http://www.cnn.com/2022/10/29/sport/la-lakers-lebron-james-timberwolves-spt-intl/index.html)won their first game of the new [NBA](http://www.cnn.com/2022/10/31/sport/kyrie-irving-brooklyn-nets-antisemitic-movie-spt-intl/index.html) season after beating the [Denver Nuggets](http://www.cnn.com/2022/10/27/sport/denver-nuggets-la-lakers-nikola-jokic-nba-spt-intl/index.html) 121-110 on Sunday.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Los Angeles Times"

Lakers-Nuggets takeaways: How L.A. finally got a win (Los Angeles Times)

The Lakers finally get their first win of the season under first-year coach Darvin Ham. Here are three takeaways from the victory Sunday night.

Ham added: “It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of and I’m just happy that I was the one that was chosen. We deserve it, he deserves it and it was good to get him his first win as a head coach. We had to penetrate and guys were kicking out, and guys were stepping into their shots. 2) Westbrook had the basketball while behind the three-point line, with Denver’s Bruce Brown several feet away from the Lakers’ guard, daring him to shoot. He made a speech and it was like, ‘All right coach, we don’t care what you’re saying,’ and then we drowned him with water.” I’m the face, I’m the leader but we have a phenomenal staff …” Ham got his first coaching job in the NBA as an assistant with the Lakers in 2011. And that’s kinda why we also feeling the way that we was feeling before tonight. It’s a beautiful time and I’m just looking forward to more. He said he would go home “as a coach and you’re beating yourself up.” “So, hopefully we can string a few of these together and just keep growing and learning and growing and learning. … We couldn’t be as organized as we are without …

Post cover
Image courtesy of "ESPN"

Myles Turner - Lakers should take 'hard look' at potential trade with ... (ESPN)

Myles Turner told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Lakers should take a "very hard look" at a potential trade with Indiana that would land the center in ...

People are going to expect you to go out there and hold on to that legacy that the Lakers have built over the years." When you are doing great, you are going to get a lot of love, especially with the love that the Lakers get. "I just feel like here in the Midwest we don't get the love that I think we deserve. "I know what I can provide for a team -- my leadership, my shot-blocking, my 3-point ability and just my ability to make plays out there on the floor. It's just one of those things; when you are out there, you got to perform. But as far as pulling the trigger, I get paid to shoot. And with only role players available to play center, Turner, a 26-year-old center in his eighth season with Indiana, has career averages of 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, while shooting 34.9% from 3. Full audio of Pacers center Myles Turner on The Woj Pod:— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) When you are doing bad, you're going to hear about it. "I think that another aspect that is [appealing is] playing with greatness and playing under LeBron. ... It doesn't get taken on the national level," Turner said.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "SB Nation"

Myles Turner argued why Lakers should trade for him on Woj's ... (SB Nation)

The biggest trade rumor of the NBA season so far has been a proposed deal that would send Myles Turner and Buddy Hield to the Los Angeles Lakers and Russell ...

Turner also talked about trying to stay healthy this season — he started the year with an ankle injury — and what it’s like going into the final year of his contract with Indiana. When you are doing great you are going to get a lot of love, especially with the love that Lakers get. People are going expect you to go out there and hold on to that legacy that Lakers have built over the years.” You are under the microscope out there at the West, when you are doing bad you going to hear about it. “If I’m the Lakers, I take a very hard look at this with the position that you’re in,” Turner said. The trade was [supposedly at the ‘one-yard line’ over the offseason](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/10/4/23388372/nba-trade-rumors-russell-westbrook-buddy-hield-myles-turner-lakers-pacers-report), but the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement with Indiana asking for the Lakers’ first round picks in both 2027 and 2029.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "SB Nation"

The Lakers celebrated their first win like a championship after 0-5 start (SB Nation)

The Los Angeles Lakers' winless start has been the biggest story of the new NBA season so far. The Lakers dropped their first five games until finally ...

Can the Lakers go on a little hot streak right now? He finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in the win, and was +18 when he was on the court. Lakers players were amped for Ham after the game. At the same time, it’s pretty funny that the Lakers celebrated an Oct. The Lakers were winless longer than any team in the NBA to start the season. [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com)’ winless start has been the biggest story of the new NBA season so far.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Athletic"

Lakers turning point? Why Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis ... (The Athletic)

The Lakers finally got their first W of the season and are seeing what they need to out of AD and Russ. But there's more work to be done.

[NBA](https://theathletic.com/nba/) in 2022, as the Lakers have learned early in this season. “Not to the world. Not to the media. Davis and Westbrook, two of the most criticized stars in the league, are typically less so. Ham said Davis doesn’t need to be a “hero” for the team. I want him to be the AD that we all know he can be on that championship run. He screamed as he sauntered back down the floor, and Ham nearly subbed But Westbrook’s shift to the bench two games ago has yielded a much better version of him — and the Lakers — and the relationship with fans is beginning to thaw. And everything, all of the blame, was placed on him.” The moment signified the recent sacrifices Westbrook and Davis have both made in an attempt to save the Lakers’ season. There was an extra oomph behind the cheers for Davis, who was clearly laboring and pouring out everything he had on the hardwood. Westbrook played a pivotal role in the Lakers’ win, posting 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in 32 minutes off the bench.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Sports Illustrated"

Lakers News: NBA Twitter Clowns Lakers And Their Fans After First ... (Sports Illustrated)

Your Los Angeles Lakers and their gathered Crypto.com Arena fans went ballistic after L.A. managed to secure its first regular season win of the year last ...

The easiest path forward for Los Angeles to shut up the haters is to keep winning, of course. Whether or not ex-Laker Brandon Ingram, still in the league's concussion protocols, becomes available to suit up could have a big impact on how high L.A. clowning we could find in the cold hard light of day, where the grim reality that the team is still just 1-5 and is paying a bench player $47.1 million remains sad but true.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Los Angeles Times"

Hernández: Lakers' big problem with first win: Anthony Davis' aching ... (Los Angeles Times)

Who could have imagined this, Russell Westbrook checking back into the game in the fourth quarter and the Crypto.com Arena crowd breaking out in delirious ...

The way Davis jogged and contorted his face after that play made clear that his back was bothering him. He went up again, this time converting a basket that extended the Lakers’ lead to nine points. Seventy-six more games remain on the schedule. I did take Minnesota’s game [off] and the next day to kind of do everything I can to make sure I was able to play tonight. He finished the game. “There’s going to be a time where once you find out that you can’t injure yourself any further,” Ham said. The question isn’t whether Davis will experience discomfort. The arena was rocking as the Lakers started to take on the blue-collared identity envisioned by first-year coach Darvin Ham. Here are three takeaways from the victory Sunday night. The shot missed. Davis played in just 40 games last season. “I’m in a great space mentally,” Davis said.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Blazer's Edge"

Myles Turner to LA Lakers? Pacers Center Pleads Case For Trade (Blazer's Edge)

Myles Turner, once a Portland Trail Blazers rumored trade target, wants to force his way to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Turner would help the 21st defense in points in the paint, and add such an energy boost to a Blazers squad that looks like they could exceed expectations this season. While Westbrook satisfies half of the requirement with effort on the defensive end, his 20 percent shooting from distance is simply killing a Lakers squad already devoid of shooting. What they need most are 3-and-D players who can bury the long ball in a variety of ways. It seems the big man is ready to update his resume with a new franchise, and has done much to advocate for himself, and tune up his proverbial cover letter. “If I’m the Lakers, I take a very hard look at this, with the position that you’re in,” Turner said succinctly. This included whether or not the Lakers should concede two picks in a deal for him, featuring Russell Westbrook:

Post cover
Image courtesy of "ClutchPoints"

Lakers' Anthony Davis sends strong message to Russell Westbrook (ClutchPoints)

Russell Westbrook had his best game of the season on Sunday, as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers to a 121-110 win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

Westbrook had a smile on his face throughout the Nuggets game, which also happened to be the Lakers’ first win of the season. “To be a player of his caliber and asked to come off the bench is truly a guy who will do whatever the team asks. Russell Westbrook had his best game of the season on Sunday, as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers to a 121-110 win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Sports Illustrated"

Lakers: Pau Gasol Talks George Mikan's Legacy And Kobe Bryant (Sports Illustrated)

Former Minneapolis Lakers All-Star center George Mikan was honored yesterday, when his No. 99 jersey was retired by your Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the ...

Given his achievements both in the league and on the international stage (he was a three-time Olympic medallist with Team Spain, including two silvers), he seems like a shoo-in for the Basketball Hall of Fame. That's just how it is and that's just how we gotta keep going forward: with love and support." The relationship with Vanessa and the girls is extremely close, we're family. One of the greatest big men of all time." 42 jersey is, of course, already up in the rafters, too. Here's a clip of the actual unveiling of Mikan's jersey in the rafters along with other Lakers luminaries, with footage of the 6'10" big man's sons watching the process next to former Showtime Laker James Worthy.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Bleacher Report"

If Myles Turner Wants a Trade, What Are the Lakers Waiting For? (Bleacher Report)

While the Los Angeles Lakers were celebrating their first victory of the season and the start of the Russell Westbrook campaign for "Sixth Man of the Year," ...

"As far as pulling the trigger, I get paid to shoot, not to make these calls," Turner said. Are the Pacers the solution? "I like the idea of [the Lakers] having someone else to deal with the bigger players in the league, let A.D. In his conversation with Wojnarowski, Turner certainly sounded like he wanted to be a Laker. "I don't like what I've seen from A.D.," the executive said. "They have to find their way out of it." The Lakers have also made a change, with head coach Darvin Ham relegating Westbrook to the bench. From the Lakers' point of view, the team needs to win around 35 games to make the play-in. There's plenty of time to make an intelligent decision that doesn't necessarily hamper the team's future. For one, the Lakers lost their first five games. "If I'm the Lakers, I take a very hard look at this with the position that you're in. With prior obligations to the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles can only outright trade their 2027 and 2029 firsts and, in doing so, will tie up its first-round picks through 2031 because of the Stepien Rule.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Sports Illustrated"

Lakers News: Can Russell Westbrook Keep Up The Good Vibes As ... (Sports Illustrated)

Russell Westbrook stepping down to a reserve role helped notched the Lakers first win of the season.

Westbrook has accomplished much in his Hall of Fame career and the final accolade on his checklist is to win an NBA championship. In just his second game coming off the bench, Westbrook recorded 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while shooting 6-12 from the field including 2-4 from the 3-point line. The team needed to make some adjustments and may have found their answer with Lakers guard

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Sports Illustrated"

Lakers News: Does Rob Pelinka Think He's L.A.'s Coach? (Sports Illustrated)

Los Angeles Lakers team vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka has been frequently derided for his bizarre roster construction choices this ...

"When we spell words around here, we don't like the letter 'i' to be in the word. "You know I think there's a lot of folks in this room, me included, that... Though Walker has been pretty solid in an outsized role for Los Angeles (long-range shooting woes notwithstanding), the team's 2021 mid-level exception signing, Kendrick Nunn, is now on the outside of the rotation. Point being, Pelinka has had a rough go of it, but let's see how he handles this Westbrook situation. is paying $47.1 million for a player who's probably more of a mid-level exception signing himself, there's a chance the team survives somewhat until Pelinka can find a deal he digs. Though several of his new personnel additions this past summer (Lonnie Walker IV, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Troy Brown Jr., Patrick Beverley, even fringe rotation piece Matt Reeves) have looked pretty good for L.A.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Sports Illustrated"

Lakers News: Anthony Davis Ecstatic About L.A.'s New Sixth Man ... (Sports Illustrated)

If Russel Westbrook can embrace his role, good things are in the foreseeable future.

It's a new feeling for the Lakers finally winning their first game of the season. Giving up his starting position for the betterment of the team and he's flourishing in his role. The move allowed [Troy Brown Jr.](https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/lakers-news-darvin-ham-reflects-on-troy-browns-first-game-as-starter-rm94) to shine and show some much needed shooting spark for the Lakers. To be a player of his caliber and asked to come off the bench is truly a guy who will do whatever the team asks. went 0-3 from the 3-point line, but with a rejuvenated Westbrook coming off the bench and helping them score some points, Westbrook ended his night with 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists shooting 6-12 from the field and 2-4 from the 3-point line. The resilience paid off and the Lakers managed to earn their first win of the season against the western conference powerhouse.

Explore the last week