In this episode of the Hoopsology Podcast, we sit down with Allie Clifton — NBA sideline reporter for Amazon Prime, studio host for Spectrum SportsNet, and co-host of the hit show Road Trippin’. Allie delivers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 Los Angeles Lakers, the state of NBA media, and what fans don’t see when it comes to the lives and pressures of NBA players.

Allie shares how she built her career from a small town in Ohio to covering LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and now Luka Dončić in Los Angeles. She discusses the evolution of NBA player-media relationships after 2020, how access has changed, and why understanding players as people first matters more than ever.

We dive deep into:

Luka Dončić joining the Lakers and the shock inside the building

What makes Luka different from other superstars Allie has covered

Austin Reaves’ rise and why he might be a future Laker cornerstone

How JJ Redick has reshaped the Lakers’ identity in 2025

Misconceptions about Lakers fans and the culture of the franchise

The growth of NBA broadcasting on Amazon, NBC, ESPN & streaming

Why the league’s young stars and veteran greats make this one of the best eras ever

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