Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Doncic had 32 points and 12 assists, and LeBron James added 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the New York Knicks in overtime 113-109. Jalen Brunson had 39 points and 10 assists in the loss but had to leave the game in overtime with a sprained ankle. The Lakers will look to extend their 8-game winning streak Saturday night in Boston when they take on the hated Celtics.

Lakers, LA Lakers, Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Rui, Hachimura Austin Reeves, Dalton Knecht, NBA, Lakers Post cast, JJ Redick, Dave Palet, Lakers vs Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks

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If the Lakers do one thing well, it's play the PR game around their stars, whether current or former. 

So it was surprising to see Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, in an interview with NPR, seemingly take shots at Anthony Davis when asked about the trade that sent him to Dallas for Luka Dončić. 

"We gave up a lot to get Luka Dončić. We're happy we have him... Anthony Davis was complaining about where he was being played and he wasn't happy. So I think this was a positive for both teams. They got what they were looking for; we got what we were looking for. And I didn't realize it was going to be international news like it was, but that's the power of the Laker brand and its ability to draw big names who want to write their own chapter in Lakers history."

On the one hand, the Lakers did AD right with a great tribute video when the Mavs came to town last month. And Jeanie's comments point to frustration the organization certainly had with the yearly reiteration from Davis that he preferred to play power forward, not center. They likely didn't appreciate him telling Shams and ESPN that the Lakers needed to get another center. They almost surely were nervous about having to pay him like an All-NBA player deep into his 30s, as all teams are now with players aging out of their primes, especially when those players have a history of injury. 

And its easy to wonder if Jeanie really intended to bad mouth Davis (as opposed to Nico Harrison, who made it VERY clear he intended to badmouth Luka). Still... her comments weren't great. Davis wasn't trying to push his way out of LA. He didn't create any ultimatums—find me a center or trade me. He played hard, and through injury. To imply otherwise by saying he wasn't happy and got what he wanted is disingenuous and unfair. To imply in as she did—that's the power of the Laker brand and its ability to draw big names who want to write their own chapter in Lakers history"—that Davis wasn't quite able to hack it here isn't fair either. Davis forced his way here, and by all accounts was expecting to be here along while longer. To imply Luka was drawn here because he wants to write his own chapter in Lakers history, as if he had any role in choosing LA as a destination (and is, therefore, True Lakers Material) is "Lakers Exceptionalism" at its worst. 

Again, there's a good chance Jeanie was just trying to put a positive spin on things, and avoid any discomfort by trying to frame this as a win/win that had everyone on board. But either way, her comments got some attention. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Did Jeanie dump on AD on purpose? 

SEGMENT 2: Whether she meant it or not, Jeanie didn't cover herself in glory, here. 

SEGMENT 3: In praise of Jaxson Hayes!

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Introducing LeBron & Luka’s Championship Path? | Durant vs. Budenholzer | Is Zion the Future in NOLA? from Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association.

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LeBron James has officially entered uncharted territory, crossing the 50,000-point mark across regular season and playoff games. But will he and Luka Doncic be the duo that takes the Lakers to another NBA title? Matt Moore and Haize discuss LeBron’s continued dominance, Luka’s rising chemistry in LA, and whether the Lakers can truly contend.

Meanwhile, cameras caught Kevin Durant and Suns coach Mike Budenholzer in a tense courtside moment—was it a sign of deeper issues or just a fiery competitor in the heat of battle? And speaking of tension, should the Toronto Raptors lean into their recent hot streak and chase a play-in spot, or is it time to embrace the tank?

Plus, we break down the Knicks’ and Thunder’s experiments with double-big lineups—do these strategies make them dark-horse threats in the playoffs, or are they destined to backfire? And finally, the debate heats up over Zion Williamson: with jaw-dropping stats but ongoing injury concerns, should the Pelicans truly build around him for the future?

All that and more on today’s Locked On NBA!

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Jerry West, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and now, Luka Dončić. 

In only his ninth game with the Lakers, LA's newest star joined a very exclusive list of players who have scored 30 points and added 15 assists in the same game. Four guys. That's it. Luka finished the night with 30 points, eight rebounds and 15 dimes as the Lakers made relatively easy work of the visiting New Orleans Pelicans Tuesday at the Crypt. Final score, 136-115. Seven straight wins, longest winning streak since 2021, 18-4 over the last 22, 39-21 overall... and all alone as the Western Conference's second seed. 

Luka was particularly strong early, going for 17/3/4 in the first quarter, and helping the Lakers push out to a 13-point lead after 12 minutes. That's been the trend of late, and it's a nice change of pace to the early fall-behinds that had more frequently been part of the script. It's just so much easier to play from ahead than it is to try and eat up a double digit deficit against an NBA team. 

LeBron James, who chipped in with 34 points, eight rebounds and six dimes and scored his 50,000th career point (regular season and playoffs inclusive), noted after the broadcast that Dončić looks both healthier (with the calf) and comfortable. In all facets, not just with his game. And you can see the joy in what he's doing, skipping on the sidelines after good plays, entertaining the crowd and more. Certainly he can feel the love from the Lakers faithful, who start buzzing every time Luka touches the ball. 

The energy around this Lakers squad right now is insanely good, and so is the balance. For all of the skill and playmaking brought by Luka, LeBron and (a currently injured) Austin Reaves, there's also a ton of grit. Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt—who packed an crazy amount of activity into 20 minutes Tuesday night—Trey Jemison III, Joran Goodwin (also hurt)... these are guys who play with a real edge, and are physical players. (And the stars aren't exactly wallflowers, either.) And they do it on a team where they'll be rewarded by two of the best passers in basketball. 

Perhaps one of the big mistakes some analysts made in the wake of the Luka deal was assuming it would be hard to integrate Dončić into their offense, forgetting the impact he could have on shot quality for every else. They're just getting tons of easy looks, thanks to the gravity Luka provides. It's not perfect every time down the floor, but LeBron has responded well to whatever transfer of power has taken place. 

The Lakers are rolling, but this doesn't feel like the ceiling. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 


SEGMENT 1: Luka joins an exclusive club as the Lakers roll vs. New Orleans. 

SEGMENT 2: LeBron pushes past 50,000.
 

SEGMENT 3: The best location for role players? 

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LeBron James scored 34 points as he became the first player in NBA history to score more than 50,000 combined points in the regular season and postseason, and Luka Doncic added 30 points and 15 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers won their 7th game in a row, beating the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 136-115. New Orleans was led in the defeat by Zion Williamson’s game-high 37. The Lakers will look to continue their winning ways when they host the New York Knicks Thursday night.

Lakers, LA Lakers, Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Rui, Hachimura Austin Reeves, Dalton Knecht, NBA, Lakers Post cast, JJ Redick, Dave Palet, Lakers vs Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans 

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In this episode of the Locked On NBA Squad Show West, hosts from various Western Conference teams discuss the best players and teams in the conference. They debate the merits of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic for best lead player, comparing their impacts and statistics. The conversation shifts to best supporting players, with names like Amen Thompson and Austin Reeves mentioned. The hosts also explore which teams might be overachieving or relying on "special effects," with Memphis and Denver receiving scrutiny. The podcast concludes with a discussion on struggling teams like the Suns and recent controversial trades, offering insights into the current state of the Western Conference.

0:00 Intro: Best lead player in Western Conference

5:42 Debating Jokic vs. SGA for best lead player

11:00 Discussing best supporting players in the West

16:19 Teams held up by "smoke and mirrors"

22:21 Are the Nuggets overrated this season?

28:50 Analyzing the Timberwolves' playoff potential

33:21 Outro: Wrapping up the Western Conference discussion

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"Lakers Exceptionalism." 

It's a term that'll start a lot of debates among Lakers fans and NBA heads. At its worst, "Lakers Exceptionalism" was an expression not just of the franchise's elevated place in our collective sports consciousness (which it has), or a reminder of the team's historic levels of success (which it has). Instead, it reflected an attitude that the aforementioned success and elevated status imparted almost magic powers on the organization. That its very Laker-ness was enough to get free agents to sign here. That of course stars and key role players would take less (whether in money or opportunity) to join the Lakers because why on earth wouldn't they? It's a chance to be a Laker!

At its worst, this version of Lakers Exceptionalism stunted the team's progress. It made the Lakers lazy, and reflected a fundamental misunderstanding of what has made the franchise exceptional, historically. 

There are at least some signs that the team is recognizing some of these shortcomings and is adjusting. Or at the least, some reason to hope they get it more now than they did before. Time will tell. 

But it was interesting following Sunday's win over the Clippers to hear Luka Dončić speak about an aspect of Lakers Exceptionalism that is undoubtedly true. He noted how it really is true that the Lakers get every team's best effort, and noting that injured players always seem to return in time to play LA. (The healing powers of the Lakers on the schedule for opposing players has long been noted by Lakers fans.) 

This is a byproduct of something that sounds perhaps like fan service chest puffery, but is unquestionably true: It is a big effing deal to be a star player for the Lakers. Bigger than it is to be a star on any other team in the NBA. Bigger than the Knicks, the Warriors, the Celtics and certainly the Mavericks. The attention is greater, the judgment more unforgiving. The potential for glory is higher, but so is the penalty for failure. 

This is the role that Luka has been cast for the next decade or so, if the vision the Lakers have comes to fruition. It'll be interesting to see, certainly, how he reacts. Early indications are that he's built for it, and certainly having LeBron with him for a year or two will help. No matter how much the team "belongs" to Luka on the floor, as long as he's still playing LeBron will always suck up a considerable amount of oxygen around any team he's on. Even a Luka-led squad. 

But long term, Dončić will be judged in part at least on how much he adds positively to this notion of Lakers Exceptionalism. One good sign - if NBA fans around the league find Lakers fans even more insufferable in five years, Luka is probably off to a great start. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Luka gets an introduction to Lakers Exceptionalism. 

SEGMENT 2: Is Luka built for Los Angeles? 

SEGMENT 3: 50,000 points for LeBron, and other notable achievements. 

OpenPhone
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Now’s the perfect time to join.Download the app todayand use codeLOCKEDONNBA to get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup! That’s right—no need to win to get the bonus, it’s guaranteed. PrizePicks—Run Your Game!
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They Swoosh, You Save: when any player scores 50 or more points in a game during the 24/25 NBA regular season, DashPass members save 50% on an order, up to $10 off with promo code NBA50. 50% Off 1 Order (Up to $10 Off)

• Offer valid from 9:00 AM PT through 11:59 PM PT after a 50 point performance in any game during the NBA season on orders placed at participating merchant locations. Valid only in the United States. Maximum value of discount is $10.00. Discount applies to subtotal only; does not apply to fees, taxes, and gratuity. Not valid for pickup. Limit one per person. Not valid for the purchase of alcohol. Fees, taxes, and gratuity still apply. Must have an active DashPass account. Use promo code NBA50 to redeem. See further terms and conditions at https://drd.sh/8ONpZP/.

FanDuel
Right now, new FanDuel customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins!Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.
 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Introducing Can the Lakers Hold the No. 2 Seed? | KD & Suns Headed for a Split | Are the Cavs the Team to Beat? from Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association.

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The Los Angeles Lakers have stormed their way to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, but is their stay at the top temporary? Matt Moore and Haize debate whether L.A. can sustain this success and how their defensive turnaround is fueling their rise. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant appear headed for a breakup—what went wrong, and where could KD land next?

The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off back-to-back dramatic comebacks over the weekend, and the numbers suggest they might be the hottest team in the NBA. Are they legitimate title contenders, and could they be the biggest threat to the Celtics in the East? Plus, Joel Embiid’s season-ending injury exposes a growing rift between the Sixers and their franchise star—what does this mean for his future in Philadelphia?

We also break down key injuries and returns around the league: Can Mitchell Robinson's return give the Knicks a playoff boost? Will the Kings hold steady without Domantas Sabonis? And does Jalen Suggs’ injury derail the Magic’s postseason hopes?

Finally, we dive into a massive Western Conference showdown as the Rockets face the Thunder—can OKC improve in close-game situations? All that and more on today's Locked On NBA!

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

These are heady times for Lakers fans, following Sunday's Luka Dončić-fueled, 108-102 win over the Clippers at the Crypt. It's the second straight win over a good Clippers squad, and was enough to push the Lakers into second place in the Western Conference, percentage points ahead of the Denver Nuggets. 

This is not a place anyone would have expected the Lakers to be eight weeks ago. 

The pace of change has been incredible. First, the Lakers get LeBron James engaged defensively following that debacle of a loss in Miami. They trade D'Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith. Jarred Vanderbilt returned. They slowly add even more grit to the roster, adding Trey Jemison III and Jordan Goodwin to the roster. 

Oh, they also acquired Luka. 

The instant reaction to the big trade said the Lakers were setting themselves up for the future at the expense of today. That the loss on defense was going to be way too much for this group to overcome in the short term. Except the Lakers team has already started playing well defensively even before the trade, and continued playing good defense even without Davis in the lineup. They were supposed to struggle while Dončić got integrated into the lineup, a process that was going to be overly complex, given the ball dominance of Luka, LeBron and Austin Reaves. And so on and so on and so on. 

Except none of it has played out that way. Through all the changes, the Lakers have grown more cohesive, not less. They've played harder, and ramped up the buy in. They're doing things good teams do, starting with playing consistently and executing effectively even when guys are in and out of the lineup, as it was Sunday with Reaves and Rui Hachimura in street clothes. They're winning in bulk, with victories in 16 of their last 21 games. And now they're in a dead heat with the Nuggets for the 2-seed out West. 

With a 6.5 game lead on the trio of teams tied for the 6-seed, the conversation has moved past "avoid the play in," and the Lakers are now square in the "earn home court for a round or two." 

Again, a remarkable turnaround. There are plenty of challenges coming, and the schedule doesn't get any easier. 

But this is a Lakers team that believes in itself, and has backed that belief with results. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers beat the Clips again, behind a big game from Luka. 

SEGMENT 2: Things are really, really looking up. 

SEGMENT 3: Dalton Knecht has a big game. 

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• Offer valid from 9:00 AM PT through 11:59 PM PT after a 50 point performance in any game during the NBA season on orders placed at participating merchant locations. Valid only in the United States. Maximum value of discount is $10.00. Discount applies to subtotal only; does not apply to fees, taxes, and gratuity. Not valid for pickup. Limit one per person. Not valid for the purchase of alcohol. Fees, taxes, and gratuity still apply. Must have an active DashPass account. Use promo code NBA50 to redeem. See further terms and conditions at https://drd.sh/8ONpZP/.

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Introducing Game Night: Boston Holds off Denver, Lakers Get it Done Against Clippers and a Couple of Crazy Comebacks from Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association.

Follow the show: Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association

On this episode of Locked On NBA Game Night, Danny Cunningham (host of Locked On Cavs) and Swipa (host of Locked On Nuggets) provide a comprehensive recap of the day's NBA games, featuring insights from team-specific correspondents. The episode kicks off with an analysis of the Boston Celtics' 110-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets, highlighting the contrasting halves and key performances by Derrick White and Al Horford. The discussion then shifts to the Los Angeles Lakers' rise in the Western Conference following their 108-102 win over the LA Clippers, emphasizing Luka Doncic's transformative impact. The hosts express admiration for the Portland Trail Blazers' recent improvement, noting standout performances and the potential of young players. The New York Knicks' comeback victory against the Miami Heat is also covered, with a focus on Mitchell Robinson's return and its implications. The episode concludes with a debate on Eastern Conference playoff predictions, exploring potential outcomes and team strengths, including the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Pacers.

OpenPhone
The #1 business phone system designed to help you keep your work and personal life separate. Right now, OpenPhone is offering 20% off your first 6 months when you go to OpenPhone.com/LOCKEDONNBA. and if you have existing numbers with another service, OpenPhone will port them over at no extra charge!

Prizepicks
Now’s the perfect time to join.Download the app today and use code LOCKEDONNBA to get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup! That’s right—no need to win to get the bonus, it’s guaranteed. PrizePicks—Run Your Game! 
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Door Dash
They Swoosh, You Save: when any player scores 50 or more points in a game during the 24/25 NBA regular season, DashPass members save 50% on an order, up to $10 off with promo code NBA50. 50% Off 1 Order (Up to $10 Off)

• Offer valid from 9:00 AM PT through 11:59 PM PT after a 50 point performance in any game during the NBA season on orders placed at participating merchant locations. Valid only in the United States. Maximum value of discount is $10.00. Discount applies to subtotal only; does not apply to fees, taxes, and gratuity. Not valid for pickup. Limit one per person. Not valid for the purchase of alcohol. Fees, taxes, and gratuity still apply. Must have an active DashPass account. Use promo code NBA50 to redeem. See further terms and conditions at https://drd.sh/8ONpZP/.

FanDuel
Right now, new FanDuel customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins!Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 

FanDuel.com/RG

 (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit 

ccpg.org/chat

 (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit 

ksgamblinghelp.com

 (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].