Dan Woike

LeBron’s future has never been more uncertain. It makes every game more meaningful (Gift Article) As Luka Dončić becomes the Lakers’ present and future, LeBron James enters unfamiliar territory.

Wrote the words “fart noise” www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

The 1983 NBA All-Star Game: The last time the stars came out in Inglewood (Gift Article) The 1983 All-Star Game had future Hall of Famers everywhere. But it's Marvin Gaye's rendition of the national anthem players remember most.

Marvin Gaye, Marlon Jackson, Sidney Poitier....some fun memories two of the best scorers in NBA history shared with me in this piece www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Inside the Lakers’ decision room ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline Rival teams say the Lakers are active heading into Thursday's trade deadline, but their reality is shaped by their long-term cap plans.

What I'm hearing about the Lakers' deadline plans and beyond...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

LeBron James addresses retirement after Cleveland return: ‘When is it over?’ After getting teary-eyed during a pregame tribute, LeBron sounded at times like he was close to hanging it up. But he hasn't decided yet.

LeBron James spoke about retirement as candidly as he ever has Wednesday night. Good luck trying to figure out which way he’s leaning www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

As Luka returns to Dallas again, Mavs still picking up the shocking pieces

Reporting with Christian Clark - a look at where things stand with the Mavericks and the Lakers as they both (in very different ways) still deal with a shocking trade www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

The voice of the Lakers will always remember the first NBA game he called: Kobe scored 81 One night after calling Kobe's historic game, Bill MacDonald was back in a half-empty college gym. But the moment never left him.

Twenty years ago, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points. I spoke to the Lakers breoadcaster who called each of those points, his first ever NBA play-by-play assignment www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

The voice of the Lakers will always remember the first NBA game he called: Kobe scored 81 One night after calling Kobe's historic game, Bill MacDonald was back in a half-empty college gym. But the moment never left him.

Twenty years ago, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points. I spoke to the Lakers breoadcaster who called each of those points, his first ever NBA play-by-play assignment www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

Lakers find strength in numbers in Denver as role players mesh with Luka, LeBron The individual brilliance of Luka Dončić and LeBron James have made it hard for the Lakers to work as a unit at times. But not on Tuesday.

For the first time in a long time, the Lakers stars elevated the role players who, in turn, elevated the Lakers stars. Was this a one off, or a sign of a trend that’s cause for optimism? www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

Lakers’ JJ Redick reflects on ‘resilience’ and loss a year after Los Angeles wildfires "The first 10 days, you're devastated," Redick said. "You're in shock and you're just trying to function in some ways."

One year after the LA Wildfires destroyed his community, Lakers coach JJ Redick talked about those 12 months to @theathletic.com and the lessons in optimism, resilience and grief he’s seen and lived. www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

LeBron James says his assist was ‘the perfect way’ for scoring streak to end James wrote his own ending, wrapping up a streak that began 15 days after Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg was born.

Exclusively @theathletic.com, LeBron James tells me “If it had to end, the perfect ending for the streak is tonight. It’s literally who I am. That’s who I am.” - My story from Toronto on the perfect ending James got to author. www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...

NBA seeks cell phones from multiple teams, including Lakers, in gambling investigation: Sources The NBA is continuing its investigation into illegal sports betting after three current or former players were federally indicted.

The NBA widened its own betting probe to ask for cell phones. Two Lakers close to LeBron — and to Damon Jones, who is charged — are among those who complied. @mikevorkunov.bsky.social @samamick.bsky.social @danwoikesports.bsky.social and me www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

Thunder dismantle Lakers; Luka Dončić reflects on Dallas after Mavs GM's firing

It was obvious the Lakers have a long ways to go to get the OKC Thunder’s level. Also obvious? The Thunder are only adding to the distance the field is going to need to make up www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Jake LaRavia's fit on the Lakers has been seamless: 'He just knows how to play'

Jake LaRavia knows how to play basketball, his coach said Sunday. Here’s why that’s higher praise than it sounds www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

Ready. To. Spend.

Austin Reaves' buzzer-beater lifts short-handed Lakers past Timberwolves

We got some tough motherf—–s, man,” Jarred Vanderbilt told @TheAthletic. And Austin Reaves might be the toughest of em all. www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

Why does Austin Reaves keep ending up next to NBA legends? Even he's stumped

For @theAthletic: Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Austin Reaves walk into a record book. No joke. I showed Reaves the lists and he couldn't believe it. "Why me? … those are like the greatest players ever. And my name just randomly pops up.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

In a game where Luka scored 49, the biggest play for the Lakers was a missed dunk Deandre Ayton attacking the rim with force fueled hope inside the Lakers' locker room that this year’s team has a higher ceiling.

“I told Luka, I said, ‘Yo bro, you have power.’ Like I’ve seen true power today,” DeAndre Ayton told me. “Like I seen four dudes on him. Bro, I set the screen and it was like they had to bring four.
“What the f—?”
All this for a missed dunk

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Luka Dončić‘s night in the spotlight against Warriors highlights Lakers’ need for LeBron In Golden State, LA could see what hurdles exist in this potentially awkward season.

The Lakers, on and off the court, are obviously Luka Dončić’s team. It was never clearer than on Opening Night. Also clear? They really need LeBron James. www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

Luka Dončić‘s night in the spotlight against Warriors highlights Lakers’ need for LeBron In Golden State, LA could see what hurdles exist in this potentially awkward season.

The Lakers, on and off the court, are obviously Luka Dončić’s team. It was never clearer than on Opening Night. Also clear? They really need LeBron James. www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

Three years into his Lakers tenure, Gabe Vincent makes a true start

“I’ve had my head down working for so long. It’s hard to look up sometimes.” @TheAthleticNBA spoke 1on1 with the expected starting guard about a rough few years with the Lakers and why he’s still all in with the organization www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

The real Luka Dončić showed up in his Lakers’ preseason debut “I felt great,” Dončić said. “That was probably better than I expected."

Luka Dončić sure looked like himself Tuesday night in a way that Lakers fans really haven’t seen www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Going to put together a Lakers preseason mailbag - put your questions here

Can Dalton Knecht be the player the Lakers need? ‘He has to figure out who he is’ Whether or not Knecht will be able to adapt in the way the Lakers need him to is one of the more important stories of this season.

If he’s going to matter, either as a Laker or as a valuable trade asset, Dalton Knecht is going to have to figure some things out www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

From wax packs to rated rookies, success is in the cards for Lakers' Jake LaRavia

Jake LaRavia might be the only NBA player with a hobby where Nikola Jokic, LeBron James and Luka Doncic can stink and where Ryan Rollins is a find! I ripped some packs this summer with the Lakers' new forward and wrote about his collecting www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

For Lakers’ Jake LaRavia, success is in the (mint condition) cards “I'm a regular person,” says Lakers Jake LaRavia of his sports card collecting hobby.

For @TheAthletic - Lakers F Jake LaRavia has the one hobby in the world where Giannis, Luka, LeBron and Shai can stink — but Ryan Rollins gets special attention, We ripped packs with a card collector who just so happens to be on the cards himself www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

All you need to know about the Lakers, one sentence at a time EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — You can forgive the weary-eyed beat reporters who trudge into team facilities to sit and listen to two straight hours of some version of the “best shape of my life” an...

Picked one quote from each media session yesterday to sum up what mattered most for the Lakers www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

This is a huge part of his leverage in negotiations -- the coming cap jumps plus averages last season that have only ever been exceeded by Magic, Jerry and Kobe -- there's sticker shock, but after a deep breath, it's much more reasonable

Lawrence Frank: "We feel confident we are on the right side of this"

Entering key season, Austin Reaves is again proving his worth is par for the course

Sources tell me Austin Reaves could receive FA offers north of $40 million next offseason. I asked him about that, about being a Laker, thinking he might get traded and about what he wants for himself as a pro www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

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