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...

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...

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 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.

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...

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...

“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...

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...

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...

“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...

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

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...

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 @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...

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"

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...

We've been busy....

For @theathletic.com : I went to Poland and spoke with Luka Dončić about why he thinks this year is actually his “start” Lakers - a beginning that comes complete with a new body, new opportunities and, maybe most interestingly, a new perspective on leadership. www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

For @theathletic.com : I went to Poland and spoke with Luka Dončić about why he thinks this year is actually his “start” Lakers - a beginning that comes complete with a new body, new opportunities and, maybe most interestingly, a new perspective on leadership. www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka showed up in Poland, quashing any questions about the organization's support of Luka Dončić and his desire to play for Slovenia www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...

Wednesday delivery on a Lakers mailbag - thanks everyone for the questions www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...

Will be doing my first mailbag @TheAthleticNBA next week - send me all your Lakers/NBA/life questions here

Marcus Smart officially became a Laker Tuesday, his new team needing him to recapture his Celtics past. “I’m very motivated,” Smart said. www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

As long as Bradley Beal secures a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns, the LA Clippers are the likely leaders to sign the guard, league sources tell @TheAthletic. Story with Law Murray and @danwoikesports.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...

Shouldn’t be surprised that Bronny James says he’s blocking out the noise about his dad and the Lakers - when you’re Bronny James, ignoring the chatter is a survival skill www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...

Austin Reaves turned down a max extension this week and you shouldn’t be surprised www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...

Is everything going to change with the Lakers? How is Luka Doncic handling the offseason? What's going on at center? For the Lakers, some of the questions are the same as they ever were… www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Big news: I’m thrilled to share that I’m joining the best sports newsroom in the world, @theathletic.bsky.social, to cover the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s an incredible honor to work with so many journalists that I’ve long admired. Can’t wait to get started.

Some news - Today’s my last day at @latimes. I’ve been so fortunate to spend 8 years at one of the nation’s top newspapers and to learn and work with so many incredible people. I’ll be sharing what’s next soon, but I wanted to acknowledge how special the LAT has been to me.

JJ Reddick has ordered his players to “Be a banshee.” And after they figured what the hell that means, they’ve embraced it. t.co/khlQbSqQeg

On the eve of the playoffs, the Lakers can believe because LeBron James truly believes www.latimes.com/sports/laker...

Two scouts, an exec and an assistant coach breakdown Lakers-Timberwolves www.latimes.com/sports/newsl...

I spoke with LeBron James and Austin Reaves about how Luka Doncic's night became the Lakers' night www.latimes.com/sports/laker...

A different kind of Luka Doncic story on the day he returns to Dallas t.co/5lnyR7Q7oI

JJ Redick returned to the Palisades to see the devastation from the fires and to talk about his $50 million plan to help the rebuild - starting with the rec center near his home and sprawling across the city, to make those communal spaces whole again. www.latimes.com/sports/laker...

JJ Redick returned to the Palisades to see the devastation from the fires and to talk about his $50 million plan to help the rebuild - starting with the rec center near his home and sprawling across the city, to make those communal spaces whole again. www.latimes.com/sports/laker...

While some have been focusing on the “bullshit,” Bronny James has been about the work. Thursday in a short-handed loss, he showed the gains he’s made as a NBA rookie www.latimes.com/sports/laker...

While some have been focusing on the “bullshit,” Bronny James has been about the work. Thursday in a short-handed loss, he showed the gains he’s made as a NBA rookie www.latimes.com/sports/laker...

New feature: "I missed him," LeBron James told @latimes. The Lakers got more than Luka Doncic from Dallas. They also traded for one of a dying breed -- the kind of player who can credibly help lead with LeBron (and even hold the 40-year-old star accountable). www.latimes.com/sports/laker...

“I feel as though, me personally, if I can’t say what I want, if I can’t say what I want, if I can’t say the right things to the people that need to hear them, I’m useless." Markieff Morris on his leadership. "He's big as shit!" Dalton Knecht, on Markieff Morris www.latimes.com/sports/laker...

New feature: "I missed him," LeBron James told @latimes. The Lakers got more than Luka Doncic from Dallas. They also traded for one of a dying breed -- the kind of player who can credibly help lead with LeBron (and even hold the 40-year-old star accountable). www.latimes.com/sports/laker...

Lakers downgrade Jaxson Hayes to OUT tonight in Brooklyn

Incredible moment in Lakers history

One of those nights became one of THOSE nights www.latimes.com/sports/laker...

Seven in a row, Luka finding his footing and LeBron crossing off another milestone - the Lakers are rolling www.latimes.com/sports/laker...

To some, the Oval Office scene between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a meme, a cold open sketch or a reason to rage about American politics. To one Laker it was a chance for America to see how his country needs peace and safety www.latimes.com/sports/laker...