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  • Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick Face the Media

    In anticipation of Monday’s NBA Media Day, General Manager Rob Pelinka and team Head Coach JJ Redick held a press conference last Thursday where they addressed the media regarding all things Lakers and the upcoming season. In it were the usual exchanges that take place during these gatherings, with Rob and JJ going back and forth with the media in a way you’d expect. However, occasionally, there were some kernels of knowledge dropped that are insightful as far as the current state of the organization and their plans for the immediate future.

    The first one being JJ Redick’s extension. Apparently, JJ’s contract was extended at some point during the offseason but was only announced until now. Redick initially singed a 4-year deal with the Purple and Gold, prior to the 2024-25 season. After this new extension, his contract will be extended for an extra two years, through 2030. The Lakers view this as an investment of confidence in Redick’s ability to coach and grow as leader. Perhaps also as a bid to cement a player-coach partnership between newly-extended superstar Luka Dončić and a newly-extended Redick. This signals to the rest of the league and those watching that the Lakers’ motto of the day is stability.

    While I understand the intent, I can’t view this as anything other than unnecessary. Redick already had a 4-year deal in place, and after a lackluster showing during last season’s playoffs, it would be incumbent on the organization to observe how he responds and maintain an honest evaluation throughout the remaining three years on his contract. Maybe they see something in JJ Redick after extending him for an additional two years, and maybe they are correct in their assessment. But surely, he’s yet to prove it on the court. I don’t particularly love the idea of the Lakers diving head-first into a commitment before they’ve gone through the proper trials. Think Taylen Horton-Tucker’s extension. JJ could very well end up being LAs next Pat Riley, or it’s next Mike Brown. Either way, let him earn it. Of course, I hope JJ is in fact the next Riley, but I’d be lying if I said this doesn’t feel a bit premature. Particularly with new ownership rolling in.

    For his credit, Redick seems increasingly and positively committed to being the Lakers’ coach. He’s maintained constant dialogue with his players throughout the summer, and has generally been involved with the team’s day-to-day operations all throughout the offseason. Based on what he said during the presser, he’s also sought mentorship from other successful sportsmen outside of basketball, such as the L.A. Rams’ Head Coach Sean McVay, and even Tom Brady. Additionally, he’s spent a good time consulting ChatGPT for extra guidance. He’s certainly performed his due diligence when it comes to improving as a coach and as a leader. Now it remains to bee seen how it manifests on the court.

    Aside from JJ’s current status within the organization, him and Pelinka also discussed the roles of newcomers Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton. Starting with LaRavia, they view him as a young up-and-coming player with lots of room to grow as well as someone who can emerge as a 3&D weapon. That’s exactly what you want to hear, and exactly what I’ve been saying of LaRavia since he signed. As far as Smart, they’re hopeful that he can recapture his old defensive capabilities and return to his DPOY caliber self. Another aspect they mentioned of Smart is his leadership; he’s someone who’s voice will be counted on to provide an example and set the tone for the younger players. Given his experience and abilities, he can definitely impact the the locker room in a positive way. When it comes to Ayton, he’s someone that the team expects to get alot out of on the offensive end. Particularly on the pick-and-roll, next to Luka Dončić. Redick mentioned how Ayton already experienced great success operating as a screen-setter and roller next to Chris Paul, during the Phoenix Suns’ 2021 run to the NBA Finals. Ayton was also praised for his unique feel for two-man action, which will be an integral component when it comes to his offensive output.

    It’s good to see that the Lakers have a good idea of what to expect from their new acquisitions, and so far have said all the right things. It would have been interesting to hear a little bit more about Deandre Ayton’s defense, as that’s an area of his game that could use some improvement, not to mention crucial to the team’s defensive outlook. Additionally, Redick also spoke of incumbent Lakers, and their respective roles for the upcoming season, namely Rui Hachimura. LA seems to value Rui tremendously, as he is someone that the front office ‘discovered’. Such players always seem to be a source of pride for organizations, as evidenced by the Lakers’ glowing appraisal of his game. Rui was praised for his conditioning by Redick. Conditioning was a recurring theme expressed by Redick throughout the event, as he explicitly called for players to arrive to training camp in their best possible shape. I think this is a very good thing, you want to see coaches demand this level of commitment out of their players. Dalton Knecht was also mentioned, with Redick making the case for Dalton having over-worked himself during the summer, which goes a long way in explaining his subpar play during Summer League action. Personally, I think Knecht will look much better in pre-season, and during the season. So we’ll see.

    Overall, JJ Redick’s vision for this team is quite clear. He will preach “championship shape”, “championship communication” and “championship habits”. He wants players to show up ready to go, with the collective aim of competing for a championship. He’s also, seemingly, put in the work to get better. He’s maintained a constant line of dialogue with his assistants, which already sets a great example for players when it comes to communication. I like alot of what was said, by both Redick and Pelinka. I do wish there had been more explicit discussion regarding the starting five, and Redick’s plan for rotations. But we’ll see soon enough what that looks like, as pre-season will be kicking off very soon. I just hope JJ has the open-mindedness and flexibility to tinker with lineups based on what the season demands. It is very encouraging to hear about his passion for individual player fitness, the buy-in, the communication and the attention to detail, both in practice and in-game action. All of these are integral components to a championship unit. It comes down to how passionately and how effectively JJ can institute these principles. But so far, you love to hear what they’ve had to say. It’ll be interesting to see how these ideals materialize as the season begins. Until then, let’s hope players come in ready to go for training camp. Go Lakers.

  • Why Adam Silver Needs to Drop the Hammer on the Clippers

    It’s been a few days since the reports surfacing of the Los Angeles Clippers circumventing the salary cap in order to pay Kawhi Leonard more endorsement money under the table. We’ve had a good amount of time to let these allegations marinate. Needless to say, things aren’t looking so rosy for the Clippers, Owner Steve Ballmer, Kawhi Leonard and his camp, or the National Basketball Association. The ensuing media coverage also certainly hasn’t helped shine a positive light on the Clips, or the allegations surrounding them. At this point, it’s pretty clear as to what is going on based on the preponderance of evidence in front of us. It’s up to the NBA, and the offices of the commissioner, led by Adam Silver, to take action, and do so with impunity. In order to protect the integrity of the league, and the game, measures need to be acted upon swiftly, and aggressively.

    Recently, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had a sit-down interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne. It was a total trainwreck. Nothing he said was believable, or made any sort of sense. Throughout the interview, Ballmer, who himself invested $50M into Aspiration, the company used to funnel extra-curricular “endorsement” money to Kwahi Leonard, repeatedly insisted that he had been conned by said company. Ballmer, who is comfortably the richest owner in all of North American team sports, and has a net worth totalling over $150B, expects people to believe that he was conned by a now defunct tree-planting company, Aspiration. Yeah, you don’t have to be a Daryl Morey-level genius to call hard BS on such claims. On top of that, Ballmer further tripped over himself, revealing that he and the Clippers introduced Kawhi Leonard to Aspiration during November 2021. Remember Kawhi Leonard signed a $48M deal with the company where he had to do a grand-total of nothing. Kawhi never mentioned his affiliation with Aspiration, at any point. Seeing as how Ballmer shelled out $50M to Aspiration as “investment”, it’s not difficult to put two and two together. Yet Ballmer claims he was conned? Yeah, right. The only people doing the conning here are Kawhi and his now infamous Uncle Dennis. There are amore than enough “smoking guns” in this scenario for the NBA to intervene and lay down the hammer.

    But in typical Clippers fashion, things get worse. We know that Kawhi’s deal with aspiration paid him a king’s ransom to basically do nothing. The deal could also only be voided should Kawhi leave the Clippers. Yikes. Among the list of endorsers for Aspiration were the likes of Leonardo Di Caprio, Drake and Robert Downey Jr. Yet, it was Kawhi who was taking home more payout than all of them combined. Double yikes. But, as if that wasn’t enough, it was also recently reported, by journalist and sportswriter Pablo Torre, that the Clippers and their ownership group were still “donating” (read: funnelling money) to Aspiration, as they were going bankrupt. During December of 2022, as the company Aspiration was tanking, Kawhi Leonard was due his quarterly payment of somewhere around $1.75M. Because they were broke, Aspiration could not fulfill this payment, which made Uncle Dennis very, very angry. Out of the blue, Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong (also Steve Ballmer’s former college roommate) stepped in to ‘donate’ $2M through his company DEA 88 Investments, to Aspiration. A few days later on December ’22, Kawhi miraculously received his quarterly payment, and Uncle Dennis rejoiced.

    The company was dying, Uncle Dennis was furious and the Clippers owner donates $2M as there was a federal investigation taking place. Also Dennis Wong’s daughter worked at Aspiration, and yet, he still made a first-time donation to the company during this comically questionable time. Yeah. Guilty.

    The NBA has the Clippers over a barrel. It’s up to Adam Silver to jump on his big boy pants, and protect the integrity of the league. At this juncture, however, Silver doesn’t seem very enthused to enact his powers and do his job. He said in a recent interview, that “The NBA is not a court of law”, further adding that “the burden of proof is on the NBA” and referred to the evidence presented so far as “circumstantial”. To me, this speaks to someone who is scared and is dubious of his own authority. Yes, the NBA is very much a court of law. They mediate disputes, and castigate improprieties all the time. That’s part of the commissioner’s job. David Stern would’ve revelled in this scenario. The commissioner is the judge, jury and executioner. All he has to do is closely examine the evidence and make a decision, and it isn’t a difficult one. Im afraid, however, that the starry-eyed Silver might in fact fear Steve Ballmer’s checkbook. He’s the seventh richest man on the planet, and by far the richest sports owner. This brings me to my final point.

    In the present day, the NBA is increasingly run by ultra-wealthy tech moguls or elite billionaire magnates. They view their sports franchises as part of a conglomerate, merely just an asset to their larger entities. Long gone are the mom and pop days of team sports ownership, as ultra-elites have realized precisely how valuable a sports team can be to their portfolios, because sports in general, in this current day, are incredibly profitable. There’s simply a ton of money being thrown around. Thus, now more than ever, there needs to be rules in place which regulate these massive flows of cash, so that there is an even playing field. If these tech magnates can simply barge in and start dispensing money, left and right, mostly under the table, then that’s effectively terrible for the NBA, and the game of basketball. It undermines the league, the sport, the fans and the powers of the commissioner’s office. It states that the NBA is merely a playground for heavyweight tycoons to play their private game of chess at the expense of the sport and the fans. This can’t fly. That’s why the league needs to act swiftly and make an example out of the Clippers, who are led by Ballmer. If the richest owner has to play by the rules, so does everybody else. It’s about protecting the integrity of the league and the sport. If Adam Silver can staunchly preserve the NBA as a merit-based field, then that’s a win for the game and for the fans. And when you boil it down, that’s basically his job as NBA commissioner. It’s time for Silver to do his job.

  • Luka, Slovenia Ousted By Germany in EuroBasket Quarterfinals

    Luka’s outstanding run of international basketball unfortunately came to an end yesterday, as Slovenia was downed by Germany during the 2025 EuroBasket quarterfinals by a score of 99-91. Slovenia was by no means a favorite coming in to this tournament, but they managed to make it all the way to the knockout round, thanks in no small part to a series of stellar performances by Luka Dončić. One could say that they played well beyond their expectations, and that’s definitely something to be proud of, both for Luka and for his side. But against a robust Germany squad, one that boasts several NBA talents, including the likes of Dennis Schröder, Daniel Theis, Franz Wagner and Tristan Da Silva, Slovenia had its work cut out for them and were tasked with an uphill climb from the onset. They battled admirably, but eventually fell to a more skilled and well-rounded German side. From a Lakers-perspective however, this tournament provided many positives that could carry on to next season, all involving one Luka Dončić. The Lakers superstar balled out, and showed the world that he’s ready to answer the critics that called out his commitment and physical condition. Luka looked stellar all tournament, save for one or two games were he was forced out of action, he was by far the best player in the tournament. Unfortunately, due to the shortcomings on the Slovenian roster, he could only take them so far. But it was encouraging to see Luka play at the level that he did, thus helping his team make it this far.

    Slovenia got off to as promising start, with Luka providing the offensive cavalcade they’d become accustomed to. Luka was scoring in isolation, from the pick-and-roll and doing his best to keep his teammates involved. For a moment, it looked like it may well have been enough. Slovenia battled Germany to a standstill for three quarters, even building a modest four-point (74-70) advantage heading into the fourth quarter. However, a successful 3-point heave to end the third, courtesy of Tristan Da Silva, gave Germany some much needed momentum. Such that they marched into the fourth quarter ready to assume the lead once more, thanks to the skilled shotmaking of players like Franz Wagner (who finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists) and Dennis Schröder (the former Lakers put up 20 points and seven assists). Big man Daniel Theis also contributed 15 points and nine boards. Ultimately, Germany was too much for the Slovenians to keep up with, eventually building a healthy lead in the waning minutes, one they did not relinquish.

    For his part, Luka was once again Luka Magic, in other words, excellent. He put up a gaudy 39 points, 10 boards and seven assists. He shot the ball relatively poorly (11/25 from the field and 5/16 from beyond the arc). Most this was due to him having to empty the clip, as surely, no sizeable help was going to come from the rest of the roster. Luka knew he had to lay it all out there, and he did. He had the midrange going, as he made a number of them in the fourth quarter in hopes of keeping his team afloat. But ultimately Germany’s savviness and multi-pronged attack helped them close the deal. A late stepback three pointer from the wing by Luka briefly gave Slovenia a one point 86-85 lead with a little over four minutes to go in the game. But from there on, it was all Germany, as they managed to out-execute the opposition in a hard-fought contest. It was a good game for sure and one that perhaps can be somewhat of a building block for Slovenia, and their future hopes for International glory. All in all, making it this far in the tournament is certainly an achievement, and something they can be proud of.

    For Luka, this tournament was everything he and his supporters could have hoped for. He showcased his talents on an international stage, being the main driving force behind his team’s success. After starting out 0-2, Slovenia managed to string together a 4-game win streak, heading into the quarterfinal matchup with Germany. Their hopes were cut short against a superior opponent, yet it was still an impressive showing by Slovenia, as well as for Luka individually. For the entire tournament, Luka averaged 34.5 points to go with 8.6 rebounds and 7.9 assists. He shot a robust 45.8% from the field, but was eluded by the three pointer, making only 32% of his shots from range. Hopefully, with better looks on the Lakers, he will make them at a better clip, without having to force the issue. Luka finished as the leader in both scoring and steals for the tournament. Certainly a positive sign for a player coming back from an injury-ridden 2025 season, with the hopes of recapturing his past form. Luka looks great and ready to prove the doubters wrong. After yesterday’s contest, we will next see Luka suit up for the Lakers training camp in a few weeks. Pre-season is slated to start early in October. It’s exciting to see a well-motivated Luka come into the season ready to pick up where he left off, and hopefully go on to do great things for the Los Angeles Lakers. Until then, let’s hope guys arrive at training camp with a chip on their shoulder and eager to prove the naysayers wrong. It should be a good season in store. Go Lakers.

  • Should The Lakers Pursue Andrew Wiggins?

    As we head deeper in the offseason and inch closer towards the regular season, we’re starting to get a very clear picture of what the 2026 Los Angeles Lakers roster is going to look like. Training camp is less than a month away, and the Lakers seem ready to embark on yet another campaign with their new look group. Newcomers Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart will give the team an infusion of skillsets that they did not have last year. However, on a team with Luka Dončić and an older LeBron James, the phrase ‘Win-Now’ is ever-present in the franchise’s outlook. The Lakers and GM Rob Pelinka have done well this offseason, and their additions have been largely solid. But as is expected of this franchise, the pursuit of excellence is non-stop. Thus, there are still areas of the roster where the team can improve. The main one of those being perimeter defense; that is an area where the team, despite marginal improvements, can still do better.

    Enter Andrew Wiggins. The 30-year old Heat journeyman, despite his many talents, finds himself in a unique situation with his current franchise. The Heat are a team in transition. They traded Jimmy Butler last season. Now, they look to build around some of their young pillars: Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Wiggins looks to be an odd man out. He’s still a talented player, no doubt, but his age perhaps suggests that he and the Miami are not on the same timeline. He also happens to be a sizeable expiring contract, with Miami having not placed an extension for him on the table. This usually means one thing: trade bait. While he is a good player, Miami, in my opinion, correctly view Wiggins’ optimal value as that of a trade chip that can net them assets. The only problem with Miami and Wiggins is his price tag has been much too high, perhaps even unrealistic. Miami clearly want to trade him, but only seem willing to do so under the guise that they are trading a way a star player. One that commands assets, draft picks and even a young player in return. Wiggins is certainly good, but is he that good?

    The Lakers, for their part, have done well in maintaining future flexibility. All of their offseason additions have come via free agency, where despite their limited resources, they were able to add considerable talent upgrades without having to reach back into their limited assets chest. The Lakers could proverbially swing a trade for Andrew Wiggins, should the opportunity present itself. But it takes two to tango, and then there’s the Miami angle. The Heat have repeatedly stated that they intend to keep Wiggins, and that he will be a valuable piece to their upcoming campaign. I’m not sure that I buy that given that Miami has yet to offer Wiggins an extension. As it stands it’s questionable if the Heat are a playoff team in the Eastern Conference, but given how weak the East is, perhaps they will sneak in as a lower seed. But is that even worth it? Miami’s best strategy is to tank, and roll into the 2026 offseason with a high draft pick plus ammunition to add pieces. Trading away Wiggins certainly helps them do that, while keeping him accomplishes the opposite. It’ll be interesting to see how the Heat proceed with Wiggins and his salary. But if and when he’s made available, he’s certainly a piece that should attract the Lakers, as he provides exactly what they need: an athletic two-way presence that can raise the team’s defensive ceiling and fit in with Luka Dončić.

    There are some around NBA circles that believe that the Lakers will continue to heavily monitor their options on the trade market, and eventually pull the trigger on the right deal. Should Wiggins be made available, the Lakers would look to be players in such a scenario. Legendary reporter of ESPN fame Marc Stein, had this to say:

    “The Lakers are in win-now mode.

    They signed Luka Dončić to a three-year max contract extension worth $165 million on the first day such a deal was permissible (Aug. 2). They have LeBron James under contract for one more season. And they will be on the lookout, I’m told, for the proverbial right deal to present itself to upgrade on the wing if possible and add to a list of newcomers headlined by Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia.

    As I understand it: The Lakers’ reluctance in the early stages of the offseason to consider trades for contracts that stretch beyond the 2025-26 season has thawed somewhat.

    I don’t think that means they’ll swing a deal for just anyone between now and the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but league sources say L.A. would indeed have interest in adding a two-way swingman who can raise their ceiling.”

    Specifically as it pertains to Wiggins, he mentioned the following:

    “The sort of player who is likely to interest the Lakers?

    My read (if Miami were to make him available): Andrew Wiggins.

    Wiggins, 30, will earn $28.2 million this season and holds a $30.2 million player option for 2026-27. I wouldn’t have classified him as a potential purple-and-gold target before Dončić’s long-term future was secured, but things are different now. So my sense is that the Lakers would have interest if the Heat, in coming weeks or months, decide to prioritize financial flexibility and look to reduce payroll.“

    Personally, I’d like to see the Lakers target Andrew Wiggins, but only at the right price. If that price is Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and a second round pick, then by all means, jump on that. But if that tag somehow spikes up to Rui Hachimura, a first rounder and (gulp) Austin Reaves, then that’s a hard pass. Andrew Wiggins potentially solves some of the team’s issues, and his acquisition will go a long ways to show Luka that the Lakers are committed to putting the right pieces around him. However, is getting Andrew Wiggins worth sacrificing flexibility and committing future salary to? Perhaps. Is Andrew Wiggins worth the flexibility, salary and additional assets such as a first rounder? Hell no. It’s important to keep things in perspective. Yes, the Lakers should perennially be on the look-out to improve the roster. Alas, at the right price. Andrew Wiggins is definitely worth some combination of Rui, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and a second round pick. He isn’t worth much more than that, and his own team knows it given that they haven’t put an extension in front of him. They want to move him, and are selling high. For the Lakers, the best course of action is the same one they’ve been adopting as of late. Patience. If the right deal emerges, then they’ll pull the trigger. Until then, they’ll continue to diligently observe the market and see where they can fit in. This is the best strategy. Go Lakers.

  • Luka Dominates as Slovenia Defeats Italy to Advance to Knockout Round

    Following a rough start to EuroBasket 2025, Slovenia seems to be coming together at the right time. Fresh off the heels of a victory over Israel to conclude group stage, Slovenia took down Italy today by a score of 84-77. Luka Dončić was once again Luka Magic, as the Lakers star dropped a game high 42 points, to go with 10 rebounds and an assist. He also collected three steals. Luka was quite efficient today, shooting 11 of 19 from the field. Even more encouraging is the fact that his three-pointer seems to be rounding into shape, as he made five out of his 11 shot attempts from behind the arc. What’s impressive about Luka so far is he seems to be capable of dialling in his level of play depending on the stakes at hand. All of his best games have come as of late, and he seems to be keenly aware of his importance to the Slovenian team, and how much he needs to contribute in order to win. Today he wasn’t so much Luka the distributor as much as he was Luka the bucket-getter. He knew his team needed every ounce of offense he could muster, and he made sure to keep pressing on the accelerator when it came to scoring the basketball. On the other hand, he didn’t get much support tonight from the rest of the team, as Klemen Prepelic (11 points on 3/10 from the field) was the only other Slovenian scoring in double-figures. At this stage though, Luka will do whatever he has to do. It’s win or go home moving forward.

    Italy was a worthy foe today, as they battled their way back into the contest despite falling behind by double digits at halftime. Luka came scorching out of the gates, helping Slovenia build a 29-11 lead after the first quarter. By halftime he had scored 30 points, while helping preserve the lead. But Italy bounced back, after they decisively won the third quarter, and would eventually make it a one point affair late in the fourth quarter. Led by NBA alum Danilo Gallinari and Simone Fontecchio, the Italians were a strong team coming into this tournament, and continued to prove why. Slovenia, to their credit were able to execute late and make the timely buckets that would gradually push their lead back up and help them close the game.

    Italy’s gameplan versus Luka was an interesting one, as they opted not to double or trap as much, instead switching on ball screens and trying to tire him out by making him iso all game. Luka recognized this, and was determined to beat his man off the dribble and get to the free throw line, where he connected on 15 of his 16 attempts. Conversely, when the defense switched, Luka was aggressive in making the switching big guard him in space, often draining a stepback three over him. He made a few of those today, showcasing how truly special his game can be when he has that shot falling. Luka was in full scoring mode today, as his lone assist came via a trap on the wing, where he cleanly fired a laser over the defense, that hit the rolling big in the paint, before the help could rotate, resulting in a dunk. Luka definitely recognized that his team was going to need every bit of offense that he could give them, and he made sure to do just that. Perhaps equally importantly, Luka made sure to get to the line in the waning minutes, with the score heavily contested. Up just one point, with a little over a minute to play, Luka connected on four free throws to make sure they’d secure the victory.

    Despite Luka’s teammates not scoring the ball proficiently, one must give them credit for doing the little things that contributed to their win. Slovenia won the battle at the glass, nabbing 40 rebounds, to Italy’s 30. 15 of those were offensive, which lead to an extra 16 points, which very well may have been the biggest factor in today’s win, despite Luka’s gaudy individual statistics. Italy actually outshot Slovenia from the field (45.5% to 42.2%) so one can safely surmise that those offensive rebounds made a sizeable difference in the final outcome. For his play, Luka was named the player of the game, as he once again led both teams in scoring, as well as rebounding. With Luka playing at this level, we must give Slovenia a puncher’s chance to hang with the better teams, as we inch closer to the tournament’s finale.

    Luka has looked great in EuroBasket 2025. The changes to his physique are noticeable, and have helped him gain more mobility, which we didn’t see last year, certainly not at this level. In particular, he seems to be able to split doubles and traps, which help him get to the middle of the court, where he can post-up, shoot the mid-range, or if the defense is over-aggressive, earn a trip to the charity stripe. He seems to be well in control offensively, which is an awesome thing to see, and certainly something that we look forward to seeing this upcoming Lakers season. For the most part, his game has looked smooth, and he is letting things come to him as opposed to forcing the issue. His three-pointer is also starting to come around, making him all the more dangerous with the ball in his hands. Slovenia will now be advancing to the quarterfinals, where they’ll take on Germany. The Germans are fresh off the heels of a resounding victory over Portugal in their Round of 16 matchup, and on paper, easily boast one of the more talented rosters in the tournament with no shortage of NBA pedigree. But as we witnessed today, anything can happen in the single elimination format, as Serbia and France both endured upsets, taking the two juggernauts out of the picture. If Luka Magic persists, Slovenia can definitely hang with any of the remaining teams, but alas, you never know. It’ll be intriguing to watch Slovenia square off against Germany, in what should be a fun contest. Until then, let’s hope they can keep playing quality basketball and that Luka keeps bringing the fireworks. Go Slovenia and Go Lakers.

  • Report: The Clippers Are Still The Clippers

    In a not-so-stunning turn of events, the Los Angeles Clippers did something very Clipper-like. They embroiled themselves in yet another controversy, proving yet again that they are, indeed, the Clippers. The Clips and owner Steve Ballmer, *allegedly* set up a phony company called Aspiration which would go on to count Clippers’ star Kawhi Leonard as its flagship endorser. Aspiration, now bankrupt, *allegedly* payed out a total of $28M to Leonard for a “no-show” endorsement gig. Leonard never publicly acknowledged his connection to Aspiration, despite receiving a substantial amount of money for (secretly?) endorsing their enterprise. This smells fishy, and very Clipper-esque. Not to mention, Steve Ballmer, the sixth richest man in the world, *allegedly* facilitated Kawhi Leonard’s “participation” with Aspiration by donating large sums of money to the now defunct company. This essentially circumvents the NBA salary cap, which is a very serious affront given how much the NBA values their CBA and its accompanying by-laws. This is a story that won’t go away until we get to the bottom of it, and it so eloquently encapsulates the Clippers and their ethos. All that glitters ain’t Gold.

    The Los Angeles Lakers, of course, were briefly linked to Kawhi Leonard when they pursued his services during the summer of 2019. Kawhi eventually spurned the Purple & Gold, in favor of the cross-hall rivals Clippers. But amidst negotiations with the the Lakers, some interesting reports surfaced. Among those the notion that Kawhi and his team (led by his uncle Dennis Robertson) made outlandish demands to the Lakers in exchange of his services. A private plane, a house, team ownership stakes and most suspiciously, a guaranteed amount of endorsement money (perhaps to the tune of $28M?) were some of the reported indulgences demanded by Leonard and his camp. The Lakers, smartly, walked away from that whole fiasco, before Leonard eventually landed with the Clips. The Lakers also rebounded by assembling the pieces for what would later become a championship roster during the 2020 NBA season. In hindsight, LA did the right thing. The way Kawhi and his camp carried themselves during those negotiations doesn’t exactly reek of someone who is committed to proudly donning the logo. To the contrary, it speaks of someone who is in it for himself.

    The Clippers of course, being the Clippers, *likely* welcomed Leonard and his demands, seeing as how a.) they’re the Clippers therefore they’re desperate and b.) the idea of sticking to big brother Lakers was too much to pass up. It’s very telling that there were reports of Leonard and his camp making these outrageous demands as early as back in 2019, during his big free agency summer. Now, almost six years later, these same reports are resurfacing, except now in greater detail. The company in question, Aspiration, was a company that helped clients ‘leave behind’ a carbon footprint by planting trees on their behalf. Apparently, they charged their clients one dollar for every tree planted in their name. Steve Ballmer caught wind of this company around late 2021, and decided to bring them aboard the ‘Clipper Family’ (move over Billy Crystal and Clipper Darrell). He then starts *allegedly* pouring in tens of millions of dollars into the company, in addition to agreeing to eventually anoint them as chief franchise sponsors, complete with a jersey patch and ads plastered all over the Intuit Dome. A few months later, Kawhi Leonard resigns with the Clippers for over $176M, hmmm. And a few months after that, Kawhi lands an endorsement deal with you guessed it, Aspiration. Hmm-hmmmmm. This was followed by Leonard creating an LLC by the name of “KL2Aspire”, which would be used for Kawhi to collect his “endorsement” money. If you stopped right there, that’s enough evidence for a guilty verdict, but in true Clipper fashion, it still gets worse.

    Kawhi, *allegedly* earned more money than all of the other company’s celebrity ambassadors combined, and by a healthy margin, more than four times over. He was essentially “paid” $28M to do absolutely nothing. Moreover, Kawhi’s contract with Aspiration stated not a single demand for the superstar to fulfill, instead making a handful of “requests”. Among said requests were for Leonard to autograph a number of items, take a photo or video each month and provide five organic interactions (such as comments, likes or retweets). Of these requests, Leonard fulfilled a grand total of zero of them. As a cherry on top, the only way for the contract to be voided/terminated was if Kawhi no longer played with the Los Angeles Clippers. That’s a lot of red flags. Of course these are all still *allegations*. But if true, oh boy. We also know that the Lakers declined to grant any of Leonards demands during their negotiation process. Perhaps those demands included a phony company to funnel $28M of secret endorsement money under the table. By the way, Kawhi also never spoke publicly of Aspiration, or his involvement with them.

    If these allegations are proven true, and the evidence certainly suggests so, then the NBA should throw the book at the Clippers and make an example of them. Years ago, when the Minnesota Timberwolves signed power-forward Joe Smith, by sliding extra money under the table. As a result, they were met with harsh consequences by then NBA commissioner David Stern. They were fined up the rear, and forced to forfeit over 5 draft picks. Current Commish Adam Silver ought to strap on his big boy pants and go to work. The NBA, reportedly, takes its CBA very seriously, and any violations thereof are usually persecuted to highest degree. Here, you have the Clippers, with owner and tech mogul Steve Ballmer, the sixth richest man on the planet, assuming they’re above the norms and traditions by flexing their financial muscle in ways that undermine the rulebook. This type of thing can’t fly. Fines, draft selections and voided contracts should all be in play. The Clippers need to be made an example of. Other organizations have been punished for much less. More importantly, the integrity of the game and of the NBA should be protected. Adam Silver shouldn’t fear Ballmer’s checkbook, because Ballmer will be filthy rich regardless. The NBA should come first in this regard, and in this new age of über-wealthy tech moguls buying sports franchises with their pocket cash, the league needs to stand firm by its rules so as to not undermine the integrity of the sport by allowing these ultra-wealthy magantes to think they can make a mockery of it. Because at the end of the day money can buy status, but not respect.

    Anyways, Go Lakers.

  • Luka Dominates as Slovenia Defeats Israel, Move on to Round of 16

    Lakers star Luka Dončić notched yet another dominant performance in EuroBasket 2025, as he and Slovenia defeated Israel earlier today to cap off group stage play. Slovenia had already secured a berth in the Round of 16 during their last victory against Iceland. So technically, today’s contest against Israel was not of the must-win type. With the victory, however, Slovenia afford themselves slightly better seeding than they would have had they lost today’s game. It also brings their record to a respectable 3-2, following an 0-2 start, which suggested whispers of a potential early exit for the Slovenians.

    Dončić was outstanding today, playing perhaps his best game of the tournament so far. The Slovenian forward finished the game with 37 points, 11 boards, 9 dishes, 3 steals and a block. He also committed 7 turnovers. Luka once again showcased his all-around brilliance, tallying game-highs in points, rebounds and assists. He was also quite efficient today, shooting 12 for 21, including 4-11 from downtown. The latter is still not the most ideal figure, but Luka did in fact show improvement today hitting the three, doing so more assertively. Luka got off to his customary hot start, hitting on a couple of his patented stepback threes early on. He was the catalyst behind Slovenia’s offense in the early goings, as he finished the first half with 24 points, six rebounds and six assists, while helping his side open up a double-digit lead before the break. He was once again masterful on the pick and roll, where despite constant hard hedges and traps, he consistently found the right angles to sneak pinpoint-dimes to the roll man. Slovenia’s pick and roll plays have definitely looked a bit more dynamic as of late, compared to what they were doing to start the tournament. They even incorporated some double drag action for Luka in transition, which he used to dice Israel’s defense for plenty of early offense chances. Their pick setting was also aggressive and effective, often confusing Israel by switching up screen angles.

    Today, Luka’s rhythm was on point, as he knew precisely when to be aggressive with the ball or when to create for his teammates, completely dictating the pulse of the game. Israel are no slouches either, as they’ve also secured a trip to the Round of 16. They’re also led by talented NBA player Deni Avdija, who finished with a team-high 34 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. He had a good back and forth going with Luka, with Luka ultimately besting him as Slovenia came together to play maybe their best game of the group stage round.

    Slovenia received some sizeable support from their supporting cast today. Guard Aleksej Nikolic contributed 16 points and seven assists. Rok Radovic (14 points), Gregor Hrovat (10 points, seven assists) and Allen Omic (10 points, 11 boards) all reached double figures in scoring, rounding out a well-balanced offensive attack for Slovenia. Additionally, they collected 28 assists on their 37 made baskets (shooting a robust 54.4% from the court), showing vast improvements with their complimentary playmaking, outside of Dončić. This is precisely the type of effort that Slovenia will need in order to hang with the better teams in the Round of 16. They played a complete team game today, and in doing so, looked quite legitimate. We need to see more of this all-around effort if Slovenia wishes to advance deep in EuroBasket 2025. Luka played great, but so did his teammates. It was their ability to lead a multi-pronged offensive attack that made Slovenia looked perhaps their best yet in the tournament.

    Luka continues to excel in FIBA competition, and that’s a great thing to see for us Lakers fans. He’s been the best player in the tournament so far. Granted, he’s had plenty more responsibilities thrusted on his shoulders, compared to the likes of Giannis or Jokic, as Luka is clearly the engine of his team. They go as far as he takes them, and they don’t seem to have the talent to feature any ‘co-stars’. Today, however, they were able to find a balanced scoring output as a unit. They played aggressive and purposefully, giving Luka all the help he needed, in addition to his own brilliant play. This is a good recipe for Slovenia. If they can play like this, with Luka dominating, they can make some noise later in the tournament. Also encouraging was the fact that Luka seemed to get hot towards the end, and wasn’t bothered by fatigue, making three of his four three-pointers in the fourth quarter. It remains to be seen whether this type of inspired play can continue as the competition gradually gets tighter. But so far, they’ve managed to rebound, after a weak start, to finally look the part of a legitimate player in this tournament. Slovenia’s next opponent is yet to be determined, as they will kickstart the Round of 16 later this weekend. At least they go in with some momentum, and knowing Luka’s competitive spirit, he’ll want both his team and himself to be even better going forward. Let’s hope they continue to show up and show out, and ultimately make some noise in EuroBasket 2025. Until then, Go Lakers and Go Slovenia.

  • Slovenia Survive Against Iceland, Keep Tournament Hopes Alive

    Following a rocky start to EuroBasket 2025, Slovenia has rebounded strongly to bring their record to an even 2-2 in the group stages of the tournament. Today they defeated Iceland by a score of 87-79. The final score might tell a slightly different story, as this game was very closely contested for the vast majority of its duration. The resilient Iceland team brought forth a never-say-die attitude that challenged the Slovenians to dig deep. But ultimately, it was Luka and Slovenia who prevailed and as a result, will advance to the round of 16.

    Luka had a good showing once again. The Lakers Star tallied game-high 26 points, to go with seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. He did have a tough night shooting though, making only 8 of his 22 attempts, and once again shooting a less-than-stellar 2-10 from distance. It’s perhaps too early to worry about the shooting numbers, but Luka has struggled uncharacteristically so far from range, bringing his overall three point shooting for the tournament to a smidge under 28% after today’s match. It could be attributed to poor shot quality, or it could be that he’s simply going through a slump, or it could be some mixture of different factors. But it should be noted that it has been by far the only downside to his play thus far, as everything else, from the scoring, to the playmaking, to the rebounding, and yes, even the defense, has been on-point so far. The important part is that Slovenia picked up the win, and will now set their sights on the round of 16. Luka also gets a few more cracks to break out with a big game from three-point range. The competition certainly gets stiffer from here, so Slovenia will need every bit of brilliance from Luka as they look to go deep in this tournament.

    It should be noted that this wasn’t an easy game for Sovenia. Coming off of the heels of a victory over Belgium, they needed every bit of this win in order to maintain their tournament hopes alive after starting just 0-2. It was a see-saw battle through two quarters, as Slovenia managed to take a 36-35 lead into the break. They opened the second half much more aggressively, eventually opening up a 60-46 lead on Iceland. But Iceland’s resilience was not to be denied, as they fought back to make it a 5 point game with over two minutes to go in the fourth quarter. A late three pointer helped the Slovenian side push their lead back to nine, affirmatively sealing the game. But credit to Iceland for hanging tough and refusing to go away easy.

    Despite the subpar shooting numbers, Luka looked very comfortable running the offense. He had some nice possessions on the pick and roll, as Slovenia has definitely gotten more creative on that end, at times running empty-side ball screens on the wing. Luka also made a couple of step-back threes, which showcased his dangerous scoring ability. I would still contend that one of the main reasons Luka is struggling from deep is because he is shooting most of those shots off-the-dribble, not to mention, Slovenia lacks the talent to deter teams from constantly doubling Luka when he has the ball. But when his step-back is going in, he certainly looks imposing. Another factor contributing to his poor shooting during the last two games is simply the fact that he’s logging alot of minutes. Because he is virtually the team’s offense, he has to play close to the entire game for Slovenia to have a chance to be competitive. It’s telling that even against lesser opponents like Belgium and Iceland, Luka still has to stay on the court for them to be competitive. They’re still not getting great production from other teammates, as guard Aleksej Nikolic (17 points) was the only other Slovenian to clock in double-digits scoring. No one else had more than seven points. It’ll be interesting to see if and how Slovenia can delegate responsibilities moving forward, as they desperately need more production from their other players, especially seeing as how they’ll be facing deeper and more talented teams in the round of 16. Today was easily Luka’s worst game of the tournament so far, scoring 26 points on 22 shots, and struggling with foul trouble for much of the first half. But even so, he still managed to robustly fill the box score, and more importantly secure a much needed win. I think they’ll need much more from Luka in order to beat the likes of Germany, France, Croatia and Greece. But then again, they’ll need much more from the entire team. Slovenia will have another match with Israel, on Thursday, before they embark to the round of 16. From a Lakers fan standpoint, Luka continues to impress both with his play and with his leadership. Even in a tough battle like today, they managed to come together to produce a badly-needed win. Now let’s see if they can collectively find that extra gear in order to go toe-to-toe with the elite European teams. Until then, let’s hope Luka continues to ball, and bring glory to his team and country. Go Lakers and Go Slovenia.

  • Luka, Slovenia Fall to France, Rebound to Beat Belgium

    Lakers superstar Luka Dončić and Slovenia continued their round of international basketball at the FIBA EuroBasket Tournament as they squared off against rival France early yesterday. Unfortunately for Luka and his side, France pulled away late on their way to a 103-95 victory. It was a closely-contested game for most of its duration, as both teams were tied at 83 apiece at around the three-and-a-half minute mark of the fourth quarter, before France went on an 8-0 run to push their lead to 91-83 with roughly two minutes remaining. At that point, they’d essentially sealed the win, for which Slovenia had no answers as they couldn’t keep up with France’s late game execution. Luka, for his part, was again terrific. He notched a game-high 39 points to go with eight boards and nine dimes, while also collecting two steals. Luka has been superb so far in these international contests, and one could argue that he’s been the best player out of any of the countries currently competing. It’s great to see from a Lakers perspective, and one has to admire Luka’s commitment to representing his country on the global stage. However, Slovenia simply lacks the horses to run with Luka against these more talented European teams, as their record now drops to 0-2 in the round robin stage. They have a long ways to go before they can confidently make any bids of going far into this tournament.

    France, their opponent, on the other hand boasts a very talented squad consisting of several NBA standouts. Among these are last year’s number one draft selection Zaccharie Richaser (who scored 12 points), big man Alexandre Sarr (who also added 12 points), and former highly touted international prospect Bilal Coulibaly (who contributed 13 points). For the game, they were led by guard Sylvain Francisco whose team high 32 points, seven rebounds and five assists paced the French side. Slovenia seemingly had no answer for him on ball screen actions. As has been the case so far in these games, teams are zeroing in on Luka when he has the ball in his hands. France was no different as they hounded the Laker’s superstar on every ball screen action, often blitzing and/or sending the early help. Luka did his part to stay aggressive and get himself to the free-throw line, where he connected on nineteen of twenty attempts. He played a great all around game offensively as well, as it’s also worthy to note that Slovenia did a better job of running some off-ball action for Luka, who had success scoring out of pin-downs, But it’s the rest of the roster that’s a problem. They simply lack the consistent stable of complimentary players that can score and defend at a high level (only two other Slovenians scored in double figures). France’s leading scorer, Sylvain Francisco (32 points), was coming off of the heels of a five point outing against Belgium. He also went on to score just 2 points during France’s next contest against Israel. Against Slovenia, he had his way and they had no answers for him. Moving forward, Slovenia will have to do a better job of defending their opponents’ lead guards who have seemingly broke down their defense at will. Their scoring saw a bit of an improvement this game, but in order to have any chance to advance in this tournament, they must up their defensive engagement.

    Fortunately for Slovenia, their next contest proved to be a fruitful one as they handily defeated Belgium 86-69. Luka was again great, registering a triple-double with a game-high 26 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. His game had a bit of historical significance, as he finished with just the fourth ever triple-double in FIBA history. He was slightly less efficient in this game going only 9-23 from the field, including a poor 2-11 from three point range. But he was once again the driving force for his side, as only one teammate, Klemen Prepelic, finished in double digits scoring with 12 points. Against a less talented Belgian side, Slovenia did have a much more impressive showing defensively, registering nine blocks and three steals team-wide. Luka was brilliant early, as he looked to stay aggressive on the offensive end and helped push Slovenia’s lead to double digits. He scored both in transition and in isolation, and looked unstoppable during the early portions of the match, producing 19 of his team’s 43 points by halftime. He switched to more of a facilitator role during the latter part of the game, as the team already secured control of the match. The win gave Slovenia its first of group stage play, with their overall record now sitting at 1-2. Their next two games are now likely viewed as crucial, with 0-2 Iceland on the horizon, who they’ll play this Tuesday. Following a sluggish start to the tournament, Slovenia must find a way to emerge victorious in their remaining games if they wish to continue deeper into the EuroBasket Tournament. We’ll see how that plays out.

    So far, Luka has looked tremendous. He’s registered at least 25 points in all three of his contests so far, and has also been the leading scorer for all three of them. He looks comfortable, confident, aggressive and highly focused. He’s had success attacking off the dribble, and finishing at the rim. This is something we didn’t see a whole lot of with the Lakers last season. Additionally, his footwork looks superb. He’s been scoring on a healthy amount of post-ups and his fadeaway looks sharp. It’ll be interesting to see how this transitions into the NBA season. He’s been masterful on ball screens, even though he’s being doubled on most of them. He continues to turn the corner or split the double, in addition to leveraging his size to occasionally pass over the defense to the open roller. The only low point so far has been the tree point shooting, as thus far he’s only made nine of his 30 looks from deep (putting him at about 30%). This could be due to the fact that he’s settling for mostly tough shots, as no other player on his team truly commands the gravity to dissuade opponents from doubling him on the ball. I suspect he’ll get better quality looks from deep when playing for the Lakers, but it is something to keep an eye on. The playmaking and rebounding are also there, the latter of which is especially encouraging seeing how little help he currently has with Slovenia. His native side will certainly need every bit of Luka’s brilliant play to continue moving forward, as they need to start collecting some wins if the look to keep advancing in the tournament. But so far, he’s looked like one of, if not the best player in the tournament, which is is a great thing to see if you’re a Lakers fan. Hopefully he continues to have a clean bill of health (knock on wood), and continues to showcase his dazzling exhibition of international brilliance. If so, maybe the Slovenians might have a shot at making some serious noise. In the meantime, Go Lakers and Go Slovenia.

  • Luka, Slovenia Drop First EuroBasket Contest to Poland

    After weeks of exhibition contests, the FIBA EuroBasket Tournament kicked off earlier today, and saw Lakers star Luka Dončić along with his native Slovenia take on Poland during their tournament opener. Poland prevailed in a 105-95 victory, as they established an early lead which they did not relinquish for the rest of the match. The Polish side proved superior, as they featured four starters who tallied double figures in scoring, including a team high 32 points from guard Jordan Lloyd. Things continue to look somewhat bleak for the Slovenians, who went just 1-5 during the exhibition round (although they did endure a few games without Dončić, who was out with injury) and continue to look outmatched against opponents with deeper lineups. In order to make a dent in this tournament, Slovenia must look to get better production out of teammates not named Luka Dončić, otherwise it may be a short stint for them.

    Luka, for his part, was excellent today. He scored a game high 34 points, to go with 4 boards, 9 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks. He finished with a minty 7/14 from the field, and 17/18 from the free throw line. He also shot 3/9 from distance. Luka was fighting an uphill battle all game, as he did his best to keep his side afloat. He had a nice run before halftime, eventually slicing Poland’s early lead to just one point, before the half. Poland came back with a 15-3 run to open the second half, effectively sealing the game away. However, from a Lakers-centric perspective, Luka was certainly impressive today, and that’s a great sign heading into the regular season. Physically, he looks his best in some time, and it’s also evident on the film as far as his crisp movements and ability to get to his spots with ease. Unfortunately, he isn’t getting much support from the rest of the roster, with only two teammates registering double digits in scoring. Poland was well aware of the fact that Luka is the main engine behind his team’s offense, as they consistently blitzed and trapped him on most of his pick and roll possessions. Luka was effective at splitting those double teams and getting to the middle of the floor, where he was either making mid-rangers, finishing at the rim or getting to the line at will after collapsing the defense. It’s clearly a one-man show for Slovenia at this point, as Poland pretty much ignored the roll man during most of Luka’s ball screen actions. Poland kept trapping with their big, which left a smaller guard as the low man whenever Luka split the trap, which led to many easy finishes or fouls drawn at the rim. It’s clear that Luka was being aggressive and trying to will his team to the finish line. Unfortunately, the ancillary contributions aren’t there at the moment.

    In order to maximize their offensive output, Slovenia must get more productivity from their roll man during Luka ball screens. As of right now, the roll man is simply a decoy. But even so, with Poland blitzing on nearly every ball screen, they should at least be able to short roll with their roll man, so that it collapses the defense and creates open shots for teammates on the perimeter. It looks like they might not have the personnel to play that way. With that said, they most likely will not get very far with Luka trying to split the trap and going 1v5 on every play. They simply need more activity and production from other players. This is however, unsurprising as Slovenia entered the tournament as one of the least talented squads. They also don’t seem to be the most well-coached bunch, as their offensive playcalling and sets appear to be fairly mundane. It didn’t matter much today though, as Poland simply outplayed them. They shot a scorching 59% from the field, to go with 54% shooting from range. Tough to overcome that level of efficiency from the opposition no matter how good the coaching is.

    Moving forward, Slovenia will have to regroup and find the right adjustments if they wish to make their FIBA journey a fruitful one. From a Lakers’ standpoint, it’s hard to complain about much when it comes to Luka and his play. He’s looked terrific so far, going back to the exhibition rounds. He looks slender, agile and locked in. All things that are great to see. Tonight, he was feeling the love from the Lakers’ brass, including Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka who were both present at courtside for today’s matchup. Can’t imagine that they aren’t pleased with what they’re seeing, as are many Lakers fans. Luka’s defense today was another high point, as he was very active as a help defender as well as disrupting the passing lanes. He generated his fair share of steals and turnovers with his defensive intensity. He’s certainly playing to win, showing the necessary commitment on both ends of the floor thus far. It’ll be interesting to see how far his team can go with Luka acting as virtually the sole driving force. With an early exit, at least we’ll see Luka head to training camp early, with some healthy game experience under his belt. But knowing the competitor that Luka is, I’d like to see them advance deep into the tournament which will yield a very locked in and sharp version of Luka for Opening Night. We’ll see how things shape out. Until then, Go Lakers and Go Slovenia.