Category: Basketball

Lakers head coach JJ Redick said something very simple, but profound during his exit interview.

“Luke [Kennard] is a great example. He’s a guy that can dribble, pass, and shoot,” Redick said. “I think because of injuries, there were times that we didn’t have enough of that. We’ve got to be better being able to dribble, pass and shoot.”

Now that the offseason is here, the Lakers can address these detriments with an injection of new talent. One position in particular that needs players who can dribble, pass and shoot at the highest level is the wings.

Since every team in the NBA desires this as well, wings are in high demand and hard to find, even when roster spots and money are available. Still, the Lakers have a bit of both open, so they need to find some new wings to become a true Western Conference contender.

Here’s a look at five wings the Lakers could target this summer, either in free agency or via trade.

Herb Jones

The Lakers have been connected to Jones for quite some time, but the Pelicans haven’t been interested in making a deal. Reportedly, New Orleans wants a ton of draft capital, which has made a trade tough to execute.

Now, the Lakers currently have three first round picks they can offer, and perhaps the market has changed, making Jones a tradeable player.

His value is clear. Jones is a great defender, and while his scoring dipped to just 8.9 points per game this season, he has been a double-digit scorer over the last two years.

Considering all the open space he’ll have to operate under with Luka Dončić on the ball, he’d likely have an offensive uptick playing with the Lakers. Still just 27 years old, Jones still has room to grow, and LA would be a great place for that to happen.

Trey Murphy III

While the Pelicans didn’t win many games, they have another quality player that teams like the Lakers want in Murphy. LA has had ties to Murphy since before he was an NBA player, having him come in for a pre-draft workout back in 2021 when he stated he wanted to be an All-Star.

He hasn’t quite reached that level, but this year he averaged a career-high 21.5 points per game. Murphy is also a career 38.2% 3-point shooter, making him an ideal wing for the Lakers. Similar to Jones, Murphy is under contract through the 2028-29 season, making $27 million-plus each year, and the team has a club option for the following season. So, a trade is the only way the Lakers can acquire him, but that’s a great option to go with if the Pelicans are serious about making a deal.

Peyton Watson

Watson is a restricted free agent, but considering that the Nuggets flamed out of the playoffs and could be in the second apron with a hefty luxury tax bill if they don’t shed salary, so it’s very possible Denver will have to move on from him.

This past season, Watson scored 14.1 points per game and shot 41.1% from beyond the arc. That level of shooting is hard to find, and if the Lakers are smart, they’ll aggressively pursue him.

Luguentz Dort

Okay, some Lakers fans will detest the idea of Dort, mainly because he is a tough defender with a reputation for being dirty.

However, he is exactly the kind of player you hate to play, but love to have. He is a defensive irritant and while his offensive numbers are modest, averaging just 8.3 points per game this season, Dort has had seasons where he’s been a sniper from deep.

If he can get back to being a 40% shooter from 3-point range like he was back in 2024-25 when the Thunder won it all, then he can have a bounce-back year with the Lakers, similar to what Marcus Smart had with LA this season.

OKC has a team option for Dort, but their cap situation is looking pretty tough. So, perhaps they’ll have to let him go to avoid some restrictions, making this their loss and LA’s gain.

Khris Middleton

Middleton isn’t the most alluring option, but he’s a good option for the Lakers. He is an unrestricted free agent, and with the Mavericks rebuilding around Cooper Flagg, his staying in Dallas doesn’t make much sense.

Middleton has been on a steady decline and barely cracked 10 points per game this season. Still, he’s a great vet and an elite 3-point shooter who made 39% of his shots from beyond the arc.

He won’t be the top priority, but Middleton in LA would certainly give the franchise some additional wing depth.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

The 2026 NBA Draft is creeping up.

Teams are welcoming draft prospects to their facilities for individual and group workouts as they scout for a player to add to their roster. For the Golden State Warriors in particular, they could use a player who can come into the league ready to fit in to whatever role is handed to them.

Best player available is the best method to go for Golden State, but they need a versatile swingman, someone who can play multiple positions from forward, and even guard. Ultimately, the player needs to be able to defend at a high level, but also compliment veteran stars such as Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler on the offensive end as well.

They also need more bigs, specifically a center.

Questions loom around which players will be back next year and who will be packaged in a major deal. One of those players are Kristaps Porzingis, who they acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks for Jonathan Kuminga. Porzingis is an unrestricted free agent. And so is Al Horford (player option), who is also 40-years-old.

With that, it's obvious the Warriors will be buyers during the free agency period. Their draftee will be someone who understands they will bring value by doing the little things that make a lasting impact on the game. It's likely someone who's not a big name right now, but could be one day.

In USA TODAY's latest NBA mock draft 15.0, Bryan Kalbrosky has the Warriors selecting Karim López, a 19-year-old from Mexico, to fill that role. López would be the ideal fit for the Warriors given his 6-foot-8 frame. He has the prototypical size to be a Swiss Army knife for Golden State.

"Despite his age, he played a huge role for his team defensively for a team that won the NBL Ignite Cup. López measured well, weighing just shy of 222 pounds and 38-inch max vertical," Kalbrosky wrote.

Here's who sports experts predict the Golden State Warriors will draft with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft:

Two fans have been banned for life from NBA arenas after one of them ran onto the court in an apparent attempt to film himself with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night.

As the Spurs were taking the ball downcourt midway through the fourth quarter, a fan dashed onto the floor to where Wembanyama and New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson were playing away from the ball near the three-point line.

The fan held his phone out as he stood in front of Wembanyama and was almost immediately placed in a bear hug by a member of Frost Bank Arena security, then dragged away by that guard and one other.

Read more:Victor Wembanyama rookie card sells for $5.11 million, a record for a non-autographed NBA card

“The juvenile committed the offense of Disrupting Meeting or Procession (Texas Penal Code §42.05) by intentionally disrupting a lawful gathering, namely, the Spurs basketball game, through physical interference,” the Bexar sheriff’s office said in a statement emailed to The Times.

“Additionally, the juvenile committed the offense of Criminal Trespass (Texas Penal Code §30.05) by entering property, specifically the basketball court, without the effective consent of the owner, despite having notice that entry onto the court was prohibited. ...

“The juvenile was subsequently arrested for the above-listed charges.”

Read more:A new board game mocks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for 'foul baiting.' He wants it destroyed

The NBA said in a statement that the second fan was banned “for his role in the incident” but did not provide details.

A video that appears to have been taken on the first fan’s phone as the incident unfolded has been uploaded to social media. In it, the fan appears to film himself running onto the court and trying to stop in front of Wembanyama to get him in the shot.

The 7-foot-4 superstar is cut off at the neck in the footage.

Read more:NBA probe of Steve Ballmer, Kawhi Leonard and Clippers at forefront after Aspiration fraud sentencing

Throughout the incident, the fan yells, “Wemby!” as well as what is thought to be the name of a meme coin.

As it all went down, Wembanyama looks somewhat amused; Robinson does not.

“I’ve never been in that situation,” Wembanyama said after the Spurs’ 105-95 loss. “I didn’t know how to act.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The 2026 NBA Draft is less than three weeks away, as NBA teams have hosted pre-draft workouts for this year's draft prospects.

The Sacramento Kings missed out on a top-5 pick but still landed the No. 7 pick after ending the 2025-26 season with a 22-60 record, tied for worst in the Western Conference.

Sacramento has a number of questions that need to be answered going into the draft, but none bigger than what they will do to address their point guard situation. The Kings need a player, specifically a point guard, who has the caliber to change a franchise.

The team has been searching for someone who can fill those shoes since they shipped their franchise player, De'Aaron Fox, in a three-team trade to the San Antonio Spurs in Feb. 2025. They received in return Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks (2025 from Charlotte, 2027 from San Antonio, 2031 from Minnesota), and three second-round picks.

Last season, they finished with Russell Westbrook, who is 37 years old, as their starting point guard. The future Hall of Famer was a productive contributor on the floor and showed up as one of the team's vocal leaders.

However, he was on a one-year deal, and he'll be 38 next season. Kings should prioritize bringing Westbrook back and adding a guard who can learn under his tutelage.

In USA TODAY's latest NBA mock draft 15.0, Bryan Kalbrosky has Sacramento going after Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. as the perfect guy to take the throne for the Kings.

Kalbrosky wrote: "The speedy guard led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but is one of the most exciting offensive prospects in recent memory. It's also worth noting Kings executive Scott Perry coached Acuff's father in college."

Here's who sports experts predict the Sacramento Kings will draft with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft:

The NBA has banned two fans for life after an incident in which a man ran on to the court to take a selfie with Victor Wembanyama during Game 1 of the finals.

In a separate case, ESPN reports that the league is investigating an incident during Wednesday night’s game when New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson became upset after an interaction with fans during the fourth quarter of his team’s 105-95 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Related: NBA finals: in a mud wrestle shaped by 53 years of dread, Jalen Brunson was the difference

In the first incident, a fan ran on the court holding his phone above his head during the fourth quarter. He approached Wembanyama and appeared to attempt a selfie with the Spurs star, who smiled briefly as security closed in and escorted the fan out of the arena.

“The individual who entered the court area during Game 1 of The Finals was arrested and will be banned for life from all NBA arenas. A second individual will also receive a lifetime ban for his role in the incident,” the NBA said in a statement on Thursday.

Wembanyama said he was bemused rather than shaken by the incident. “I’ve never been in that situation,” Wembanyama said. “I didn’t know how to act. It really surprised me, almost as much as that time [when] a bat crossed the court.”

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said the incident wasn’t a factor in San Antonio struggling to down the stretch as the Knicks ended on an 11-0 scoring run.

In the Brunson incident, the Knicks guard appeared to become upset with a group of fans courtside in the final minute of the game. He spoke to crew chief Scott Foster and then talked to him again after the end of the game. Brunson has received criticism this season from some fans who have accused him of “flopping” to win fouls. Brunson finished the game with 30 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter.

Game 2 of the finals takes place on Friday night in San Antonio before the series moves to New York for Monday’s Game 3.

The Knicks stormed back from a 14-point deficit in Game 1 of the NBA Finals to take down the Spurs, 105-95, on Wednesday night in San Antonio, drawing first blood in the series with Game 2 set for Friday night.

And with the Spurs facing the possibility of arriving at a raucous Madison Square Garden in a 2-0 series hole for Monday's Game 3, the Knicks know what to expect from San Antonio in Game 2. 

"A desperate team," Mitchell Robinsontold reporters on Thursday when asked what the Knicks are preparing for. 

With the benefit of having eight days off after sweeping the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks looked fresh in Game 1, although they were a bit rusty in the first half -- and struggled for the whole game when it came to shooting from behind the arc.

The Spurs, who prevailed over the Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference Finals, had only three days off to prepare. And while their energy level was high, superstar Victor Wembanyama seemed a bit winded down the stretch as New York pulled away.

One big reason for the Knicks' comeback wasJosh Hart, who was one of the most important players on the floor despite scoring only three points.

Hart, whose motor never stops, had 15 rebounds, six assists, four steals, and zero turnovers -- stuffing the stat sheet despite missing a big chunk of the first half because he was in foul trouble.

"His energy is just relentless," Jalen Brunson said about Hart. "It doesn't stop. I mean, he eats candy all the time. That tells you who he is -- he's a big kid with an absurd amount of energy."

As they came away with the win in Game 1, the Knicks' defense tightened up late, giving the Spurs fits.

That included big performances from Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby, and is something New York will have to continue as the series goes forward.

"I think we just tried to be physical and be aggressive defensively," Anunoby said. "We try to make anyone we're playing uncomfortable. We don't want people to be comfortable. Taking up space when you can, always make sure to get a contest, and just fly around -- communicate on defense."

Welcome to a limited series called “Overreactions: Where answers become questions, questions become more questions, and you question your own sanity so much that you slowly convince yourself that Malik Rose could have been an All-NBA point guard if Gregg Popovich had a little bit of imagination.”

It’s a safe place for anxious fans to overreact to every loss, win, tie, and moral victory after every single game in these NBA Finals. And because there are no ties in the NBA, we should add that item to another longstanding list of grievances from NBA fans for Adam Silver. That list includes putting up a statue of Manu Ginóbili plucking a bat out of midair during an actual NBA game and putting that statue out in front of the NBA office in New York, New York.

Today we discuss Game One. It’s time to panic.

10. Jalen Brunson is unstoppable. Kelly Oubre said the hardest part about guarding the Knicks star guard is that big ol’ head. The Spurs could bring out a replica of Rick Moranis’s big (expletive) helmet when he played Dark Helmet in Spaceballs, chase Brunson around the court and try to corral him in it to prevent him from putting 30 points up again, but it’d be no use. The Villanova Knicks will find a way.

9. Karl Anthony-Towns is the only good thing about The Devil Wears Prada 2. Have I seen the second movie? No. Do I love the first movie because I love anything with Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Stanley Tucci? Of course. Will I pay $90 for a babysitter, $40 for two tickets to go see the sequel in a movie theater that smells like the mops are soaked in melted butter to clean the floors or wait until it comes out on streaming where I could just use my wife’s aunt’s mother’s streaming service login? The latter. What does that have to do with KAT’s stellar line of 18 points, 12 rebounds in 34 minutes of bruising play down in the paint? I don’t know. Why is Stanley Tucci so (expletive)ing charming? We just don’t know.

8. De’Aaron Fox will never make another shot in the fourth quarter again. Ever. Ever never ever again. The former (and inaugural) NBA clutch player of the year for 2022-23 season will be forced to return that award just based alone on the cries of angry fans’ reactions all over Spurs Twitter. That’s the only criteria, and frankly the only one we as a society should use to evaluate anything from Fox’s fourth quarter metrics to why penguins cannot fly—because angry people on social media demanded it so. Maybe if penguins paid a monthly subscription to have a blue check mark next to their names, they’d be able to fly off that huge island of ice and hang out in warmer climates like the Kohl’s parking lot in Irving, Texas that has no trees for shade in the heat of summer.

7. The Spurs are going to keep shooting 25% from three as a team. I mean take away Julian Champagnie’s 5-10 shooting from downtown and the team percentage falls all the way down to 18%. Do you know what is the only thing that is higher than 18%? Every single credit card interest rate. So worry not, if the Spurs’ insanely low (almost outlier-ish from a statistical standpoint) three-point percentage doesn’t keep you up at night, those CC APRs should.

6. The nuns are out. They brought us so much luck, charm, lucky charms, and distractions through the Western Conference Finals, and we owe so much to their faith in serving others, selflessness, and humble vibes. But now? After Game One? It’s time to panic and bring in Alex Caruso lookalikes dressed as chupacabras. Nothing says panic like making unholy alliances with chupacabras. Doing all of this nonsensical, downright delusional non-basketball bits won’t guarantee a win in Game 2. No, we just want to let the panic wash over us like a terrifying flashback of every made three pointer that left Alex Caruso’s magical hands in that last series.

5. Blame the corgi. Yeah, the corgi is cute. Like too cute in fact. And it briefly united the world against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending champs, because no one’s going to test the magical clairvoyance of a freakin’ corgi. But fame is a fickle mistress. And no one has more mistresses in the dog world than corgis. You know that meme where the dude is looking at another woman while holding hands with his current significant other? That meme was created by dalmatians as a warning to humans that corgis are coming after humans’ loved ones next. Behind those cute little round eyes is the charm of a certified psychopath. What does that have to do with the Spurs shooting less than 25% from three as team in Game One? Nothing. I just need to blame someone, even a cute, little corgi.

4. Mitchell Robinson broke his pinky at home on purpose. Hear me out. But maybe Victor Wembanyama’s least favorite finger is the pinky. Maybe his least favorite genetically enhanced laboratory mice who try to take over the world are Pinky and the Brain. Insert Charlie Kelly conspiracy meme from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia here. Just maybe, these things were enough of a phobia to distract Wembanyama from taking more shots down low. It’s time to panic, people, so we cannot leave any stone unturned or unblamed.

3. The Knicks are never going to lose another playoff game. Ever. Ever never ever again. This 12-game playoff winning streak will extend into next season and into playoff seasons for the next 10 years. During that time, they will make four more sequels to The Devil Wears Prada, and us NBA fans will be begging Adam Silver to quit rigging the playoffs in favor of the Knicks just so Anne Hathaway can continue to share cameos with KAT. I’m not trying to jinx their streak. I’m legit panicking. Didn’t you read the sixth sentence up there? It’s time to panic and overreact to every little thing. What is a Knickerbocker? Does it translate to “Bane of Spurs’ existence”? Don’t bother googling what a Knickerbocker is AIing it or whatever you kids use AI for today. And don’t bother explaining it to me. I want the smell of panic to linger over us because we’re definitely not going to act like we’ve been here before (6 times). Yes, I remember 1999. But we Spurs fans want to panic. We need to panic.

2. Speaking of panicking over every little thing. Who gave their Spurs court-side tickets to Ben Stiller? I know he’s a Knicks “superfan,” but have you seen The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? It’s a really good movie that was vastly underrated when it came out. I know those big market teams like parading their celebrities around like a proud parent who just saw their kids play little dribblers with no enforced rules for dribbling! Rules are rules, and I just don’t like seeing dual threat actor/director Ben Stiller seeing his favorite team win against our favorite team. If TSLoWM comes on cable, sure, I’ll stop what I’m doing and watch it again because I love that movie, and yes I still have cable. But I don’t have to like it, even if I do like it.

1.It’s time to give up. There’s a scene in Airplanes II: The Sequel where Buck Murdock (played by William Shatner playing Captain James T. Kirk playing Buck Murdock. It’s Kirk Lazarus’s “I’m the dude playing the dude pretending to be another dude” before Kirk Lazarus or reborn Robert Downey Jr. ever existed) gives up trying to help William Striker land the plane because the latter couldn’t find a piece of metal to shove into the control panel. The scene reads as incredulous as Shatner’s acting style. At the first sign of difficulty, he (Buck Murdock) completely gives up and tells everyone to shut it down. He even tells them to go home as he’s packing up his own suitcase while still on the line with Striker (even if the control tower they are all working in is on the moon where the plane piloted by William Striker is about to crash into).

That’s my overreaction. Let’s just give up. What’s a man doing with a bobby pin? 1982 humor. Gotta love it.

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Victor Wembanyama looked tired. And understandably so. Game 2 will mark his ninth game in 19 days.

That is a more frenetic pace than is often realized, and this is Wembanyama’s first playoff run, as it is for nearly all of this young San Antonio Spurs’ roster.

But desperation can overcome fatigue. These Victor Wembanyama picks expect a balance of the two for both Wemby and the Spurs in Game 2 against the New York Knicks on Friday, June 5.

Victor Wembanyama prop pick for Game 2

Victor Wembanyama best bet: Over 3.5 assists (+120 at bet365)

Maybe the New York Knicks’ defense is truly this good. Maybe it has found some secret this postseason that no team has ever before enjoyed. Maybe.

In the last 12 games, New York has held opponents to 28.8% from deep while forcing those foes to pull up from long range on 46.5% of their shots.

Suffice it to say, the Knicks' defense deserves a bounty of credit, but at some point, an opponent will hit more shots.

There is only one opponent left. The San Antonio Spurs went a gruesome 11-of-43 (25.6%) from deep on Wednesday. Remove Julian Champagnie’s 5-of-10 and the rest of the Spurs hit 18.2% of their heaves from beyond the arc.

Logically, role players like Devin Vassell (1-of-6) and Dylan Harper (1-of-4) should shoot better in Game 2, again at home.

And them shooting better should allow Victor Wembanyama to preserve a touch of energy on the offensive end of the court, playmaking more than driving.

Victor Wembanyama same-game parlay

Wembanyama should also shoot better, though his 2-of-9 from deep in Game 1 would have cashed much of this same-game parlay, regardless. His shot looks tired right now, but he needs to keep chucking from deep.

Frankly, getting to the line 13 times was a means of scoring, but each blow also further exhausted Wemby.

The world may not want to acknowledge his fatigue, but it is still a reality. Debut playoff runs almost always end in exhaustion.

That is part of why Wembanyama has fallen short of this modest points prop in three of his last four games and in five of his last seven. Yet in six of those games, he hit multiple 3-pointers.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Our latest mailbag delivered plenty of great questions, but one topic came up time and time again: LeBron James.

His future is going to be not just the biggest question of the Lakers’ offseason, but one of the biggest in the league as a whole. He’s already broken basically every record in terms of longevity while still showing he can perform at a high level this season.

But with the Lakers looking to move into the Luka Dončić era, does it make sense to also take part in the LeBron retirement tour?

Let’s dive into that debate with your questions.

So, let’s try to have that conversation with nuance, because I agree that there are multiple ways to come at this from both sides of the argument.

Depending on when you asked the Lakers during the season, their thoughts on LeBron’s future with the franchise would have been different. For much of the first half of the season, all the signs pointed to the two sides going their separate ways this summer.

Then, the team figured some things out heading into March, LeBron looked great as a willing third fiddle and the Lakers played their best basketball of the season. They legitimately looked like a contender for most of the month, including beating the team that is currently up in the NBA Finals in a rout.

For LeBron, when everything else went awry for the Lakers heading into the playoffs, he stepped up in a way that should also provide some encouragement that he has something to offer for a title-contending team.

Now, even taking that into account, there are other things that come with having LeBron on the team. No matter if he’s the best player on the team or the third option, he’s always going to be a focal point. Conversations will revolve around him.

He also brings pressure that will stress-test a team throughout the year. Whether it’s due to reasons on the court or off of it, there will be multiple times during the campaign where the team’s resolve will be tested.

You also have to account for a regular season in which he’s not going to be going all out throughout. He paces himself, which means you’re likely going to lose games in December and January because LeBron is pacing himself for the postseason.

It is also impossible to fully move into the Luka era with LeBron still on the team. Everyone can acknowledge that this is Luka’s team and Luka’s franchise, but with LeBron on the roster, it won’t fully feel like that.

And yet, even with all those qualifiers, he led the team to a playoff series win as the central figure with Luka and Austin Reaves. It truly can’t be understated, even if it came against an underwhelming Houston side, that LeBron still has enough juice to carry a team in the playoffs.

This is not an easy decision. There are pros and cons, as suggested in the comment/question, about parting with LeBron. Is it worth moving on and into the Luka era if it means moving on from a player who is still capable of contributing at a high level?

I think one aspect that hasn’t been discussed enough is that, if the Lakers should and do move on from LeBron, there is a huge statistical void that will have to be filled.

Last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game. If you take that off the team, that’s big, big numbers they have to replace. And that’s to speak nothing of the ways he impacts the team outside of the stat line. The knowledge and experience he has is invaluable and irreplaceable.

No one player can replace LeBron statistically. Even if the Lakers replace him in the aggregate, which is how they’ll have to approach things, and are able to find nearly 21 points and over seven assists and six rebounds per game, there are still ways they’re not going to be able to replace him.

And needing to do all that this summer with a free agent market that isn’t exactly brimming with top-end talent makes it more difficult. They could find solutions via trade, but that will be difficult given the other needs the team will also have.

Can they replace LeBron’s production while also finding athleticism on the perimeter while also finding a center option for the future? One player could fill multiple of those needs, but it makes a tough offseason even more difficult.

The Lakers may be better in the long run by parting ways with LeBron and entering the Luka era, but it will also likely hurt them in the short term.

I’m going to ignore all of the doom and gloom of the second comment because I want to focus a bit on LeBron’s upcoming contract and both of these questions commented on that.

I don’t think LeBron is under any illusion that he’s a massive contract guy anymore. Even if he is, the free agent market is going to let him know that’s the case. The only contending team that could offer him that type of money is the Lakers and they’d be bidding against themselves for that matter.

It’s hard to see a scenario where LeBron’s contract is much more than the mid-level exception — which will be roughly $15 million this year — because that’s what the market is going to dictate. Again, if you think he’s getting more than that, it’s because you think the Lakers are going to cave and just give him a bunch of money.

You can point to how the team handled the end of Kobe Bryant’s career, but I’d argue that…

1. That was a different front office
2. That was different ownership
3. That was a Lakers team set for a rebuild and not one set to contend

I don’t disagree that giving LeBron a deal around $30-35 million basically dooms the rest of their free agency plans. I also don’t think that he is getting that deal.

Now, on the flip side of that, I’m not ever going to criticize someone for taking money. If the Lakers offer LeBron $30 million, my anger would be at the front office, not LeBron. By the same token, I’m not going to tell or expect a player to take less money to be competitive.

It’s nice if a player does take a discount to help the team win, but it’s not their job to take less money and if I was in their shoes, I can’t say I’d be willing to take less money to compete. This is life-changing money, even if LeBron is a billionaire. He came from nothing. I’m not going to criticize or expect him to take less.

Having said that, it is substantially easier to build a title-contending team if LeBron takes significantly less money, obviously. I’d question how much he wants to bring a title to Los Angeles on his way out, since he already brought the city a title. I doubt those are his motivations.

There was also the comment LeBron made about when he would decide his future. He gave a timeline of late June through August where he would make his decision. The Lakers aren’t going to wait on him, so if he wants to make a decision after the beginning of July, then he’s returning to the Lakers on a minimum. I’m not reading too much into that for now, but it did pique my interest.

If you want to make the case for why he would stay in Los Angeles, I think a more compelling argument would focus on the family roots he has in the city. Does he really want to relocate his family again for what will likely be a one-year retirement tour? Does he want to live alone during that time if they remain in LA?

Considering how much he speaks about his family and how close he is to them, I venture to think neither of those are options desires.

If I were to guess, I think LeBron is back in Los Angeles for one more season next year. I genuinely do not know what the contract will be. I don’t expect it to be north of $20-25 million because that really starts to handicap the Lakers this summer.

What I do know, though, is that moving on from LeBron this summer is going to create even more holes for the Lakers to plug in an offseason with plenty of them already.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

It’s safe to say Air Corgi’s NBA Finals appearance didn’t go the way Spurs fans probably hoped.

Air Corgi — real name Lilo — is a dog with 1.6 million followers on TikTok who predicts the outcome of several sports games by pushing a ball down stairs into a basket, was in the building for Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs in San Antonio on Wednesday night.

But after the Knicks downed San Antonio 105-95 in thrilling fashion Wednesday night, Lilo is 0-for-1 on her NBA Finals prediction after picking the Spurs to win the opener and ultimately the series in seven games.

Corgi’s prediction ruffled some feathers on X, with some even joking the dog was fraudulent and mentioning how she incorrectly predicted the 2025 NBA Finals by picking the Pacers to win in six games.

Despite her prediction, Corgi still received a standing ovation from fans in the second quarter Wednesday night and was lifted in the air.

San Antonio’s video scoreboard even showed a dog bouncing a ball into a basket, mimicking what Corgi does on TikTok.

Even with some calling her a fraud, Corgi pulled off a remarkable feat last month.

She not only correctly predicted the Spurs would beat the Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference finals, but correctly predicted the outcome of every single game.

The dog also correctly picked the Knicks to beat the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, though she predicted a six-game series instead of the eventual sweep.

Corgi doesn’t only predict NBA games, however.

She also predicted the Stanley Cup outcome on Tuesday, picking the Golden Knights to beat the Hurricanes in six games.

Air Corgi looks to make it 1-of-2 in her NBA Finals prediction Friday night, where she chose the Knicks to steal Game 2.

San Antonio and New York square off in Game 2 Friday at 8:30 p.m.

Blaming officiating is something every fanbase in every sport has done. A lot of times, it’s overblown or unreasonable. Sometimes, it’s not. A lot of Knicks fans would argue that last night’s Game 1 would be categorized as the latter. And they may have a very good case.

At one point in the game, the Spurs had taken seven free throws to the Knicks’ zero. Not too long after, the attempt discrepancy ballooned to 10-1 Spurs. And at halftime, the Spurs had 12 attempts, while the Knicks had managed to scrape together a paltry three attempts. Thanks to a few calls in the second half and some garbage time free throws, the Knicks did end up taking 18 free throws, while the Spurs took 25 in total. Now, looking at free-throw attempts alone as a way of judging the quality of officiating can be a slippery slope.

Every team is different, which means shot diet, physicality, and pace can all play factors in how many free throws a team deserves to get, or doesn’t deserve to get. But in general, players, coaches, and fans alike ask for one thing- consistency. And that’s where the Knicks have a justifiable argument.

On one end of the floor, Victor Wembanyama was getting to the free-throw line for some marginal contact and ticky-tack fouls. As you can see below, Wembanyama benefited from some soft calls considering it’s the Finals.

Now, yes, some of the calls Wembanyama got were warranted. By the books, they are fouls. But what fans didn’t understand was that the same kind of calls were not going the other way. Below, you can argue that Landry Shamet tries to sell the call. And if the refs were allowing the Knicks to play with the same kind of physicality, I don’t think there’d be as much of an uproar. But those seem like odd no-calls considering the whistle Wembanyama was getting. But that wasn’t even the worst parts.

It’s one thing for Shamet not to get a call, because as good as he’s been, and as beloved as he’s become, he’s just not a star. Brunson, on the other hand, is. A multiple-time All-Star and All-NBA player, while being the face of one of the most popular franchises in the league. What’s his reward? A measly four free throw attempts. And it’s not like he was taking only three-point shots.

Brunson spent much of the first half driving to the rim and taking contact. I think fans understood that the whistle may be Spurs-friendly due to the location of the game. But some of the no-calls were just too egregious. In the play below, Dylan Harper gets a handful of Brunson’s jersey, and it’s clear as day. Somehow, this resulted in a no-call.

Later on in the first half, Luke Kornet steps on Brunson’s ankle after the layup. Also, a no-call.

And the play below was almost just as bad. While this one hasn’t been talked about as much because it did result in a call, Scott Foster misses a clear swipe across the arm, and only calls it when Brunson is fouled a second time on the shot.

If anything, the 25-18 free-throw discrepancy doesn’t do the one-sided officiating job justice. While things did balance out a bit in the second half, it was one of the more egregiously biased whistles in recent memory. Again, all the Knicks want is some consistency. San Antonio should not be allowed to shove, grab, and step on players if they are getting to the line for marginal contact.

With the Knicks’ odds of winning it all at -132 on FanDuel now, it will be interesting to see if the officiating continues to be a topic of discussion. A more Knicks-friendly whistle could sway the odds even more in their favor, while the continuation of last night’s whistle could swing the odds back in favor of the Spurs, who do currently have a -235 odds to win tomorrow night’s Game 2.

Celtics assistant coaches Tony Dobbins and Tyler Lashbrook could both become NBA head coaches next season. Lashbrook is a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers head coach position, while Dobbins is in the mix for the Dallas Mavericks head coach position.

Dobbins has been with the Celtics since 2017 and is one of Joe Mazzulla’s four front-of-bench assistant coaches, while Lashbrook has been with the team since 2023 and works primarily on the offensive (and player development) side.

What Tony Dobbins brings to the Celtics

Tony Dobbins is one of the Celtics’ longest-tenured assistants and an important member of the defensive team. He is a former professional basketball player who went undrafted after an illustrious career at Virginia Tech (1999-2000) and Richmond (2001-2004) as a defensive specialist. Dobbins spent a few years in the G League, but the majority of his 13-year pro career took place overseas, where he laced up for professional clubs in Italy, Greece, France, and Spain.

Dobbins has been a Celtics assistant coach since 2017, beginning in the film room and rising through the ranks over the past decade. Dobbins was the Celtics’ Summer League head coach in 2023. This past year, he was the assistant coach who worked most closely with Jayson Tatum as he rehabbed his Achilles injury.

“He’s one of the best people you’ll ever be around,” Jayson Tatum told CelticsBlog last year.

“I can’t thank him enough for his selflessness and just really being engaged with me every single day,” Tatum said after making his return from his Achilles injury.

Before that, Dobbins worked most closely as Jaylen Brown’s lead coach. He’s widely known as one of the most patient and even-keeled people on the Celtics’ sidelines.

“Tony is always keeping everybody level-headed – reminding me, and reminding our team just to breathe,” Brown said in February. “Managing the emotions of the game is what he speaks to a lot, because the better players — the better professionals — can manage their stress levels and their emotions during the game, so that they can see the game clearly.”

Marc Stein reported on Thursday that the Mavericks are expected to interview a dozen or so prospects to replace Jason Kidd as head coach. In addition to Dobbins, that list includes Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Houston Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, Toronto Raptors assistant Jama Mahlalela, and Miami consultant
Noah LaRoche.

What Tyler Lashbrook brings to the Celtics

Tyler Lashbrook is one of the lead voices in the Celtics’ offense team and a key part of the team’s player development. He was the head coach of the Maine Celtics during the 2024-2025 season before returning to the parent club this year.

Before joining the Celtics in 2023, Lashbrook was with the Philadelphia 76ers since 2014. He began as an intern in the film room and worked his way to becoming a video coordinator and player development coach.

Lashbrook was a player development coach in Boston during the championship season before becoming a head coach in the G League for the first time last year.

Lashbrook is reportedly one of three finalists for the Trail Blazers head coach position, a list that also includes interim head coach Tiago Splitter and longtime Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, per Marc Stein.

If either Dobbins or Lashbrook is selected for their respective head coach roles, they’ll become the latest in a long line of former Celtics assistants to land head coach positions. Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee and Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy were both recently Celtics assistants, while Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was the Celtics’ head coach in 2022.