Los Angeles Lakers Insider: Breaking News, Player Interviews & Highlights

Tag: Lakers playoff push 2025

  • LeBron James Shares Heartfelt Words with Luka Doncic After the Game

    LeBron James Shares Heartfelt Words with Luka Doncic After the Game

    In a 120-119 win over the Indiana Pacers, LeBron James came through with another big moment for the Los Angeles Lakers. But it wasn’t just the game winning tip in that was the highlight—his message to Luka Doncic after the game showed the growing friendship between the two superstars.

    A Dramatic Finish Seals the Win

    The Lakers were in a back and forth battle with the Pacers, trailing 119-118 with 42 seconds left after Tyrese Haliburton made a three point play. The pressure was on when Bennedict Mathurin missed a potential game sealing three for Indiana and the Lakers had one last chance to win.

    That’s when Luka Doncic took over. He drove into the lane and attempted a floater to win—but it rimmed out. Luckily for the Lakers LeBron James was in position to tip it in just before the buzzer and the Lakers won 120-119.

    This win snapped the Lakers three game losing streak and kept them in the playoff hunt in the wild Western Conference.

    LeBron’s Special Shoutout to Luka

    After the game LeBron went to Instagram and posted a postgame photo of him and Luka and captioned it:

    “Yessir my brother!! Great road W”

    The post shows the respect between the two and the chemistry they’re building on and off the court. It’s moments like these that reminds us why teamwork and camaraderie is so important in basketball.

    Luka Shines Again, Talks Team Chemistry

    LeBron struggled early on and finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. But when it mattered most he was huge. Luka carried the load for the Lakers and had 34 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.

    Even with the win Luka was focused on the bigger picture in his postgame interview.

    “It’s still a work in progress” he said according to Luka Updates. “A lot of work in progress, with the chemistry and everything. But it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t win. Today we won so it’s great.”

    He’s a player that wants to lead his team to success and acknowledges the work that’s still to be done.

    Why This Win Matters for the Lakers

    Lakers win 44-28 and snap out of their funk and get back in the Western Conference playoff mix. Every win is big at this time of year and this one felt extra sweet.

    James’ late game heroics once again prove why he’s one of the all time clutch players. Add in Luka and this duo can take the Lakers to the next level.

    The LeBron and Luka Bond

    LeBron’s Instagram post wasn’t just a random shoutout—it was a sign of the growing connection between him and Luka. Two generational talents and they can be the key to the Lakers unlocking their full potential.

    For Lakers fans seeing these two superstars hug after a hard fought win is a glimpse into the future. If their chemistry continues to grow the Lakers will be a force in the playoffs.

    Final Thoughts: A Team on the Rise

    Lakers win over Pacers was all about resilience, teamwork and clutch. LeBron’s game winner and his message to Luka after the game showed the importance of leadership and camaraderie in big moments.

    As the season goes on we’ll see how LeBron and Luka continue to build their partnership. If this game is any indication the Lakers have a lot to be optimistic about. For now we can enjoy this win and look forward to the playoff push.

  • JJ Redick Tells Lakers to Focus, Not Complain About the Schedule

    JJ Redick Tells Lakers to Focus, Not Complain About the Schedule

    The Los Angeles Lakers are in the middle of their toughest stretch of the season with games against the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks on back to back nights. Add in injuries and fatigue and it’s clear this is a tough period for the team. But head coach JJ Redick has made it clear: no excuses or complaints about the schedule.

    Redick’s No-Excuses Mentality

    “No One Is Going to Feel Sorry for Us”

    During a recent team meeting, JJ Redick called out the Lakers’ excuses. When star point guard Chris Paul mentioned how tough the schedule was, Redick used it as an opportunity to tell the team to stop whining.

    “It was a couple weeks ago during film session at the facility,” Redick said. “I told them straight up: no one is going to feel sorry for us. Back-to-backs? Tough matchups? That’s just part of being in the NBA.”

    Redick said every team faces these kinds of challenges at some point in the season. For the Lakers, this stretch is six games in eight days with three consecutive back-to-backs—a tough ask for any team. But instead of focusing on that, Redick wants his players to have a “next-game mentality.”

    “You gotta play the game in front of you and then move on to the next thing,” he said. “Try to get better each day.”

    Injuries and Roster Issues

    Winning Through Adversity

    The Lakers just got through a four game road trip where they went 0-4, largely due to missing key rotation players like LeBron James. Despite all that, the team has shown some resilience since getting back home and won two in a row against the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns.

    LeBron and Rui Hachimura are close to returning and the Lakers are hopeful to get full strength back. But even as reinforcements arrive, Redick knows the schedule doesn’t get any easier. He emphasized the importance of staying focused and not getting bogged down by what’s ahead.

    “This two week stretch, starting with Boston and ending with this homestand, was always going to be tough,” Redick said. “There will still be tough parts of the schedule left but we can’t afford to dwell on that. We have to take it one game at a time.”

    Jordan Goodwin’s Role and Contract Dilemma

    One player who has emerged as a key contributor during this stretch is Jordan Goodwin. Signed to a two way contract earlier in the season, Goodwin has earned the coaches trust with his non stop energy and defensive tenacity. After the Lakers win over the Spurs, Redick praised Goodwin.

    “He’s really earned the coaches trust,” Redick said. “But unfortunately that’s the nature of two way contracts, they’re complicated.”

    Goodwin has played in 14 games so far, started three but his eligibility is limited to 50 games unless the Lakers convert his deal to a standard NBA contract by April 13. With only five games left before he hits that cap, the front office has a decision to make: waive someone to create roster space or risk losing Goodwin’s contributions down the stretch.

    Roster Crunch

    Redick said managing the roster has become a tightrope and with Trey Jemison III also on a two way deal, its even more complicated. Both have played well so the Lakers have to think long and hard.

    “It’s something we’re just gonna manage,” Redick said. “Right now with guys out we can’t afford to have [Goodwin] out of the rotation. As we get healthy we’ll reassess.”

    Waiving a guy like Cam Reddish—an offseason signing who has fallen out of the rotation—would seem to be the easy solution but Redick and the front office aren’t in a rush to make moves. They’re using these last few weeks of the season to evaluate every piece of the puzzle.

    Focus on Health and Winning

    Despite all the struggles, the Lakers are still in the playoffs conversation, currently 5th in the west. Their defense has been great since they got Dorian Finney-Smith in December, 4th in efficiency. LeBron, Luka and Austin Reaves are all playing above their normal defensive selves and we can hope for a deep run.

    Finney-Smith echoed Redick’s comments after the Suns win, “We can beat any team in the league when we keep them under 100. All we gotta do is play defense.”

    As they get into the final stretch of the season, the Lakers focus is on being healthy, winning and getting ready for the playoffs. With Redick’s leadership and a sense of accountability, they’re ready for whatever’s ahead.