Sports Buzz

Tag: Los Angeles Lakers

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo refuses to accept LeBron James' compliment: “It's not fair”

    Giannis Antetokounmpo refuses to accept LeBron James' compliment: “It's not fair”

    The story of the NBA over the past decade is written by a handful of elite players who have changed the course of the sport in their own unique way. LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are the veterans who continue to dominate and remain the ones who must pass on the torch. But younger players like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have shared the stage with those three and some others, particularly since 2018 or so.

    Giannis, in particular, is a player who feels once-in-a-generation. His combination of agility, dribbling ability and two-way ability while being extremely long and strong turned him into a monster once his body frame filled in. That has led to two MVP awards and an NBA Championship. He’s still getting better too, but James believes current Giannis could have been even better than Wilt Chamberlain.

    The mystery behind LeBron James’ millions spent on his body finally revealed

    Giannis doesn’t agree with LeBron James’ 250 point comment

    While that’s not exactly what he said, James did have an interesting comment about Giannis on the Pat McAfee Show, claiming that the Milwaukee Bucks player would be able to score 250 point in a game during the 1970s. Antetokounmpo was asked about James’ comments on Friday and gave a humble answer.

    Great compliment, but I don’t like comparing eras. It’s not fair. If I’d played in the ’70s, how everybody practiced and how everybody played, we would have played the same way. That’s all you knew at the time. The game evolves. We got to 2020, and we know more.

    James was obviously using hyperbole, but he isn’t the first to come up with the notion that today’s players would flat-out set records in earlier eras. It’s not just basketball either; there have been countless debates about what Pele or Diego Maradona would be able to do in today’s era of soccer.

    The truth is we will never know, but Giannis has given the proper answer and shown his one-of-a-kind humility.



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  • Million-dollar bid set to make LeBron James vs Stephen A. Smith boxing match a reality and Jake Paul signs on

    Million-dollar bid set to make LeBron James vs Stephen A. Smith boxing match a reality and Jake Paul signs on

    The worlds of boxing and the NBA could collide with two of the biggest names in basketball swapping the court for the ring. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith have been trading blows for weeks now and there is clearly genuine anger from each side.

    Trash talk courtside is one thing, but now there is a genuine suggestion that the angst between the pair could get taken to the next level.

    LeBron James posts video mocking Stephen A. Smith after threat of fight and punches

    There was a back-and-forth between LeBron and Smith during the recent Lakers-Knicks game but nobody was certain as to what had been said.

    However, both spoke about it on various podcasts afterwards and Smith was particularly boisterous.

    Smith wasn’t about to let LeBron‘s comments go without a fight. On a new episode of his podcast, he came out swinging, branding LeBron “full of it” and an outright “liar.”

    The ESPN loudmouth kept the heat on the Lakers superstar after his McAfee appearance, unloading a tirade that was pure Stephen A. He even floated a crazy what-if: If LeBron had gotten physical during their Lakers game run-in, Smith claimed, “I would’ve swung on him immediately.”

    A ridiculous boxing fight

    He called LeBron a liar, and now Damon Feldman is involved. Feldman has made a name for himself by putting ridiculous celebrity fights together and TMZ Sports reported that Feldman was already reaching out to Saudi investors to turn this into an actual event.

    Another angle to all of this is that Jake Paul would supposedly love to be the organizer of the fight, but that would mean rivalling Saudi Arabia.

    The boss of boxing in Saudi Arabia, Turki Alalshikh, hates Jake Paul a lot.



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  • Shannon Sharpe weighs in on LeBron James' feud with Stephen A. Smith and sends strong message

    Shannon Sharpe weighs in on LeBron James' feud with Stephen A. Smith and sends strong message

    The ongoing feud between NBA legend LeBron James and ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has reached new heights, prompting former NFL great Shannon Sharpe to step in and offer his perspective. Sharpe, known for his outspoken nature on sports debates, addressed the situation on his Nightcap podcast, urging Smith to put the matter to rest.

    The tension between James and Smith began earlier in the season when Smith made critical remarks about LeBron’s son, Bronny James, after a lackluster performance. LeBron, unhappy with the way Smith handled the situation, confronted him directly at a Lakers-Knicks game in March, leading to a heated exchange. What started as a professional disagreement quickly escalated into public jabs, with both men firing back on social media and in interviews.

    Sharpe Calls for an End to the Drama

    Sharpe took a firm stance, advising Smith to “let it go” and move on from the feud. He emphasized that continuing to discuss the issue would only keep it alive and create unnecessary tension. Sharpe also reflected on his own past conflict with NBA star Kevin Durant, sharing how they were able to settle their differences privately, without dragging the matter into the media spotlight.

    Despite Sharpe’s advice, there are doubts about whether Smith will heed his words. His co-host, Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson, expressed skepticism, noting that Smith thrives on debate and controversy.

    With the playoffs approaching and LeBron focused on leading the Lakers, Sharpe’s plea shows that there is a willingness from his side to de-escalate the situation. Whether Smith will take his advice remains to be seen, but one thing is certain-this drama isn’t over just yet.



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  • Jeanie Buss still grieves over Kobe Bryant's death: the aftermath of the tragedy for the Lakers

    Jeanie Buss still grieves over Kobe Bryant's death: the aftermath of the tragedy for the Lakers

    More than five years after Kobe Bryant‘s tragic passing, the heartbreak remains etched into the soul of the Los Angeles Lakers organization and its fanbase.

    The events of that fateful day in January 2020 are still vivid for many, and for Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, the shock has never truly subsided. In a recent interview, she opened up about how the team, the city, and the NBA family tried to make sense of a loss that no one saw coming.

    Grief is still lurking! Jeanie Buss opens up about Kobe’s tragic passing

    “There is no single event in modern NBA history that compares to Kobe‘s passing,” Buss said. “When Kobe passed, we had a game the next day against the Clippers. And our organization was in such shock, we couldn’t function. We had to bring in grief counselors.”

    The decision to postpone the game came quickly, but it wasn’t just the Lakers who needed time to grieve. Fans poured into the streets and gathered outside the arena, many of them not knowing where else to go.

    “What I couldn’t get over was how our fans, they didn’t know where to go, and so they just went to the arena,” Buss recalled. “Everybody needed to be together.”

    A moment that united the city under the Purple and Gold

    For Jeanie Buss, that moment made one thing unmistakably clear: the Los Angeles Lakers are more than a basketball team-they are a family, a symbol of unity, and a shared identity for countless people.

    “It was like we were lost, it was so hard to comprehend,” Buss continued. “I mean it’s still hard to accept, five years later. It just really struck me what the team means to the fans. This is our strength, this is what brings everybody together under the Purple and Gold umbrella.”

    LeBron’s came to the fore

    As fans and players alike struggled to cope, it was LeBron James who stepped up and offered the support the Lakers community so desperately needed.

    Just days after the tragedy, during an emotional pregame ceremony, LeBron addressed the crowd with words that Jeanie Buss says perfectly captured the moment.

    “LeBron addressed the crowd, he said, ‘I have big shoulders, let me carry you.’ Like climb onboard, we’re going to get through this together,” she recounted.

    “For him to articulate all of what we were feeling and we needed to hear was beautiful.”



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  • An NBA shake up? The hidden truth behind the league's new idea that will impact player moves

    An NBA shake up? The hidden truth behind the league's new idea that will impact player moves

    The NBA has unveiled updated salary cap projections for the 2025-26 season, setting the figure at $154.6 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. This marks a $14 million increase from the current season, with the luxury-tax threshold projected to rise to $187.9 million. While these numbers reflect healthy financial growth within the league, they won’t necessarily ignite a spending spree during the summer free-agency period.

    The $154.6 million cap represents the maximum allowable increase under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which stipulates that the cap can only climb by 10 percent per year. This mechanism was designed to prevent the financial chaos witnessed in 2016-17, when a massive influx of revenue from new media rights deals caused the salary cap to surge from $63 million to $94.1 million in just one season.

    A wild night! Steph Curry and Draymond Green bash Ayesha Curry’s birthday party at a Miami club

    That sudden leap resulted in many teams overspending on contracts, followed by years of fiscal recalibration that left free agents in subsequent offseasons with fewer opportunities. Learning from that experience, the NBA and the players’ union negotiated the 10 percent annual increase cap in their current CBA to ensure a smoother financial trajectory. This strategy aims to balance league-wide economic stability with the need for sustainable growth.

    This might not be exactly as people think

    Despite the cap’s increase, fans should temper their expectations for blockbuster free-agency moves this offseason. According to Spotrac’s estimates, only 11 teams are likely to have the flexibility to operate below the cap, and just three, the New Orleans Pelicans, Detroit Pistons, and Brooklyn Nets, could have $20 million or more to spend.

    This means that while certain teams might strategically make moves to strengthen their rosters, the majority will likely remain cautious, focusing instead on re-signing key players or managing existing contracts.

    The NBA’s proactive approach to financial management underscores its commitment to maintaining competitive balance while avoiding the pitfalls of past cap spikes. As the league looks ahead to the next wave of media rights negotiations, this steady and methodical cap growth could position teams for long-term success without repeating history.

    The question now is whether this carefully managed increase will lead to a more competitive offseason or simply reinforce the current power dynamics in the league. Whatever the outcome, the NBA’s financial landscape continues to evolve, proving once again that numbers off the court can be just as influential as performance on it.



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  • LeBron James 'ignores' Doncic's great performance as he gives Stephen Curry all he deserves

    LeBron James 'ignores' Doncic's great performance as he gives Stephen Curry all he deserves

    Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry once again etched his name in NBA history, becoming the first player ever to drain 4,000 career three-pointers. The milestone came in a game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, further cementing Curry’s legacy as the greatest shooter of all time.

    Shortly after Curry hit his record-breaking triple, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James wasted no time in showing his admiration for the historic feat. Taking to X, James celebrated Curry’s unprecedented achievement with a message of respect and appreciation.

    “4K from Trey is CRAZY!!!!! Congrats my brother!! That’s [fire emojis] @StephenCurry30,” James wrote, using Curry’s signature chef emoji to symbolize his shooting excellence.

    Though Curry had a relatively quiet game with just 11 points and two made three-pointers, his third-quarter shot that pushed him past 4,000 was met with thunderous “MVP” chants from the home crowd.

    The accomplishment adds to a long list of shooting records held by Curry, who in December 2021 surpassed Ray Allen’s 2,973 career three-pointers to become the league’s all-time leader.

    Lakers struggle without LeBron, Bucks snap skid

    While Curry was making history, the Lakers struggled in the absence of LeBron James, falling 126-106 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard led a well-rounded attack for the Bucks, snapping a three-game losing streak. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic put up a dominant 45-point performance for Los Angeles but couldn’t lift his team to victory as they slipped to a 40-24 record.

    The Lakers, who have now dropped consecutive games without James due to a groin injury, will look to bounce back when they take on the Denver Nuggets (42-24). The Bucks, on the other hand, aim for back-to-back wins as they prepare to host the Indiana Pacers (36-28).



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  • LeBron James cannot escape from Stephen A. Smith controversy as former Lakers star claims mistreatment

    LeBron James cannot escape from Stephen A. Smith controversy as former Lakers star claims mistreatment

    Throughout his legendary career, LeBron James has been called many things — Bron, LBJ, the Chosen One, even The King. He has also been called “LeGM“, a distinction that the best player of his generation (and one of the best ever) has routinely railed against.

    Central to the “LeGM” narrative is the idea that James — whether he has been in Cleveland, Miami, or Los Angeles — acts as his franchise’s de facto general manager, bringing his friends on board and “kicking out” players with whom he does not get along. One of James‘ former teammates, a star player in his own right during his prime, has made a huge allegation against him that compounds issues LeBron is already facing with ESPN‘s Stephen A. Smith.

    Dwight Howard: LeBron kicked me off the Lakers

    Former Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard has had a complicated relationship with the Lakers franchise. Initially acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Orlando Magic in 2012, Howard endured one difficult season in Los Angeles before heading to the Houston Rockets in free agency; he later rejoined the Lakers for two more stints and won his sole NBA championship with the franchise during the 2020 COVID “bubble”.

    Now, Howard is making the explosive claim that James — the star player on the 2020 championship team — effectively kicked him off the team after he used vulgarity in an attempt to convince James to get back on defense.

    “It was after we won the championship, man,” Howard explained on the “Above the Rim with DH12” podcast. “It happened on defense. I was like, ‘Yo, you gotta get back.’ And (LeBron) got mad because I said something. And I was like, ‘Yo, stop acting like a b****, man.’”

    Howard’s third and final stint with the Lakers in 2021/22 was a disappointing one; despite boasting one of the NBA’s top rosters on papers, Los Angeles finished with a mediocre 33-49 record and missed the playoffs, perhaps due to the infighting to which Howard has alluded. The five-time All-NBA first team selection and probable Basketball Hall of Fame inductee has not played in the league since; Howard has played some basketball overseas, but at 39 years old, he seems content to no longer have to deal with the rigor of an 82-game NBA schedule…while James, 40, continues to shine for the Lakers.



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  • LeBron James dubbed a hypocrite for treatment of Stephen A. Smith as Bronny James controversy refuses to go away

    LeBron James dubbed a hypocrite for treatment of Stephen A. Smith as Bronny James controversy refuses to go away

    It’s been a few days now since it happened, but the talk of the NBA is still LeBron James‘ confrontation with Stephen A. Smith. In a shocking courtside moment, James went face to face with Smith for comments the ESPN host had made in the past about Bronny James.

    The comments clearly didn’t sit well with LeBron, who felt the need to do something about it in person. It was an awkward encounter that has sent shockwaves throughout the NBA industry on social media. Smith has outspokenly defended himself, while claiming that James should have gone about it a different way.

    Ryan Clark rips LeBron James for confronting Stephen A. Smith over Bronny controversy

    Ryan Clark is on Stephen A. Smith’s side in LeBron James beef

    As Smith continues to defend himself, he needs any type of help in order to support his defense. On Tuesday, he retweeted a recent take from Ryan Clark in which the NFL analyst criticized LeBron for his antics.

    He’s there because of you. He was drafted in a place he wasn’t supposed to be because of you. Now all of a sudden, we can’t talk about him either? Imagine if LaVar Ball runs up on Stephen A., imagine if Tee Morant runs up on Stephen A. How classless we would say they are. How immature we would say they are.

    Clark says he understands why James reacted the way he did, but he believes the Lakers star went about it in the wrong way. He then wonders why he never said anything to Skip Bayless despite Smith’s former co-worker defaming James on nearly every show.

    Clark believes James just wanted to intimidate Smith in person and make a point, while also showing Bronny he has his back. But Clark gets a final dig in, claiming that James will have to “do a whole lot of damn fighting” if he confronts everyone who has questions Bronny’s basketball ability.



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  • Anthony Davis drops surprising LeBron James revelation from Lakers days

    Anthony Davis drops surprising LeBron James revelation from Lakers days

    It has been over a month since the Los Angeles Lakers shocked the NBA world by trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic.

    The move ended a five-year partnership between Davis and LeBron James, a duo that delivered a championship to the Lakers in 2020 but struggled to maintain dominance due to injuries.

    Watch out! LeBron James scared his good friend as they end talking about Stephen A Smith incident

    Davis turned down LeBron’s 23 twice

    Despite their time together coming to an end, Davis and James still appear to share a strong bond.

    That was evident when the two embraced during the Lakers-Mavericks matchup on February 25.

    In a recent interview with Mavericks TV, Davis opened up about a personal moment he shared with James during his early days in Los Angeles, one that had never been publicly revealed before.

    According to Davis, James initially offered to give him the No. 23 jersey, his longtime number with the New Orleans Pelicans, when he first joined the Lakers in 2019.

    However, Davis declined the offer.

    “When I got to LA, Bron wanted to give me the 23, but I was like, ‘I don’t want to take your number,’”Davis shared.

    James made the offer again in the following season when he switched to No. 6, but once more, Davis opted to stick with his new number.

    “Then that second year, he went to 6 and he asked me if I wanted 23,”Davis explained.

    “And I was like, ‘I actually want to stay with 3. I want to go back to where it all started.’”

    NBA fans may recall that James had publicly committed to giving up No. 23 to Davis when the Lakers acquired him in the blockbuster trade with New Orleans.

    However, the plan fell apart due to logistical complications.

    Nike, which had already produced a significant amount of James’ No. 23 jerseys, reportedly blocked the change to avoid taking a financial hit.

    As a result, Davis settled on No. 3-a number he ultimately chose to keep throughout his Lakers tenure.

    Fast forward to 2025, and Davis now finds himself in a new chapter with the Mavericks.

    His debut with Dallas was promising, as he was on pace for a historic performance before suffering an adductor strain.

    Since then, he has remained sidelined, leaving Mavericks fans frustrated, especially in light of Doni thriving in Los Angeles.

    With Dallas currently struggling in the Western Conference playoff race and injuries piling up across the roster, the pressure is on Davis to return and make an impact.

    Despite the skepticism surrounding the trade, Davis remains confident in his ability to lead the Mavericks forward.

    “I know who I am as a player,”Davis told Mavericks TV.

    “I’m top-75 of all time. I just wanted to let Dallas fans know, I’ve got y’all, I’m here, I’m here now. I know you lost a superstar in Luka, but you also gained a superstar in myself.”

    While winning over Dallas fans may take time, Davis’ confidence in his abilities hasn’t wavered.

    If he can stay healthy and deliver for the Mavericks, his tenure in Dallas could still have a chance to be defined by success rather than controversy.



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  • LeBron James left a Los Angeles Lakers huddle to confront Stephen A. Smith in front of a packed arena

    LeBron James left a Los Angeles Lakers huddle to confront Stephen A. Smith in front of a packed arena

    LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith created a buzz on TV and social media after the Los Angeles Lakers superstar publicly confronted the ESPN personality during a game against the New York Knicks Thursday night.

    Smith addressed the issue Friday during the hit show “First Take” and on his podcast, calling James “fiery” after the NBA All-Star told the analyst to “stop f-ing with my son. That’s my f-ing son. Stop f-ing with my son.

    Wasted no time! LeBron James left a Los Angeles Lakers huddle to confront Stephen A. Smith

    Stephen A. said that he responded by saying, “what?” but LeBron continued: “Nah, nah, nah, nah. Straight up. Man to man. Real talk. Stop f-ing with my son.” Smith offered to continue the conversation later, but James wanted no part of it and he walked away from the man.

    New footage shows how desperate LeBron was

    A new video online shows just how eager LeBron James was to confront Stephen A. Smith on public -specifically in Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Knicks, a team Smith roots for -, with the Lakers superstar willing to leave a team huddle to talk to the TV personality.

    On the video we can see LeBron leaving the huddle before the end of the fourth quarter and walking towards Smith, who was sitting courtside. As soon as James is close to the TV personality, he starts confronting him, as Stephen A. reacts with a surprised face. “I don’t care bro… keep my son out of this sh*t.” the Lakers superstar stated.

    “That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent. That was a father. And I can’t sit here and be angry, or feel slighted by LeBron James and any way in that regard. By all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and a wonderful father who cares very, very deeply about his son.” said Stephen A. on “First Take.”

    LeBron James confronts Stephen A. Smith like he has never done before

    The words that sparked the confrontation

    NBA fans and analysts believe that some of the words Stephen A. Smith used during a January show of “First Take” could be the reason why LeBron James confronted him Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. Early this year, Smith urged James to “stop this,” referring to Bronny James‘ need for more development time in the G League.

    “We love what we’re seeing from [Bronny] in the G League, because that’s where you belong, as you hone your skills and you get better and you legitimately earn, which I believe he has the potential to do,” Smith said. “I am rooting for Bronny James … he’s a wonderful kid, I wish him nothing but the best.”

    LeBron James‘ oldest son made his NBA debut in the Lakers season opener back on October 2024 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, after signing a multi-year contract with the Los Angeles team. He averages 1.4 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He’s viewed as a gritty player that could become a great sixth-man in the league.



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