Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from January, 2026

Jeanie Buss Reportedly Felt LeBron James Wasn't 'Grateful' for Bronny Pick in 2024 NBA Draft

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was able to fulfill his dream of playing with his son, Bronny, after the team selected him in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft, but the person responsible for the pick reportedly didn't feel appreciated. According to ESPN's Baxter Holmes , "people close to the team" revealed that former Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss "privately remarked that James should be grateful for such a gesture, but she felt that he was n't." Bronny James had less than a year of college experience before entering the 2024 draft, as his freshman year at USC was limited to 25 games after he suffered a cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect in July 2023. He's made a minimal impact since turning pro, appearing in 51 total games over the last two seasons and registering a career average of 1.9 points per game. The elder James is known to be nearing the end of his legendary career, but he's still playing at a high...

LeBron James and Nike slammed for 'disgraceful' Martin Luther King shoe to mark MLK day

By JAKE FENNER, US SPORTS WRITER Published: 23:12 GMT, 20 January 2026 | Updated: 00:15 GMT, 21 January 2026 Sportswear giant Nike attempted to honor the legacy of Dr Martin Luther King Jr by producing a special sneaker influenced by his life to be worn by LeBron James . Unfortunately, it appears the sneaker behemoth missed the mark as they took inspiration from some odd and even offensive places before releasing the shoe. The so-called 'Honor the King' colorway of the LeBron 23 sneaker contained some mixed messaging which has garnered derision and scorn from the Black community. As explained in a video by ESPN's David Dennis Jr, the silhouette features a mostly teal color wit h some reflective graphics. The writer explains that the teal color draws inspiration from the Lorraine Motel in Memphis - the same hotel where King was assassinated in 1968. 'There are so many other places that you ca...

For The First Time In 21 Years...! LeBron James Excluded From All-Star Starting Lineup

Last Updated:January 20, 2026, 14:56 IST LeBron James. (AFP) NBA legend LeBron James' 21-year streak of starting in the NBA All-Star Game ended as the Los Angeles Lakers star was not included among the 10 starters for next month's mid-season showpiece. The 41-year-old NBA icon, who has been an All-Star starter every season since 2005, was the most notable omission from this year's event, set to take place at the Los Angeles Clippers' Intuit Dome on February 15. The 10 starters announced on Tuesday, five from the Western Conference and five from the Eastern Conference, will be joined by 14 players selected by the All-Star Game coaches. The Western Conference starters include James' Lakers teammate Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City Thunder's reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Golden State's Stephen Curry, the Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, and the San Antonio Spurs' French prodigy Victor Wembanyama complete the West's start...

LeBron James Left Off All-Star Starting Lineup

LOS ANGELES -- The NBA unveiled its All-Star Game starters on Monday, and the announcement delivered a historic twist: Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was not among the opening five. It marked the first time since his sophomore season that James failed to earn a starting nod, snapping a remarkable streak that dated back to the 2005 All-Star Game. James, who has been selected to a record 21 All-Star Games and started in every one of them, was never a serious factor in this year's Western Conference voting. Advertisement His season began with a setback, as he missed the first 14 games due to sciatica, and his return was uneven. During that stretch, his long-running streak of scoring at least 10 points in 1,297 consecutive games came to an end last month in Toronto, a symbolic moment in an otherwise unprecedented career. While James awaits word on whether coaches will select him as a reserve, his Lakers teammate Luka Doncic topped the Western Confer ence voting. Doncic, aver...

Lakers' LeBron James reaches another 1st-of-its-kind all-time points milestone

LeBron James is 41 years old, and he continues to score points like it's no problem at all. The Los Angeles Lakers ' superstar isn't even most highly regarded for his scoring, but he's also the NBA's all-time leading scorer, and those numbers just keep going up. For those who like round numbers, how's 51,000 sound? James has now surpassed that point total when you combine his regular season and playoff points. As usual, he's the first player in NBA history to reach that mark. It took 24 points on Sunday from James to make that history and to come from behind to beat the Toronto Raptors . Part of the key for LeBron of late? Free throws. He started the season miserably at the line. But since the calendar flipped to 2026, James is 53-for-59 from the charity stripe. MORE:  LeBron's ownership stake in Liverpool looks brilliant The longer LeBron goes, the harder it is to picture anyone ever reaching any of these heights he ...

LeBron James Makes His Feelings Clear on Lakers’ 1-5 Record in Last 6 Games

After the Los Angeles Lakers suffered their fifth defeat in six games, LeBron James shared his feelings on the team's struggles. The Lakers were no match against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, especially without Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton . Speaking to reporters after the Lakers' 132-116 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, James liked the fight he saw from his available teammates. He's also confident about regaining their rhythm amid a rough patch midway through the season. "At the end of the day, nobody is feeling sorry for us, nor are we looking for it. The guys that are available, we got to go out there and play our game, play the way we want to play offensively and defensively and just try to right the ship until we get whole," James said, via Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times . With Doncic and Ayton out, Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber were inserted into the starting lineup. Vincent scored just three points, while Klebe...

LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton Praised by NBA Fans as Lakers Beat Raptors

The Los Angeles Lakers came into Sunday night's matchup against the Toronto Raptors in a bit of a funk, dropping two games in a row and five of their last six. But Deandre Ayton helped them get back on track. The Lakers center had arguably his best game of the season, finishing with 25 points and 13 boards while shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from the field in the 110-93 win. Luka Dončić (25 points, seven assists) and LeBron James (24 points, seven assists) provided their usual production as well as the Lakers moved to 25-16 on the season. Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 22 points and nine rebounds. But Ayton was the main story on Sunday, with NBA fans and pundits praising him, Dončić and James: Much of the Lakers' season will come down to how James and Dončić learn to coexist in their first full season together, or how to best utilize Austin Reaves with the pair once he's healthy (the three have only played eight games together this season and have a negative-9.8 net rati...

Blazers Coach Confirms He Isn’t “Depressed” About LeBron James Blocking Him In The 2013 Finals

LeBron James has made plenty of rivals over the course of his two-decade-plus NBA career, so it would not come as a surprise if some still hold grudges against the King. The Trail Blazers' coach however, is not one of them, as he admitted ahead of Saturday's matchup against the Lakers. Currently, Tiago Splitter is leading Portland, with former head coach Chauncey Billups sidelined amid an investigation into alleged gambling activity. Despite missing star guard Damian Lillard, Splitter has done an admirable job guiding a shorthanded roster, drawing on his experience of performing on the game's biggest stage. Advertisement In 2013, while playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Splitter came agonizingly close to delivering an NBA championship. Unfortunately for him, James, then in his prime, was on the floor and altered NBA history with a stand-still block by simply just raising up. The scores were tied at 88 in Game 7, and Splitter was going for a dunk w hen James came out of...

LeBron James Endorses Deni Avdija for All-Star Yet Again

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija might have missed his third straight game on Saturday, but he still went home with some high praise from Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. LeBron once again carried the Lakers' offense with 29 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. However, their defensive struggles, coupled with Portland's constant pressure, proved costly and led to a 132-116 loss. Advertisement Ahead of the game, LeBron spoke candidly about how much of a physical specimen Avdija has become. And even though he did not get to face him, the four-time NBA champion advocated for the Israeli forward to be included in the All-Star team. "He's having a hell of a season. He should be an All-Star. Obviously, his health is most important right now. Hopefully, he's not out too long now. He's playing great basketball," the NBA legend asserted. Barring a season-ending injury to Avdija , it does seem like LeBron is justified in advocating for the Israe...

Cristiano Ronaldo Tops List of World’s Highest-Paid Athletes Featuring LeBron James

Cristiano Ronaldo has topped a 100-strong list of the world's highest-paid athletes, which features sportspeople from eight different sports and 28 countries. Back in June, Ronaldo squashed rumours of a potential retirement as he committed his future to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr by signing a lucrative two-year deal . The 40-year-old picks up around £488,000 per day, according to The Sun , which is equal to £3.42m per wee k, £20,357 per hour, £339.28 per minute and £5.65 per second. Ronaldo was also offered several perks to become a "dream ambassador", which would reportedly take his earnings to above £492 million over his two-year contract. On top of his £178 million per year salary at Al Nassr , he will take home a reported £24.5 million signing-on bonus, which will increase to £38 million if he triggers the second year of his deal. Cristiano Ronaldo continues to break records at Al Nassr. Image credit: Getty Unsurprisingly, Ronaldo leads the way when it come...

LeBron James’ Close Friend Blames JJ Redick for Luka Doncic’s Misery

Defense has been a sore spot all season for the Los Angeles Lakers. The team continues to struggle against teams much lower-seeded than them, failing to contain opposing stars consistently, and sits in the bottom five in defensive rating. Now, outside voices are beginning to diagnose the issue: Luka Doncic. "Dallas did a great job of putting Luka in positions that hid him," Carmelo Anthony told PJ Tucker on his 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast. "They put him in a situation where they hit him, right, to where he don't have to be in the action. The Lakers, because of the way that they're played, their scheme and their strategies, You cannot hide Luka anymore because teams are headhunting now." Anthony was careful to add context, admitting that he was never a lockdown defender. However, he focused on the understanding that he himself had to focus on: how teams hide star players, manage matchups, and minimize exposure. Advertisement Anthony's example of the Ma...

LeBron James' ownership stake in Liverpool looks like a mind-blowingly good investment

LeBron James is good at many, many things. Turns out, the Los Angeles Lakers ' superstar may also have an eye for investment, at least as far as his ownership stake in the English football club Liverpool is concerned. LeBron hopped on board as an investor with a 2% ownership stake in 2011. That cost James $6.5 million, which implied a club valuation of around $325 million. Liverpool is now valued at $5.4 billion. James' 2% would account for $108 million of that. ESPN UK shares that James' investment has increased by more than 1500%. MORE:  Why Wemby went bald with his Spurs teammate James has continued to do plenty of winning in the NBA since becoming a minority owner of Liverpool. They' ve done their fair share, too, claiming both the Champions League and the Premier League since James joined. The English Premier League as a whole has also boomed in a massive way in the last couple decades, with every club near the top end of the ...

Rich Paul makes surprising comments about LeBron James' All-Star case

Rich Paul makes surprising comments about LeBron James' All-Star case originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul recently made surprising comments about LeBron James' All-Star case. Advertisement Paul, who is James' agent and lifelong friend, appeared on The Ringer's "Game Over" podcast with cohost Max Kellerman. He said he did not want to make a "charity case" for James. "I don't want a charity case for him," Paul said. "If his numbers aren't good enough, then let him go on vacation and charge up for the rest of the season." James has made a record 21 straight All-Star Games, dating back to the 2005 season. He was named an All-Star last season but did not play in the game due to injury. Paul later said James could make the team due to the game being held in Los Angeles. Advertisement More: Lakers receive rough update o...

LeBron James responds to Rich Paul’s trade comments on Austin Reaves

LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, recently made headlines for suggesting that the Los Angeles Lakers should trade Austin Reaves . This caused a negative reaction among Lakers fans, and it even had Reaves' agent reaching out to Paul. The Lakers themselves were reportedly frustrated by Paul's comments, and ultimately, all eyes fell on LeBron. "I think you all know by now, Rich is his own man and what Rich says is not a direct reflection of me and how I feel," LeBron said . "And I hope people know that. I hope people know that and if they're not sensible to know that, then I don't know what to tell them." The Lakers continue to look for ways to improve this season, and Reaves will likely remain on the roster, despite what LeBron's agent says.

JJ Redick says criticism of LeBron James ‘unfortunate’ after back-to-back feat

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James was aghast at the suggestion that anything other than uncertainty could be used to define his status. He'd just finished helping lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a win last week in New Orleans when a reporter asked him if he was "TBD" for the game the next night in San Antonio. He could've mentioned the nerve irritation that cost him the first 14 games of the season or the foot soreness that's been and will be an issue for him and his training staff. He didn't. Instead, he went to the birth certificate for the facts determining whether he'd be ready to go against the Spurs. "December 30th, 1984. 4:39 p.m.," he said in New Orleans. "That's when I was born." Forty-one years and 14 days later, James played NBA basketball games on back-to-back nights for the first time this season, finishing one rebound shy of recording the oldest triple-double in league history. As much as you can "need" wins in th...

LeBron James Reacts to Exciting J. Cole Announcement

NBA superstar LeBron James is among the first to react to J. Cole's highly anticipated new album, The Fall-Off. On Wednesday, just hours after Cole released a teaser trailer, James reshared a still from the clip on his Instagram Story with the message, "CAN'T WAIT!!! 🍿🎥 COLE WORLD 🌎." The teaser, which dropped quietly but made a big impact, shows J. Cole in everyday settings, washing his car, eating alone at a diner and moving through simple daily moments. J. Cole reflected on fame and the natural cycle of rising and falling in the spotlight. The Fall-Off is scheduled for release on Feb. 6, 2026, aligning with Super Bowl weekend. J. Cole performs onstage during the 2025 Dreamville Music Festival at Dorothea Dix Park on April 6, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina.Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage This marks J. Cole's first full-length album since 2021's The Off-Season, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. J. Cole has teased this pr...

"He is still a Top 30 player" - Reggie Miller explains why he doesn't believe this is LeBron James' last season

LeBron James continues to put up impressive numbers for the Los Angeles Lakers despite turning 41 years old. James is averaging 27.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in five games played so far this month. Because of that, Hall of Famer Reggie Miller says he does not believe that Bron is retiring at the end of the season. While he may no longer be quick and athletic as he was 10 years ago, the old LeBron still has more than enough to play at a high level. Advertisement "He's not the same LeBron that we've seen four years ago, eight years ago, ten years ago. I g et that. But he is still a Top 30 player, perhaps, and he can still help your team win. He's just not the unquestioned number one or maybe number two on that team if Austin Reaves is healthy," said Miller during his recent appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show." Reggie thinks Bron wants a shot at a fifth ring Many wonder if this season will be LeBron's last, aft...

Just One Rebound Short! LeBron James Misses Out On Historic NBA Feat In Monster Game vs Hawks

Last Updated:January 14, 2026, 14:03 IST Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (AP) LeBron James was one rebound away from history. He chose rest instead. Late in the Lakers' 141–116 win over the Atlanta Hawks, James needed just one more board to become the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. But once the game was safely out of reach, the 41-year-old superstar waved off the chase — because at this stage of his career, recovery matters more than records. James still delivered a masterclass — 31 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds — in what was a reminder to the league that, even at 41 years old, he can still reach rare air on his own terms. Surprise Start, Historic Night James wasn't even expected to play. After the Lakers' loss in Sacramento on Monday, and with back-to-back games off the table since his return from sciatica, head coach JJ Redick was surprised when LeBron decided to suit up. But LeBron wanted to see how his body responded. It'd be ...

LeBron James Puts Health In Jeopardy With Unexpected Decision vs Hawks

Maybe that reduced practice is what led to LeBron James being fit for the back-to-back game. It is a much-needed boost as the Atlanta Hawks are 6-0 on the West Coast this season. Moreover, the Hawks have won three straight games and five of their last seven, including a convincing 124-111 win over the Warriors. LeBron James had recorded 22 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a solitary steal in only 33 minutes against the Kings in the last game. But the concern from the game remained . He had a rough shooting night from the three, particularly as he failed to register even one from five attempts. It was not just him missing good looks; the majority of the team suffered the same fate, with just 22.2% shooting from 3-point range. The team went 8-36 from beyond the arc. Luka Doncic was the only starter to score that too, with an inefficient 2-9, while LeBron James, LaRavia, Smart, and Ayton failed to convert even one with a total of 13 efforts. This is concerning w...

Are LeBron James and Luka Doncic playing today, Jan. 13, for Lakers vs Hawks?

The Los Angeles Lakers (23-14) host the Atlanta Hawks (20-21) at Crypto.com Arena for NBA regular-season action. The primary concern for the home team is whether superstars LeBron James and Luka Doncic will take the floor tonight. According to the latest official NBA injury report , the Lakers have listed LeBron James (left foot joint arthr itis & right sciatica) and Luka Doncic (left groin soreness) as questionable for tonight's matchup in Los Angeles. The Lakers are coming off a surprising loss to the Sacramento Kings, a game in which both James and Doncic played. The Slovenian star had a dominant performance, leading all scorers with 42 points while adding seven rebounds and eight assists. LeBron followed as the team's second-leading scorer with 22 points. Tonight marks the second game of a back-to-back. At 41 years old, James has yet to play both ends of a back-to-back this season, as the franchise remains cautious regarding his age and physical workload. That i...

Lakers' LeBron James, Special-Edition Jersey Patch Trolled by Kings on Social Media After Win

Twenty-three years after the Sacramento Kings became the first team to see what LeBron James was capable of doing in the NBA, they got to have some fun at his expense following Tuesday's 124-112 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Kings trolled James and the NBA's decision to debut a jersey patch to commemorate his record-setting 23rd season in the league for Tuesday's game. It was announced earlier in the day that the NBA was adding a patch to James' jersey featuring the silhouette of his iconic pregame chalk toss, along with three color stripes representing the three different teams he has played for. The date to debut the patch was specifically chosen by the NBA because James made his pro debut against the Kings in Sacramento on Oct. 29, 2003. James is the first player in NBA history to play in 23 seasons. He ranks second all-time in games played with 1,582 and could pass Robert Parrish (1,611) this season if he appears in 30 of the Lakers' final 45 games...

LeBron James’ defiant take on defense despite historically bad outcome vs. Kings

LeBron James' defiant take on defense despite historically bad outcome vs. Kings appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here . On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Sacramento Kings 124-112, a game in which Luka Doncic admitted to an injury concern . Advertisement Beyond that, the Lakers shot the ball poorly, especially from the three-point line. They were a meager 22.2%, whereas the Kings were 65.4%. However, LeBron James said afterward that the defense was locked in despite those numbers, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. "I think we played solid defense," LeBron James said after the game. "S—, I mean, they made a bunch of 3s. We didn't make many. … Tonight was just one of those cases where you didn't make shots." While 65.4% is pretty good, it is actually the worst rate when defending against 25+ three-point attempts in Lakers history, per ESPN Insights. Doncic finished with a game-high of 42 point...

Why the NBA Gave Lakers Star LeBron James His Own One-of-a-Kind Jersey?

LeBron James is a special athlete. No, not just in the NBA or in North American sports, but worldwide. What he is doing in his 23rd year in the league on the Los Angeles Lakers is truly special, and commissioner Adam Silver knows that. That's why LeBron James' jersey looks different for the rest of the 2025-26 NBA season: it's because of the legacy that started over two decades ago in Sacramento, when an 18-year-old from Akron took on the Kings. The league announced that, starting on Jan. 12, 2026, when the Los Angeles Lakers face the Sacramento Kings, LeBron James will be commemorated with a special patch on his jersey in each game. James will have a patch affixed to his upper right chest featuring a silhouette of him doing his iconic pregame chalk toss, with three colored stripes representing the trio of franchises he played for: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. He will have a new patch for the remaining 46 games of the season. More ne...

Lakers' Supporting Cast Around Luka Doncic, LeBron James Criticized by Fans

The Los Angeles Lakers struggled against a bad Sacramento Kings team on Monday, and the story was similar to many of the team's losses this year. Luka Dončić posted 26 points in the first half as he continued what has been an outstanding offensive season for him. LeBron James provided some support, but aside from those two, there was little offense to be found from Los Angeles. As they have many times this season, Lakers fans lamented the lack of a supporting cast around their stars. Dončić has had a tremendous first full season with the Lakers, leading the league in scoring at 33 points per game, along with 8.8 assist s and 8 rebounds per game. As good as he has been, he alone may not be enough to lead Los Angeles to a deep playoff run. The Lakers aren't in panic mode just yet, but getting Dončić some more support at the trade deadline could ease their nerves as the postseason nears.

Is LeBron James playing tonight vs. Kings? Final status for Lakers star

Is LeBron James playing tonight vs. Kings? Final status for Lakers star originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Los Angeles Lakers will look to snap a two-game losing streak when they play against the Kings in Sacramento on Monday night. Advertisement It will be the third meeting of the season between the two teams, as the Lakers already bested the Kings in October and then again in December. The teams will also meet again in March. LeBron James missed the first meeting between the teams on the season as he was sidelined with sciatica, but he did play against the Kings in December and posted 24 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 29 minutes in the contest. Luckily for the Lakers, he'll be available for the third meeting of the season between the teams, too. James isn't listed on the official injury report for the contest and thus will be good to go. Advertisement The Lakers will only be missing two ...

LeBron James’ special-edition jersey patch will become part of rare cards

If you haven't noticed by now, LeBron James is playing in his 23rd season , and it's something that is not seen much in today's sports world. That means it's only right that the league does something special for James, and that's what they're doing by putting a special-edition patch on his jersey. Those patches will end up being in trading cards as well, according to Topps. "BREAKING: LeBron James will wear a special-edition 23rd season jersey patch beginning tonight in Sacramento; the city where he began his legendary career in 2003. The patches will be removed from his jersey after each game, and some will be placed into ultra-rare trading cards," Topps wrote on X, formerly Twitter. There's no doubt that people will be going after tra ding cards more than often after the announcement, and it's going to be hard landing a pack that has the patch in it. This should something that fans, and even James, should be excited about. Knowing that ...

NBA Releases Official Ruling on LeBron James’ Disputed Non-Call

The NBA has released its official ruling on a disputed non-call involving LeBron James from the Los Angeles Lakers ' loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. James even shared his disbelief and disappointment on a social media post. According to the league's L2M Report for the Bucks-Lakers game, Giannis Antetokounmpo cleanly blocked James with around 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter. It was deemed a correct non-call by the officials because The Greek Freak made legal contact on the ball. Before the release of the report, James posted a story on his Instagram . It was a cropped image of his layup attempt against the Bucks. While Antetokounmpo got the ball cleanly, Myles Turner made contact with James' arm during the play, which wasn't included in the report. King King even expressed his frustration with a facepalm emoji. However, some eagle-eyed fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, countered the Lakers superstar with the full photo of the layup ...

LeBron James Shades Refs for Missed Foul Call With IG Photo After Lakers' Loss to Bucks

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James wasn't happy with the officiating during his team's 105-101 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday evening. That's partially evidenced by James posting this picture on his Instagram story of him appearing to get fouled on a shot but not getting the call. That was a huge play in the game. The Lakers and Bucks were tied at 101 as James sprinted to the hoop. Giannis Antetokounmpo got the block with 39.2 seconds left, though, and the Bucks got the ball en route to a 105-101 win. The NBA's Last Two Minute Report stated that it was a correct no-call on the play. After the game, James was asked whether he thought frustration with the officiating affected the rhythm of his team. "Um…I don't know," James said . "I mean…I don't know." It was an inter esting game from a free-throw standpoint. The Bucks had eight more shots from the charity stripe (22-14). All of the Lakers' attempts were from James (...