With the game tied and seconds winding down, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James‘ streak of 1,297 consecutive games of double-digit points hanged in the balance.

The veteran forward tallied eight points against the Toronto Raptors, but had a chance to win the game – and keep his streak alive – in the final seconds as the Lakers held the final possession.

But like many times in his career, James made the right play at the right time.

Sacrificing his streak, he dished the ball wide to set up Rui Hachimura‘s 3-point buzzer beater to defeat the Raptors on Thursday night, 123-120.

James didn’t seem bothered when asked about his feelings after his run ended, which began in early 2007.

“None. We won,” he said.

“Just playing the game the right way. You always make the right play. That’s just been my M.O. That’s how I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

The Lakers led by as many as 13 points. They held a nine-point advantage going into halftime, but the Raptors made adjustments and clawed their way back into the contest.

Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 44 points, half of those coming in the third quarter. Each team traded leads in the second half which ultimately came down to the final play of the match.

With James having space through the center, he could have gone for the game-winning jump shot from midrange. But he picked out an open Hachimura in the corner, who drilled a 3-pointer with no time remaining.

“Once they doubled AR [Reaves] and the ball got swung to me, I know it’s a numbers game,” James said. “We got a four-on-three advantage and were just trying to put the ball on time, on target, in Rui’s socket, in his shot pocket, and he knocked it down.”

The win was the Lakers’ eighth in their last nine games as they remain in the top three of the Western Conference.

James and point guard Luka Doncic missed the following game against the Boston Celtics, where the team lost 126-105 the next day.

The Lakers conclude their three-game away trip against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night. On Wednesday, JJ Redick‘s side faces the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

Boston Celtics small forward Jordan Walsh struggled to make an impact in the opening weeks of the season.

The 2023 second-round pick played less than five minutes in his first three games this year. He didn’t even appear in four of the Celtics’ opening eight matches of the campaign and tallied just 24 minutes. And still, most of those minutes came when games were long settled.

But after a game against the Washington Wizards on Nov. 5, where the forward logged seven points and seven rebounds, Walsh has played 15 or more minutes in all but one game since that moment.

He continued his strong form for the Celtics on Friday night, this time putting up 17 points and four rebounds in the team’s 126-105 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The previous night, Walsh posted a season-high 22 points in a 146-101 win against the Wizards.

His performance on Friday caught the eye of Lakers shooting guard Austin Reaves.

“He just plays hard as crap every single possession,” Reaves said after the game in which he put up 36 points. “He doesn’t take a possession off. His ability, his length, his athleticism, he’s physically gifted, [he] moves really well. I can see him being one of the best defenders in the league for many years to come.”

Despite the recent praise, guard Jaylen Brown wants Walsh — and the media — to stay focused and not hype him too much.

“I don’t want to boost his head up too much,” Brown said. “I don’t want him to start getting cute. You gotta still take care of the details. But he’s been doing a good job.”

The Celtics move to fifth place in the Eastern Conference following four straight wins. They travel to Canada on Sunday to face the Toronto Raptors.

Both James Harden and Kawhi Leonard were left shocked after hearing the Los Angeles Clippers released Chris Paul.

In a bombshell announcement, Paul posted on his Instagram account in the early hours of Wednesday that he was being sent home, the same day the team prepared to play the Atlanta Hawks.

After the game, reporters asked Harden and Leonard about their reactions to the decision.

“I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,” Harden said. “Definitely surprised me. But not just Chris, it’s a lot that we were dealing with. But that is out of my hands.”

Leonard also couldn’t believe the news.

“It was shocking to me,” he said. “I guess they had a conversation, and front office made a decision.”

The victory on Wednesday ended a five-game losing run for the Clippers. However, the team sits 13th in the Western Conference with a 6-16 record.

The poor start to the season hasn’t gone to plan for Paul, who rejoined the team which he spent six seasons with between 2011 and 2017 in the summer. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Paul’s relationship with head coach Ty Lue began to worsen, with the two “not on speaking terms.” The sources also told ESPN that Paul’s presence began to become disruptive.

Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations for the Clippers, confirmed to ESPN that the team parted ways with the veteran point guard, but remains grateful for his contributions to the franchise.

“Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career,” Frank said. “I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we’ve struggled. We’re grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”

Though released from the team, Paul cannot be officially eligible for a trade until Dec. 15 due to signing a one-year deal this past summer.

It’s been an uncharacteristic season for the Kansas City Chiefs, who are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Their postseason chances took another hit on Thanksgiving after a 31-28 loss against the Dallas Cowboys, putting Andy Reid‘s side 6-6 with five games remaining.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw four touchdowns during the loss, says the equation is simple if the Chiefs want to make the playoffs: win.

“You’ve got to win every game now and hope that’s enough,” Mahomes said after the game.

Thursday’s defeat was the Chiefs’ sixth one-score loss this season. It’s a stark contrast to their 2024 record, where the team went 11-0 in those situations.

Kansas City started the game on the front foot, racing to a 14-7 lead in the first quarter after touchdowns from wide receiver Rashee Rice and tight end Travis Kelce. However, the Cowboys responded by scoring 13 unanswered points through the following two quarters.

The Chiefs retook the lead early in the fourth quarter from another touchdown by Rice. But Dallas responded again by scoring a touchdown and field goal, putting the game out of reach for Reid’s side.

After reaching at least the AFC Championship in the past seven seasons, the Chiefs are currently on the outside looking in as of Sunday. Their remaining games are all against AFC opponents, including matches against division rivals Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders.

“We’re going to play a lot of good football teams coming up,” Mahomes said. “If we’re going to make the playoffs, we’re going to have to win them all. That’s got to be the mindset when we step into the building when we get back.”

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is having quite the start to the season.

After 16 games played, the 25-year-old is having his highest points per game since joining the league in 2020. He’s averaging 33.4 points per game while also averaging his best field goal percentage (47.3%) since the 2022-23 campaign.

In the 76ers’ victory against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, Maxey recorded a career-high 54 points as he led the team to its ninth win of the season. The guard also tallied nine assists and five rebounds during the overtime win.

Maxey followed his career night with another big performance three days later against the Miami Heat. He led the team with 27 points and notched six assists, but it wasn’t enough for a tenth victory as the Heat won 127-117.

Out of the 16 games played for the team this season, only two of them have seen Maxey record less than 25 points. But even in those two games, he tallied over 20 points.

The 76ers are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. The team finished 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 24-58 record, its fewest wins since the 2016-17 season.

Maxey will look to continue his strong form in the upcoming week, where the 76ers will play two NBA Cup games. Philadelphia will host the Orlando Magic on Tuesday before facing the Brooklyn Nets on the road on Friday.

Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball responded to rumors surrounding his future in North Carolina.

The 24-year-old was reportedly open for a trade on Thursday following frustration within the team, according to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports. However, Ball responded to the rumor by posting a clown emoji on social media.

On Friday, he spoke to reporters and dismissed the report.

“He never heard that come from me,” Ball said. “Source is not from me, so it’s false info. Got to let him know. I really don’t like commenting back on stuff, but when it gets too big, you’ve got to say something.”

Ball is beginning his sixth season with the Hornets. He is averaging 21.2 points per game after 10 matches, where he’s been nursing an ankle injury. Charlotte is enduring another difficult start to the season, beginning the 2025-26 campaign 4-12 entering Sunday.

Since Ball’s arrival, the Hornets have yet to make the playoffs and have finished with fewer than 30 wins in the last three seasons. In Ball’s first two years, Charlotte twice finished 10th but lost both times in the play-in tournament.

“I love being here,” Ball said. “I ain’t saying nothing, I’m just trying to win. That’s what we’re going to keep doing.”

The Hornets will play two home NBA Cup games this upcoming week: first against the New York Knicks on Wednesday and then against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

The Los Angeles Lakers fired team executives Joey and Jesse Buss with immediate effect, ESPN reported on Thursday.

Joey Buss worked as an alternate governor and vice president of research and development. Jesse Buss’ position was assistant general manager. The brothers both worked with the Lakers organization throughout the past decade.

“We are extremely honored to have been part of this organization for the last 20 seasons,” the brothers said to ESPN. “Thank you to Laker Nation for embracing our family every step of the way. We wish things could be different with the way our time ended with the team. At times like this, we wish we could ask our Dad what he would think about it all.”

Jesse and Joey’s firings came a month after the NBA Board of Governors approved Mark Walter‘s purchase of a majority stake in the franchise, valued at $10 billion. Walter is also the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won three World Series championships in the past six seasons.

Jesse and Joey’s father, Jerry Buss, bought the Lakers in 1979. During his reign as owner, the team won 10 NBA titles and featured talent such as Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. When Jerry died in 2013, his daughter Jeanie Buss took over and is currently the team’s primary team governor.

The firings also signal movement in the front office and scouting positions following the change in ownership.

The Lakers, who sit third in the Western Conference with an 11-4 record, visit the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic spoke on the recent firing of former Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, the person who traded the superstar to the Lakers in February.

Doncic, who was asked about Harrison’s firing after the team’s 121-92 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, preferred not to address the situation directly and declined to speak on a possible return to Dallas.

“Right now, I’m just focused on the Lakers,” Doncic said. “No further comments.”

On the first night of February, Harrison shocked the basketball world when the Mavericks traded Doncic in exchange for power forward Anthony Davis in a three-way deal. The move drew criticism and pressure mounted on Harrison, with fans routinely chanting “Fire Nico” at home games.

The Mavericks’ season collapsed: Davis suffered an adductor injury in his first appearance for the team while Kyrie Irving tore his ACL. Dallas slid to 10th in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs after making the finals the year prior.

Nine months after the trade, the Mavericks fired Harrison after starting the season 3-8 and months of fan discontent.

Doncic, meanwhile, is continuing to make a name for himself in Southern California. He’s averaging 34.9 points per game this season while also averaging 9.1 rebounds and 8.9 assists. The Lakers finished third in the West last season and currently sit fifth with a 8-4 record.

Despite leaving the Lone Star State, Doncic said he still holds the Mavericks close to his heart.

“I thought I was going to stay there forever, but I didn’t,” Doncic said. “So that will always be a special place for me. I will always call it home. But right now, I’m focused on the Lakers and trying to move on. But obviously, always there will be a part of me there.”

Harrison became general manager of the Mavericks at the start of the 2021-22 season. During his tenure, Dallas made two trips to the Western Conference Final and one trip to the NBA Finals, eventually losing to the Boston Celtics in 2024.

Ja Morant hinted at a coaching staff issue during a post-game conference.

This incident happened on October 31, when the Memphis Grizzlies played against the Los Angeles Lakers.

During a quick locker room interview, Morant took questions from reporters when he was questioned on why he wasn’t his usual self. He responded with a quick one.

“Go ask the coaching staff why,” Morant said.

Then reporters asked what could have been done differently other than asking the coaching staff, Morant answered honestly.

“According to them, probably don’t play me,” Morant said. “That’s basically what the message was. It’s cool.”

Following these responses, the Grizzlies quickly disciplined Morant.

Morant was suspended for one game for detrimental conduct towards the team.

The Grizzlies continued their losing streak against the Toronto Raptors and the Detroit Pistons.

To make matters worse, Morant has been shooting 38.3% from the field and 14.0% from three-point range, and as a result, the Grizzlies had a miserable 0-4 week.

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo missed the team’s game against the Charlotte Hornets after suffering a left big toe sprain on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old is listed as day-to-day after undergoing an MRI. Adebayo, who is averaging 19.9 points and 8.1 rebounds this season, exited in the first quarter of the Heat’s 122-112 road defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. The center did not return to the court.

“A guy hit me in the back of the leg and then I felt the pain in my foot,” Adebayo said after the loss. “So, I took it upon myself to check myself out and go see what happened.”

“Obviously, you don’t want to do anything more to cause any lingering effects. So, Spo (head coach Erik Spoelstra) checked me out.”

Adebayo joins Tyler Herro on the Heat’s injury report: the latter of whom is undergoing surgery on his left foot prior to the season.

The Heat sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference as the team gets ready for a four-game home stand, starting with the Hornets on Friday night.

Karl-Anthony Towns is still rocked by his trade to the New York Knicks last year.

The center, who played nine consecutive seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, was traded to the Knicks one day before the start of Minnesota’s training camp in 2024. New York acquired Towns in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle.

Towns faced his former side on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, where he logged 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the Knicks’ 137-114 victory.

After the win, the center still couldn’t wrap his head around the trade.

“I’m still stunned, I mean, I’m still stunned,” Towns said. “It’s weird.”

Towns admitted he still talks to many of his former teammates on a daily basis, including star shooting guard Anthony Edwards.

“I talk to a lot of them, almost every day, if not every other day,” Towns said. “Me and Ant, like I said those are my brothers. Ant, Jaden [McDaniels], Rudy [Gobert], Mike [Conley], all of them down the list.

“It’s deeper than basketball. It’s always great when you get to see family.”

While the Timberwolves made the Western Conference Final for the second straight season in 2025 and in their first year after the trade, Towns led the Knicks to an appearance in the Eastern Conference Final before losing to the Indiana Pacers.

“Built something special there,” Towns said. “It’s different when you’re in process, and now you’re going against the process. They’re a great team. To see what they’re doing right now, special, and I expect nothing less than greatness from them.”

The Knicks occupy third place in the Eastern Conference in the early stages of the season. Towns’ side returns to the court on Sunday night against the Brooklyn Nets.

Austin Reaves is making a name for himself with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Last week – with stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic sidelined with injuries – the 27-year-old took the spotlight, scoring 120 points in three games. Against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, Reaves recorded a career-high 51 points in a 127-120 win. A day later, the guard netted 41 points against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Then came Wednesday, when Reaves notched 16 assists and scored a buzzer-beater to rescue a 116-115 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Reaves finished the game with 28 points, continuing his streak of five consecutive games with 25 or more points.

With James and Doncic out, Reaves’ leadership is being put to the test – and he’s been delivering.

“Everyone’s looking at me,” Reaves said after the game. “In those situations, you have to be calm, be confident and lead your guys through.

“It’s not hard to kind of crumble in those situations, but you got to keep the energy high and you got to keep the spirit high.”

The Lakers looked on course for a comfortable win after leading by 16 points at the start of the fourth quarter. However, the Timberwolves roared back in a late rally, eventually taking the lead with 10 seconds remaining after a layup from Julius Randle.

With the game on the line, Reaves danced his way around two Minnesota players and fired home a jump shot at the buzzer.

“This guy is going to show up in the big moments,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said in his postgame press conference. “I’m not surprised. He’s done that many times in his career. He’s done that many times since I’ve been his coach. I feel very comfortable with him making decisions at late game.”

Redick praised his team after Wednesday’s victory, which keeps the Purple and Gold undefeated on the road so far despite the key injuries.

“I’m so proud of this group right now,” he said. “From where we were like three weeks ago, where we were discombobulated and guys are missing training camp and guys are modified participants, we’re starting to come together.”

Reaves and Redick will look to secure another road win as the Lakers open their NBA Cup campaign against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

Mac McClung has signed a multiyear contract with the Indiana Pacers.

The signing took place on Tuesday, and per the Pacers’ Twitter account, McClung will wear No. 3.

McClung has had three straight slam dunk titles for the past three years. This contract makes it the first standard NBA deal for McClung.

The Pacers are dealing with numerous key player injuries, including those to their guards and wings, making McClung a valuable reinforcement to have.

So far in the 2025-2026 NBA season, McClung has played 13 minutes with the Pacers in a game against the Dallas Mavericks, which they lost 107-105.

During those 13 minutes of play time, McClung made 7 points, had one assist and two rebounds.

The Pacers have a 0-4 record.

The Boston Celtics made lots of changes in the offseason, and one of the gambles they made was the signing of power forward Josh Minott.

So far, the risk is paying off for the Celtics as the 22-year-old impressed on Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring 11 points and 15 rebounds in a 125-105 home win.

Minott is beginning to raise eyebrows at TD Garden.

“I can’t even explain it, man,” the power forward said after the game. “Like, just thanking God, thanking the fans just for the energy. My teammates, everyone here associated with Boston, just empowers me. It’s just a blessing to be here, truthfully.”

Prior to arriving in Boston, Minott spent three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he featured in 93 regular-season games. However, the former Memphis Tigers draft pick never started a game during his time in Minneapolis.

That changed this season: Minott started two straight games for Boston this week, helping the team secure victories over the New Orleans Pelicans and Cavaliers. The 22-year-old could potentially be a key starter for Joe Mazzulla‘s side in the early weeks of the season.

“We were all stars in high school, and I’d say most of us were stars in college, so it’s like just coming here, you’ve got to understand that not everyone’s going to be a star,” Minott said. “So it’s just like, I’ve got no problem with that. I’ll go make y’all look good.”

After starting the season with three straight losses, the Celtics look to go .500 as they face an undefeated Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

Former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones was arrested as part of a large-scale FBI investigation on Thursday regarding illegal sports betting and fixed poker games, where the 49-year-old is accused of sharing private injury information to bettors, FBI officials said.

A source told ESPN that the player in question was LeBron James, according to a report published on Thursday. However, James was not accused of any wrongdoing in the indictment.

The FBI investigation is on two cases: an illegal sports betting scheme and one involving Mafia-backed fixed poker games, officials said. Over 30 people were arrested across 11 states, which included prominent NBA figures like Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, FBI director Kash Patel said.

During the 2022/23 season, Jones spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers as an unpaid member, which included helping James in pregame preparations and preseason workouts. The source said the four-time NBA champion was not aware of Jones’ alleged gambling activities.

After James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s NBA all-time points record on February 7, 2023, the Lakers star missed his next match against the Milwaukee Bucks due to ankle soreness. The indictment says Jones is alleged to have texted a co-conspirator, encouraging the person to “get a big bet” on the Bucks. The game ended in a 115-106 Lakers loss.

The indictment also says Jones is alleged to have shared private information with a co-conspirator on January 15, 2024, when the Lakers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Prior to tip-off between the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, the spotlight shone on Mavs debutant Cooper Flagg. Alongside the rookie were league veterans Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson, who looked to open their season with a victory at the American Airlines Center.

Victor Wembanyama had different ideas.

Playing in his first regular-season game since February, the 7-foot-4-inch center tallied 40 points and recorded 15 rebounds in the Spurs’ 125-92 season opener victory against Dallas.

The performance, which broke a franchise record for most points in a season opener, highlighted the Frenchman’s improvements made over the offseason.

“[I was] much more in control of myself,” Wembanyama said after the win. “The mind, I’m not worried about [that] because I saw what it’s like to be confronted with potentially losing a lot, whether it’s your career or your health.

“I’m having more fun now that I’m not struggling to move as much. I know I still need to get better, and I’m still going to get better.”

A tight first half saw both sides take turns leading, with the Spurs going on a 15-3 run over the final 3:18 of the second quarter to lead by 11 at halftime. Wembanyama netted 21 points in the first 24 minutes and shot 61% in field goals.

Spurs never trailed after the break, extending to a 33-point advantage by the fourth quarter. The French center continued to dominate on the court with 19 points and seven rebounds in the second half. Wembanyama also recorded zero turnovers in a game for the first time since January 2024.

“It feels like every day we try to lay a brick to build a huge mansion, and it felt like the job was done for the day,” Wembanyama said. “This is what we’ve been working for. This is what we’ve struggled for, for so long, and I just felt like it fits. I felt like I was in my place.”

San Antonio will try to go 2-0 as the team faces the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. The Spurs’ home opener will be on Sunday afternoon against the Brooklyn Nets.

“I was comfortable with the work we put in and with the preparation up to this point,” Wembanyama said. “Now all the dice are thrown in the Western Conference.”

Utah Jazz guard and rookie Airious “Ace” Bailey impressed in his preseason debut, leading the team with 25 points in a 140-127 loss to the Houston Rockets.

Drafted by the Jazz as the fifth overall pick in June, the former Rutgers guard wasted no time putting his talents on display. He also recorded six rebounds, three assists and shot 11-16 on the night.

“First game,” Bailey said after the match. “That’s my favorite part of it. I mean, just playing my first game, getting all the nerves out.”

His debut performance caught the attention of Kevin Durant, a player whom Bailey idolized growing up.

“I think he’s going to be a hell of a player,” Durant said after the game. “I’m expecting a big year and a big career for him, and tonight he showed what he can do.”

Jazz head coach Will Hardy says Bailey is just getting started and will continue to progress throughout the campaign as the team looks to improve last season’s 17-65 record.

“We have to recognize this is the beginning of his career,” Hardy said on Wednesday. “He’s a young man, and he’s trying to learn and grow.”

The Jazz will open its regular season against the Los Angeles Clippers in Salt Lake City on Oct. 22.

Jonathan Kuminga reached a $48 million, two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors.

The deal comes after Kuminga skipped Media Day due to ongoing contract negotiations. He passed up a $78 million, three-year deal to maintain his right to be a free agent next year.

During the 2024-2025 season, Kuminga made 47 regular-season appearances, averaging 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.

Stephen Curry spoke about this ongoing negotiation, saying, “When he’s here, ready to work, we expect him to be locked in on doing what he needs to do to help us win.”

Curry mentioned that he understands where Kuminga is coming from, and he expects him to be ready to go.

The Warriors have had to wait to sign other free agents until Kuminga signs his contract, making their roster incomplete.

Kuminga is now expected to return to training camp this week.

The Warriors will start their preseason with a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 5.

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka revealed team updates on Thursday, including a contract extension for head coach JJ Redick and a comment on LeBron James‘ future.

The GM announced the team will keep the 41-year-old head coach on the sidelines for the long term. Redick, who signed a four-year deal with the Lakers in June 2024, has reportedly signed a multiyear extension.

“We think he’s a special coach with a special voice that’s really helping us define the culture of Lakers excellence,” Pelinka said. “We just wanted to make a clear statement that this is what we believe in, what we’re going to lean into and what our players are going to mold into as we continue to develop the identity. I think having long-term planning is helpful as we build this team and go forward.”

In his first season as a head coach, Redick helped the Lakers finish third in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record. It was the team’s highest conference position since its championship-winning season in 2019-20.

“I think it starts with a high level of gratitude – to the Lakers, to Mark [Walter], Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] for having that confidence in me,” Redick said on the extension. “It’s not lost on me, this sort of rarity of a first-time head coach getting an extension. I recognize how fortunate I am to be in an organization that supports me in that way.”

But now the attention shifts to 40-year-old star forward LeBron James, who used his one-year player option in June. James is set to enter his 23rd season in the NBA: a record in the league.

Pelinka said the ball is in the four-time NBA champion’s court regarding his future, but hints that he would love for him to retire in Los Angeles.

“Just give him absolute respect to choose his story with his family in terms of how many years he’s going to continue to play,” Pelinka said on James’ future. “He’s earned that right, and he’s the best one to talk about in terms of how many years he’d like to play.

“We would love if LeBron’s story would be to retire as a Laker. That’d be a positive story.”

The Lakers’ media day will be held on Monday, with training camp beginning the following day. The team will open its 2025-26 campaign on Oct. 21 against the Golden State Warriors.

With a month until the NBA season tips off, the Golden State Warriors continue to negotiate a new contract with forward Jonathan Kuminga.

The 22-year-old declined three contract offers presented by the Warriors so far, one of them including a three-year, $75.2 million offer plus a team option on the third season, according to ESPN.

However, Kuminga instead wants a player option and could take a $7.9 million qualifying offer, his agent, Aaron Turner, said. The qualifying offer would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer, putting the ball in his court.

“There’s a lot of upside,” Turner said on The Hoop Collective podcast. “He wants to pick where he wants to go. So the [qualifying offer] is real, for sure.”

Amid the contract dispute, Kuminga appeared to deactivate his personal Instagram and X accounts.

The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings explored options for acquiring the forward throughout the summer, with the former reportedly offering a four-year, $80-88 million deal. Despite the pursuit, the Warriors are still holding onto the 2021 draft pick and could still negotiate a new contract.

“If [the Warriors] want to win now, if you want a guy that’s happy and treated fairly who is a big part of this team, we believe, moving forward, you give him the player option,” Turner said. “You do lose a little of that trade value. But if it’s about the here and now, you give him that.

“You don’t get a perfect deal, but you get a pretty good deal and he gets to feel respected about what he gets and we all move on and worry about winning, helping Steph [Curry].”

Kuminga joined the Warriors in 2021 as the seventh pick in the draft. In his first season with Golden State, he helped the franchise win its seventh NBA championship. The forward averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 2024-25, but was sidelined for a chunk of the season after suffering an ankle sprain in January.