Top Player Quotes/News to Note:

• Luka Doncic said he was excited to play for the Lakers. This will be his first full season playing with the Lakers since getting traded in the City of Angels in the middle of last season.

• LeBron said he is not waiting for his son Bryce to reach the NBA before deciding to retire. He made it abundantly clear that Bryce has his timeline and LeBron has his own timeline. Surprisingly, (or maybe un-surprisingly), according to Austin Reaves, this was the first time he has seen LeBron James since their not so close 5 game series with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

• Austin Reaves after mentioning that he thought, “Team USA was going to the pull off the greatest comeback and sports history,” Reaves also told us one of the reasons he wanted to play with the Lakers is so that he could play with LeBron James. Also called out that LeBron told him that he got his first career birdie on the golf course!

• Deandre Ayton called out that he thinks that “This is the biggest opportunity of [his] career.” Austin Reaves said having someone that with the addition of Deandre Ayton he could potentially he can potentially help them out with some things they needed in spurts last season. First a pick and roll presence, a lob threat. Reaves also mentioned having someone that knows how to communicate on defense and be in the right spots would be big for them.

• Marcus Smart said that Head Coach JJ Redick mentioned to him that, “[they] want Boston, Marcus Smart.” Smart won the 2021-22 DPOY when he was playing for the Celtics.

• Rui Hachimura mentioned that it is not really about who starts this year, it is moreso about minutes. Also a key note to mention, Rui said he spent time over the summer working out with LeBron James again.

• Jarred Vanderbilt stated that, “For me personally, my number one goal is [to] finish the season healthy.” He also thinks that the Lakers will need to, “buy in” in order to have a “healthy and successful season”.

• Maxi Kleber says that he feels “fully recovered and fully healthy,” going into the new season. One thing Kleber called out was working on his overall strength over the summer. Kleber was injured at the time he was traded to the Lakers last season and was thrown into Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves (the Lakers were eliminated Game 5). Mentioned that he likes to do the dirty work and stuff that doesn’t pop up on the box score.

• Dalton Knecht was a key topic during the Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick media availability on Thursday. JJ told reporters that he thought Knecht could have potentially been burnt out over the summer. (Knecht received criticism for his play during Summer League.)

• During player availability on Monday, Knecht agreed with the Roanoke native head coach that he could have been burnt out this summer. According to Knecht, being burnt out could have been a result of putting in so much work with his trainer following the season. The Tennessee sharpe shooter said he wanted more minutes on the court

• Bronny James (LeBron James Jr.), is looking to contribute more this season. He mentioned he has all the trust in Redick, who suggested he get time in the G-League last year. Bronny said that this turned out to be great for him and this help

• Jake LaRavia grew up in the Los Angeles area and mentioned his dad was a Magic Johnson fan, so he is well aware of the expectations of being a Laker. One goal of LaRavia’s is to get better each season. Austin Reaves mentioned he thinks LaRavia would have a, “really, really big season”. With size, speed and athleticism being great qualities LaRavia brings to the team.

• Adou Thiero said he has not yet been fully cleared, but he has been working out and training. He is still dealing with some swelling in his knee injury. The Arkansas/Kentucky product mentioned he watched a lot of different players growing up so he really does not model his game after one certain player.

Looking Forward to the season:

• The Los Angeles Lakers have their first preseason game of the season this Friday at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT.

• The Lakers kick off their regular season stint on October 21st against Golden State Warriors

Jaxson Dart helped the New York Giants get their first win of the season during his Rookie debut as a starter. It was a tough day for injuries in this matchup. Joe Alt and Malik Nabers were both carted off unfortunately. Alt was carted off after getting his right leg injured, and Nabers was carted off after jumping for a ball on a free play.

Key Points:

• Jaxson Dart got his first career TD run on QB blast early in the 1st quarter for the first touchdown of the day.

• Joe Alt and Malik Nabers were both carted off in the first half

• Justin Herbert had two interceptions on the day after having gone nine straight road starts without an interception.

Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots –

The Panthers lose a nasty one, 42-13. This one was over after the first half.

• Panthers got a good start with a TD from Bryce Young to Tommy Tremble at earl the first but the extra point is missed. And that was a great sign of how the day was going to go for the Panthers from that point onward.

• Drake May, Charlotte native, got a rushing touchdown first play of the second quarter to get this going.

• Panthers force Pats into a 2nd & Goal form their 25 but a tripping call in the middle of the second which gives Pats a 1st down. A few plays later the Patriots score and go up 21-6.. it continued to go down hill from there for the Panthers.

Key Points 1st Quarter:

• Eagles Special Teams blocked punt and returned for TD early in the 1st quarter

• Dallas Goedert catches pitch from Jalen Hurts for his first TD pass of the day

• Big play called back: Cooper DeJean INT early in 1st down got called back after play Quinyon was called for personal conduct penalty for back and forth with Bucs (Tristan Wirfs and Baker Mayfield).

• Bucs turned this into a FG to end End of 1st quarter 14-3

Key Points 2nd quarter:

• After a big Hurts completion to Devonta Smith to set up 1st and Goal, Hurts has another flip to Goedert following a 3rd down conversion to make it 21-3

• Bucs drove down field at end of 2nd to make 65 yard field goal. Longest since Justin Tucker 66 yard field goal or Brandon Aubrey’s 66 yard field goal last preseason

Key Points 3rd Quarter:

• Emeka Egbuka had a long TD catch after he found a hole in the defense early in the 3rd quarter. Egbuka took his time walking into the end zone, similar to how DeSean Jackson would enter the end zone after long TD runs during his NFL tenure.

• Bucky Irving lost a a fumble in the middle of the 3rd, which turned into 6 points from a Saquon TD. Eagles increased the lead to 31-20.

• Irving made up for his fumble (as much as possible) and Mayfield found him for a TD to cut the lead to 30-21.

4th Quarter

• After a last drive effort from the Bucs after they cut the lead to 31-23, the Bucs were stopped short on 4th & 9.

Many expected the album to drop at midnight EST, but media outlets reported it would instead be released at 3 a.m. EST. After a long wait, the album became available to Spotify users at 7:38 a.m. and to Apple Music users around 8 a.m.

‘MUSIC’ features 30 tracks with guest appearances from Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, and Skepta. The album also includes production credits from Metro Boomin and Kanye West.

The release is expected to be another success for Universal Music Group after a strong 2024.

Check Playboi Carti’s album here

LeBron is expected to miss at least 1-to-2 weeks with a groin strain, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

James said he reaggravated his left groin at the 7:12 mark in the 4th quarter, after cutting the defect to 7 points. James ran awkwardly down the court then proceeded to signal for a timeout (along with teammate Luka Dončić).

Dončić, also has been gimpy since LA’s matchups against the Clippers last week.

The Space Jam 2 star has said there is not much concern but if you were wondering (or have good memory), yes, this is the same groin injury that kept the King out for two months during his first season donning the Purple and Gold.

“Not much concern,” James said in the lockerroom to reporters. “Obviously, we’ll go day-to-day and look at it each day and see if it gets better and then take the proper measures and see what we need to do moving forward.”

“The last score I had on Jaylen Brown, probably extended it a little bit too much… when I landed I felt it.” James said.

The injury could not come at a worst time for the Lakers who are scheduled to play an insane eight (8) games in thirteen (13) days.

This could also buy time for James to get healthy and for Dončić to get in shape after being our for ~2 months after dealing with calf injury.

Los Angeles will continue their roadtrip Monday against the Brooklyn Nets, for a reunion with old teammate D’Angelo Russell.

Ronnie Stanley, one of the biggest names on the free-agent market, has resigned in Baltimore that makes him the 8th highest paid LT in the NFL.

Stanley has been a member of the Ravens since he was drafted from Notre Dame in 2016 with the 6th overall pick.

Stanley dealt with injuries in the past, specifically the 2020 and 2021 seasons where he only played 6 and 1 games respectively. However, Stanley has stayed relatively healthy the past two season.

Although the big man had many suitors, it comes as no surprise Eric DeCosta and Co. worked to bring the 2024 Pro Bowler back for his 10th season.

Davis finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists. While Knecht went for 37 points, 9-12 on threes, and rattled off a whopping 21 straight points in the 3rd quarter himself. Knecht became the first Rookie to lead a LeBron James team in scoring in a win, according to ESPN.

Davis briefly left the game during the Knecht’s 3rd quarter barrage after taking a shot below the belt from John Collins. Collins was assessed a Flagrant 1 for the “per-dic-a-ment” he put Davis in, as Lakers Play-by-Play announcer Bill Macdonald referred to it as.

Davis was asked after the game, by Los Angles Times reporter Dan Woike, if he was worried that getting hit below the belt was the good luck charm for the [great] shooting performance.

“Oh no, he won’t be making no more threes then.. I can’t do that,” Davis said laughingly as he shook his head.

But of course, the talk of the night was all about Rookie Dalton Knecht’s performance.

In the 3rd quarter alone, the rookie of the year played all 12 minutes, went for 6 for 6 on FGs, 3 for 3 from 3pt, and scored 21 straight points. This 21-straight-point onslaught all came after a LeBron James breakaway left handed dunk that would have initially been one of the best highlights from the night.

Knecht, by way of Tennessee, of course fell to the Lakers at 17.

Many draft analyst projected that the reigning SEC Player would be long gone before the Lakers selection at 17th. He did not even take his pre-draft workout the Lakers offered him.

Shit, even Knecht himself said last night he was a little surprised he fell to 17 in the NBA Draft.

What he did not seem so surprised about was his shooting performance last night. During his postgame availability, Knecht said he realized he was locked in after “the first shot.”

“Every-time I see one go in, I think the next [one] is always going to go in,” Knecht said.

This is something Knecht credits his confidence for and words of affirmation from his father.

Last night, LeBron James himself even had something to say about Knecht being available at 17th—while not giving any credit to the much talked about Los Angels Front Office.

[The Front Office] didn’t find [Dalton Knecht]. The other 16 teams fucked it up,” James said as he laughed.

The Los Angeles Lakers play the Orlando Magic on Thursday, while the Utah Jazz will also suit up again Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs.