Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 56
Former UCLA standout to receive a lifetime contribution award by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Two-time NCAA champion and three-time Naismith Trophy award winner Bill Walton has been selected, along with C. Vivian Stringer, as a Naismith Award honoree for his lifetime contribution to the game of basketball, as announced on Thursday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Walton led the UCLA men's basketball program to three consecutive Final Fours (1972-74) and back-to-back NCAA titles in 1972 and 1973. He was...
The Clippers came up short against the depleted Denver Nuggets losing, 113-104, in front a stunned Crypto.com Arena crowd last Monday then on Wednesday they beat Kings on the road 131-117. Against the Sacramento Kings all five starters scored in double figures. It was a great bounce back game after losing to Denver at home. Against the Kings the Clippers were led by Kawhi Leonard's 34 points and nine rebounds and James Harden's 26 points and six assists. The Clippers also got help from Paul...
Los Angeles Lakers Unveil 'California Dream' Nike NBA City Edition Uniform The Los Angeles Lakers unveiledtheir new Nike NBA City Edition uniform for the 2023-24 season. The "California Dream" City Edition uniform is inspired by historic Lakers artwork and represents the Los Angeles dream and journey. The black uniform features a Los Angeles Lakers triangle wordmark from the 1960s when the team began playing on the west coast. The jersey trim transitions from purple to black as a nod to the sky...
Lakers coach Darvin Ham stands on the sideline with his hands in his pocket, resolute, resolved and relaxed, yet he is sandwiched by a dilemma. Ham must manage LeBron James' minutes restriction while bringing out the best in Anthony Davis. Last Wednesday night during their 135-125 overtime win against the Clippers there were no restrictions. James played 42 minutes and Davis played 48 minutes. James scored 35 points, 13-19, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out seven assists. Davis scored 27...
Just when you thought you had the NBA all figured out the two professional basketball teams in Los Angeles left you scratching your head? The Lakers season will be over next week and the Clippers will move on in the playoffs. The Clippers are currently in sixth place in the Western Conference with three games to play in the regular season. Their record is currently 47-31 and if the playoffs started today they would probably play the Houston Rockets. Two out of their three remaining games are at...
The NBA has promoted Amy Brooks to President, Team Marketing & Business Operations and Chief Innovation Officer, it was announced today by NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum. In her newly-created role as Chief Innovation Officer, Brooks will drive innovative decision-making and growth across the NBA’s business through the development and execution of new ideas and initiatives. She will continue to report to Tatum and will collaborate with the NBA’s senior leadership, including NBA Chief Financial Officer J.B. Loc...
The season is still early but the early returns looked familiar for the Clippers and Lakers. This season the teams looked like the same teams as last year. The Clippers are a good team but not a great team although they appear to be better than they were last year. The Lakers are still two or three super stars away from being a good or great team. Last Monday the Clippers gave up 74 points to the Warriors at halftime. The Clippers scored 57 points but when you give up that many points in the...
I went to Staples Center Tuesday night. It was just an exhibition game but I wanted to see how much improvement the Lakers have made since Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka took over the difficult task of bringing back to life a once great franchise. I thought a game against Utah, which has rebuilt to become a playoff team, would tell me a lot. And it did. The game was close, the Lakers had leads in the fourth quarter but they lost 105-99. The team with more stars often takes over a close game and t...
USC sophomore forward Bennie Boatwright has withdrawn his name from the NBA Draft list and will return for his junior season. “I have decided to return to USC for my junior year to further my education and work on developing my basketball skills,” said Boatwright. “I look forward to an exciting 2017-18 season with my teammates.”Boatwright led USC with a 15.1 scoring average during the 2016-17 season and averaged 4.5 rebounds. The Trojan co-captain was limited to 19 games due to a knee injury early in the season, but finished the season strong...
The National Basketball Association announces that 182 players -- 137 players from colleges and 45 international players -- have filed as early entry candidates for the 2017 NBA Draft. Players wishing to enter the 2017 NBA Draft were required to submit a letter to the NBA to be received no later than Sunday,April 23. Players who have applied for early entry have the right to withdraw their names from consideration for the Draft by notifying the NBA of their decision in writing no later than 5 p.m. ET on Monday, June 12. Under NCAA rules, in...
The Los Angeles D-Fenders have unveiledthe brand marks for theSouth Bay Lakers, the future minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers, featuring primary and secondary emblems. The new primary emblem is inspired by the classic logo of the team’s parent club. It has been reimagined to incorporate the oceanfront views of the region while South Bay is adorned across the top, adding subtle but unique twists to the timeless look of one of the NBA’s most prominent brands. Each of the team’s new marks have been designed to further increase the s...
I had covered the Lakers for several years before Mitch Kupchak came along. Kupchak told the media to call him Mitchell. ”That’s because Mitch Chortkoff was here first,” he said. “Mitch is taken, I’ll be Mitchell.” Now Mitchell has been fired after 30 years with the organization. Jim Buss, Jeanie Buss’ brother, has been fired too. And John Black, the Lakers’ publicist for the last 27 years, has been fired. It’s a very sad time for key members of this once-great franchise. The Lakers are coming...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor I had covered the Lakers for several years before Mitch Kupchak came along. Kupchak told the media to call him Mitchell. "That's because Mitch Chortkoff was here first," he said. "Mitch is taken, I'll be Mitchell." Now Mitchell has been fired after 30 years with the organization. Jim Buss, Jeanie Buss' brother, has been fired too. And John Black, the Lakers' publicist for the last 27 years, has been fired. It's a very sad time for key members of this once-great...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor I’ve been around Magic Johnson through all the years since he came to the Lakers. He’s been fantastic as a basketball player and then a businessman. He fought HIV a long time ago and he’s still living and accomplishing. But if he intends to make the Lakers great again he’s got another tough battle ahead. I have so much respect for him and I’d never say he can’t do something he wants to do. But frankly I don’t see how he can defeat the reality that a new NBA rul...
Magic Johnson, the great Laker player and now part-owner of the Dodgers, was warmly received by 42,000 fans on his 57th birthday at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, August 14. Johnson and his two sons threw out the ceremonial first balls before the Dodgers played the Pittsburgh Pirates. In attendance were Johnson's wife, Cookie and former Laker star teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. "It's a blessing for me to be here with the Dodgers and to be in Los Angeles," said Johnson. "This city has embraced me for...
Every July there is summer excitement brewing at the Toyota Sports Center, the Lakers headquarters and practice facility in El Segundo. No, it wasn't the news that Brandon Ingram, the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, was practicing at the Lakers’ facility. On Saturday, the excitement involved about 216 capable young women from all over the country trying-out to become a dancer for next season's Laker Girls dance squad. It was an open audition, a cattle call. The only requirements - be at least 18 years of age, have eight years of d...
The Lakers were in position to get the No. 2 pick n the June 23 NBA draft. But they could have gone a lot lower because of the league's annual lottery. They didn't go lower. The Lakers held on to the No. 2 position when the lottery was held last Tuesday. But new head coach Luke Walton was the victim of a prank that caused him some concern. Raymond Ridder, a former Laker assistant publicist and now the Golden State Warriors' head publicist, sent Walton a text message saying the Lakers had lost...
Six years ago Luke Walton was a player for the Lakers and six-year-old Emily Olshan was a fan who was attending her first NBA game. Who knew what the years would bring? Walton completed his playing career helping the Lakers win two championships, became an assistant coach with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors and most recently earned a five-year contract to be head coach of the Lakers. As for Emily, she's an outstanding student and plays in a softball league. On June 18 she'll be Bat...
The Clippers blew a 3-1 series lead and lost a year ago in the NBA playoffs. They had a 2-0 lead this time and lost after their two biggest stars, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, were injured and ruled out of further play. If you’re a Clipper fan you prefer to focus on the 53 regular season wins rather than the playoff losses. But wherever you stand you’re probably curious about what the Clippers are going to do this summer “We have a lot of free agents,” said Coach Doc Rivers. “That’s where we ha...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor After the Clippers won their first two playoff games this week Chris Paul had his mind on what happened in last season's playoffs. "Considering how last season ended for us there's a sense of urgency now," he replied. The Clippers won home games from the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday and Wednesday. They'll play Games 3 and 4 in the first round playoff series Saturday and Monday nights in Portland. The Clippers were granted two home playoff games because they...
EL SEGUNDO – The Los Angeles Lakers announced today that it has issued a fraud alert to warn Lakers fans about the potential dangers of purchasing tickets from third party sources. Lakers fans are encouraged to make their ticket purchases directly from the team. Tickets available at Lakers Ticket Exchange at Lakers.com are sold by Lakers Season Ticket Holders and other fans. Lakers Ticket Exchange at Lakers.com is a safe and convenient way for fans to purchase tickets that would be u...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Before Kobe Bryant can play his 20th season with the Lakers he’ll have to rehabilitate from his current torn rotator cuff. Doctors regard it as a nine-month process, with an excellent chance he’ll be healed. Even though an injury has cut short Kobe’s season for a third straight year he has a reason to be optimistic about being able to play in the 2015-’16 NBA season. It’s a painful injury that requires a long rehabilitation but the recovery rate is high. The...
Imagine we could travel back and forth in time and zoom in on the last three years for the Clippers: To refresh your memory, up until the 2011-12 season the Clippers were a team that for years struggled at the margins/bottom of the league, and didn’t pose a real threat on other teams Then there was a turning point – under the maestro’s wand of their coach, Vinny del Negro, the team made it to the playoffs and it seemed like the Clippers has broken the cycle of defeat. Perhaps a new force emerg...
The Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler and the Houston Rockets’ James Harden were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 22, through Sunday, Dec. 28. Butler led the Bulls to a 4-0 week behind averages of 23.0 points (seventh in the conference), 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 blocks. His 40.2 minutes per contest led the league. On Dec. 22, Butler went 11-for-11 at the foul line en route to 27 points, and added 11 rebounds, five blocks and four assists during a 129-120 win over the...
(mith on NBA) Kobe Doesn’t Play As Lakers Lose By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor On Christmas day folks annually gather for a festive occasion. But the National Basketball Association has another idea for this holiday. Marketing. The league puts on an extravaganza, Five nationally televised games on several networks, attractive matchups of the most popular teams, and a gimmick to sell merchsndise. The players always have their last name on their jerseys. But on this day the first names were on i...