Lakers Nation

3 days ago | lakersnation.com | Matthew Valento

When JJ Redick was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers, Rui Hachimura was a player who needed to be unlocked more in his system, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. When L.A. acquired Hachimura from the Washington Wizards, he became an intriguing scoring option next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But this season presented a challenge as the Lakers lacked the necessary frontcourt defensive talent.

4 days ago | lakersnation.com | Matthew Valento

During the latter stages of his career, LeBron James has all the accolades and does not have anything else to prove. But, 22 years later, that fun of playing professional basketball is what keeps him going. Through an 82-game season and at 40 years old, there is a more intensified preparation to make sure James is ready to play. However, his routine is the gold standard as he has played 70-plus games the past two years.

4 days ago | lakersnation.com | Matthew Valento

Luka Doncic never wanted to be dealt by the Dallas Mavericks, and he believed that Texas would be his home for the entirety of his NBA career. However, Dallas management felt otherwise and traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. In a shocking turn of events, Doncic formed an intriguing pairing with LeBron James, but also an educational relationship. As James nears the end of his career, Doncic is next in line to lead L.A. in whatever is next.

5 days ago | lakersnation.com | Matt Peralta

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers are the final two teams standing during the 2025 NBA Playoffs and thus will square off in the NBA Finals. The No. 1 seed Thunder made quick work of the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round before running into a Denver Nuggets team that pushed their series to seven games. The series against Denver seemed to prepare Oklahoma City for their Western Conference Finals tilt against the Minnesota Timberwolves as the former won in five games.

5 days ago | lakersnation.com | Matt Peralta

The days of teams like the Los Angeles Lakers ruling over the NBA appear to be over as parity is at an all-time high in the league. For the first time in NBA history, the champion of the 2025 NBA Finals will mark the seventh different champion in seven seasons. Championship teams have struggled to repeat for a variety of reasons including roster construction, injuries or simply new teams rising up the ranks and inserting themselves into the championship conversation.