Bill Simmons made bold comments about Steve Kerr’s coaching career with the Golden State Warriors that includes a scenario with LeBron James.

Kerr has been the head coach of the Warriors since 2014, leading the franchise to four championships and six NBA Finals appearances during his tenure. However, times have been tough since the last title run in 2022, failing to advance beyond the second round and even missing the playoffs once.

Kerr hopes to compete for another championship with Golden State, which could include an offseason move to lure James away from the Los Angeles Lakers. However, if the scenario fails to come to fruition, Simmons provided his perspective on what will happen to Kerr’s time with the Warriors.

“I think he (LeBron James) either stays in L.A. or he goes to Golden State… It’s kind of tied to LeBron. If they don’t get LeBron, I think it’s up to Steve Kerr. I don’t have any inside information, but it would be the right kind of area for him, I’ll take a year, I’ll do some media, I’ll figure out if I want to keep coaching. I’m leaving it at that,” Simmons said. Said. Mark 1:04:20 of his podcast.

Steve Kerr, what’s next for the Warriors?

Steve Kerr has accomplished a lot with the Warriors, creating the NBA’s most recent dynasty in the modern era. However, the end of his time with the Warriors may be closer than he anticipated, especially if the team is unable to land LeBron James for next season.

Golden State has a 30–27 record on the season, finishing in eighth place in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers while trailing the Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Warriors will look forward to their next matchup while on the road. They will face the New Orleans Pelicans on February 24, tip-off at 8 PM ET.

With six weeks remaining in the regular season, James Borrego is making a final case to remove the interim tag. For better or worse, as the rookie-led New Orleans Pelicans embark on a crucial post-All-Star Game stretch, the acting head coach knows exactly where the front office’s magnifying glass will be focused. Any shortfall means being in the news for all the wrong reasons after the 82-game task is complete.

Borrego, replacing Willie Green, will have to show he can solve two persistent issues that have plagued the Pelicans this season. Slow starts and inconsistent clutch production have been an issue for too long given the top-level talent available. Players have to close out games, but the coaching staff is ready to make a plan at the starting point.

“It’s a responsibility when you try to get your team off to a good start and set the tone for the night. We haven’t done that (this season), but that’s the goal, we have a job ahead of us,” Borrego said. “We have explored some other areas of development, but the beginning is extremely important. We have our eye on that and will make appropriate adjustments.”

The Pelicans are 24th in the standings based on first-quarter scoring alone and 18th in first-quarter points per game. Borrego’s group is winning only 27% of the time in the first quarter. Unfortunately, after hosting the Warriors on February 24, New Orleans embarks on a six-game road trip. The end of the season is more difficult. Seven of the team’s last 10 games are underway, culminating with facing the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 12.

If the team can even get 10 wins over the final six weeks of the season, Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver will probably give Borrego an honest chance at a full season. However, a slow start and inconsistent clutch production will leave the front office with no choice but to look to outside options.

When Zion Williamson’s highly-touted New Orleans Pelicans began the season, Karlo Matkovic was not included as a key rotational piece. However, through sheer effort, physicality and an infectious team-first mentality, the young big man has put James Borrego in a welcome dilemma.

Matkovic’s steady growth from a fringe option to a reliable contributor has complicated lineup options, especially with multiple productive big men competing for minutes.

Matkovic is flirting with 10-point and 10-rebound nights more often, while shooting 46% from 3-point range (1.2 attempts per game). As of February 23, he has had at least two blocks in three of his last eight games. It is impossible to ignore the 24-year-old Croatian’s recent performances.

“He’s making it hard for me,” Borrego told ClutchPoints. “It’s hard to decide who we’re going to play with, who we’re not going to play with. We have a lot of guys that are playing well in the front court with (Derrick Queen, Yves Missy) and Carlo. (Kevon Looney) is a professional and he’s been there; then there’s also (Zion Williamson). Still, Carlo continues to impress on me through his effort, his physicality, his size and his ability to be a two-way player. Keeps pressing. Offensively, (Matkovic) plays with great pace, gets up the floor and can make threes.

However, what separates Matkovic from a typical young player fighting for minutes goes beyond the box score. Borrego has been particularly impressed with what the big man brings to the less measurable areas of the game.

“It’s all the intangibles, too. (Matkovic) doesn’t care if he scores or gets credit. That’s what you want to be as a team,” Borrego said. “Carlo is a team-first person.”

Matkovic’s emergence has largely come through consistent energy and reliability rather than headline-grabbing stat lines. Borrego suggests that that selfless character did not happen by accident.

Borrego admitted, “Somewhere at home, someone taught him well; he was raised well. He was coached well, and he has a sense of selflessness and a sense of team that I really like.” “It reflects in his play, and he continues to play with great confidence.”

Matkovic was not projected to be a regular part of the rotation when the season began. Yet every time he steps onto the floor, he gets another chance… and then another.

The Pelicans are crazy about Karlo Matkovic

Confidence, in fact, has been one of the most visible developments in Matkovic’s game as the workload has increased. The more he plays, the more natural he looks in an NBA setting.

“As you said, (Matkovic) looks more comfortable with more minutes,” Borrego acknowledged. “He’s earned it. It’s not been given to him. He wasn’t projected to start this season, but we put him in there. I trust him and believe in him. He knows that, and I don’t see him losing.”

Matkovic, the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has offered an intriguing blend of modern big man skills. At 6-foot-10 with legitimate shooting range, he adds a cool, unselfish credibility that coaches want. If the Pelicans don’t pick up the $2.2 million club option, at least one team will value those attributes in free agency this summer.

Borrego doesn’t hide how much he values ​​that last part. In a league where egos can derail the locker room, Matkovic’s willingness to do the dirty work without needing the spotlight has made him a favorite of both the coaching staff and his teammates. The coach’s “difficult” decision is unlikely to be easy.

As long as Matkovic continues to bring the same effort, physicality and team-first mentality every night, the rebuilding Pelicans will need to keep finding ways to get him on the floor because right now, giving up on him feels like the wrong choice in both the short and long term. In a league always looking for shooting, size and unselfishness, Karlo Matkovic is proving to be a rare combination of all three. And he’s making James Borrego’s job extremely difficult in the process.

On the same night that the Los Angeles Lakers honored Pat Riley with a statue for his time with the franchise, they recalled LeBron James’ days with the Miami Heat. Hall of Fame center Chris Bosh expressed his displeasure over James’ departure. Maybe Riley did the same, still wondering what if? LeBron, Bosh and Dwyane Wade won two championships in four seasons before LeBron signed with the Cleveland Cavs in 2014.

According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Riley believes James could lead the Heat to a third title.

Riley, 80, said when asked what James’ four-year tenure with the Heat meant to him during a press conference in Los Angeles on Sunday, “I thought with the Big 3 – Dwayne, Chris Bosh and especially LeBron – we finally put together what I thought could be a dynasty.”

“It was. Four consecutive trips to the finals, two world championships. It was an incredible run. And as a coach and someone who really thought about building that special team and built it, I saw something that could last for eight to 10 years.”

Nevertheless, Riley understood James’ decision to return to Cleveland, which ultimately led to the Cavs winning their first championship in franchise history.

“I get it,” Riley said of James’ decision to leave the Heat, adding that she now feels at peace with the way things are going 12 years after James’ departure. “Business in the NBA is business in the NBA. Players have opportunities to go elsewhere; he went to Cleveland and won a title there. So I wish him all the best.

“But I’m going to be selfish here and say I wish I had him for the next six or eight years. It would have been great. But we’ll never know, right?”

James will win his fourth title in 2020 and his first with the Lakers.

LeBron James is considering leaving the Heat

All-Star LeBron James honored Heat president Pat Riley, who led the Lakers to four championships from 1982 to 1988 as head coach. From his front-office position, Riley, who led the 2006 champion Heat to a title as coach, wanted James to lead his team to at least three championships.

James discussed his time with the Heat when a reporter relayed Riley’s comments, as noted by the Miami Herald.

Asked about Riley’s comments, James told reporters in Los Angeles on Sunday, “I never said I’d go there for four years and decide to go somewhere else.” “That’s the way the cards were played. But, yes, it’s human nature to look back and say what could have been. But that’s part of life. I thought the four years we had, obviously, were great.

“We managed to win two championships, unfortunately we lost two of them. But a lot of good memories, a lot of good times there. It will be interesting to see what could have been.”

The Lakers lost to the Celtics 111-89 on Sunday.

LeBron James expressed strong support for Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown as an NBA MVP candidate after the Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 111-89 on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.

Brown led the way with 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 36 minutes. He came close to a triple-double while guiding a Boston team that had been without Jayson Tatum due to a torn Achilles since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2025.

After the game, James questioned why Brown’s name is not mentioned more often in the MVP conversation. He pointed out that Brown is averaging around 30 points per game and suggested that the MVP discussion can sometimes turn into a popularity contest.

“With this whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name isn’t even being discussed,” James said of Brown after Sunday’s game. “Like, nobody gave him a chance to start the season. And what’s his average, 30? Just under 30? It’s a popularity contest sometimes, I’ll tell you.”

Brown later returned the praise while speaking to reporters after the game. He stressed that he was interested in both criticism and praise, although he presented his case for the award in his own way.

“I feel like I’m the best two-way player in the world,” Brown said. “I play on both ends of the court. I’m available night in and night out, which is hard to do. I’m a leader. I help lead my team, empower my team to come out and play with confidence, things that don’t always show up on analytics. And I’m a winner. I come out and try to win every night. So I’m grateful.”

to jaylen brown @ramonashelburne LeBron talks about James Brown’s MVP case after the Celtics’ win over the Lakers:

“Just come with the same mentality I’ve had since day one. Don’t let the praise or warmth or criticism make or break you. Just come out and be Jaylen… pic.twitter.com/bCN0IofO70

– Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) 23 February 2026

He called it an honor to receive recognition from James, whom he described as arguably the best player of all time. Brown, who won Finals MVP in 2024 after averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, said he feels grateful every day.

“It’s an honor to play in the Celtics-Lakers rivalry. It’s an honor to have LeBron, who is arguably the best player to play the game, give me a lot of praise. So, I’m just grateful. I wake up every morning and am grateful (and) humbled.”

Even without Tatum and after trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason, Boston is 37-19 and in second place in the East. What many thought would be a reset has turned into a serious race for the conference crown.

Brown is a big reason for that. He ranks fourth in the NBA with 29.2 points per game, while he has career averages of 7.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists. Brown is fourth in the league in scoring this season.

Meanwhile, the last two MVP winners, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, have largely controlled the MVP conversation.

There are plenty of games left, and the MVP race is almost certain. The door isn’t locked, but Brown still has ground to cover if he wants to kick it open.

On Sunday night in Los Angeles, the Boston Celtics silenced the home crowd with a dominant 111-89 win over the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. The win improved Boston to 37–19, second in the East, and completed a 2–0 season sweep of Los Angeles.

With 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals, Jaylen Brown carried Boston off his back as the team shot 48.2% from the floor. Through 51 games this season, Brown is averaging 29.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game on 48.1% shooting, all career highs in scoring and rebounding.

After the game, four-time MVP LeBron James publicly endorsed Brown’s MVP candidacy.

“With this whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why there isn’t some discussion about his name,” James said. “Like, nobody gave him a chance to start the season. And what’s his average, 30? Just under 30? It’s a popularity contest sometimes, I’ll tell you.”

The Celtics have been without Jayson Tatum all season due to an Achilles tear, with Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis no longer on the roster. Tatum is not expected to return until at least March.

James praised Brown for providing stability to the revised roster as well as improving his own output.

“I think he tapped into the motivation of a lot of people who thought they were going to have a bad year,” James said. “The entire championship team has been revamped significantly, and he used it as motivation to keep them afloat. They’re playing great basketball, and it’s because of him and the rest of the guys. They’ve taken the next step.”

Brown has taken an expanded leadership role, helping keep Boston among the conference elite despite the overhaul. Additions like Nikola Vucevic have supported the rotation, but Brown’s production has driven the results.

Earlier this month, Brown and James were All-Star teammates on the USA Stripes team, where they revisited a rookie-year exchange in which James told Brown he would become an All-Star.

Their relationship previously gained attention during the 2024 Las Vegas Summer League, when Brown questioned Bronny James’ pro readiness.

James commented about Brown on Sunday, “We’ve had a very respectful relationship, other than that – he said about Brown in Summer League.” “But other than that, we’re absolutely fine.”

Brown later talked about Bronny in a social media post.

“Having your son in the NBA with you is a great accomplishment. …Bronny has all the tools to be successful. I look forward to watching his development.”

James said he and Brown “will be fine.”

“I think he went on social media and said something about it,” James said. “It’s all good, but Bronny still has a long way to go, but that’s another story. But baby, I mean, listen, JB is [great]. S—, he’s playing great basketball, man.”

Before Sunday’s matchup, former NBA star Tracy McGrady also insisted that as it is currently structured, the Celtics can reach the Eastern Conference Finals with Brown’s leadership at an MVP level. While this may seem bold on McGrady’s part, Boston remains competitive despite the roster changes. The Celtics are undoubtedly a threat in the East and are title contenders.

Even though the Los Angeles Lakers lost 111-89 to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, it was a memorable evening for fans, as the team honored one of its most iconic personalities in the form of former coach Pat Riley.

The halftime ceremony was a special tribute to Riley celebrating his statue, which was unveiled outside Crypto.com Arena before the game.

LeBron James admitted he took a look at the halftime ceremony, which was hosted by Magic Johnson and attended by former Riley players including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Jamal Wilkes, AC Green and Byron Scott.

James, 41, had only good words to say about Riley, 80, emphasizing that he has “Highly respected” For the great master.

“He’s one of the all-time greats that has been a part of this league, not only as a player, (but) as a coach, an executive, front office, everything. Obviously, what he did with the Lakers organization in the ’80s goes without saying, and rightfully so, they built a statue of him outside the building,” James said in a video posted by EssentialSports’ Mark Medina.

LeBron James called Pat Riley “one of the all-time great players to be a part of this league” after watching Riley’s halftime celebration. LeBron envisioned the Heat could have had a 6–10 year title window if he had stayed in 2014 instead of returning to Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/IScCJcWxqO

– Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) 23 February 2026

Of course, James and Riley spent four years together at the Miami Heat, where Riley served as team president for more than three decades. James led the Heat to two titles before returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.

James’ decision to join Miami changed the landscape of the NBA, while also underscoring Riley’s continuing influence.

While many believe they could have won more championships together, James said he does not dwell on the past.

“It’s human nature to look back and say, ‘Well, what could have been.’ But it’s part of life,” said the four-time MVP, who had 20 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals against the Celtics.

Riley coached the Lakers to four championships as the architect of the famous “Showtime” era.

Jaylen Brown delivered another outstanding performance to lead the Boston Celtics past the Los Angeles Lakers, 111-89, on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.

Brown finished with a game-high 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals as the Celtics improved to 37–19. The Lakers fell to 34–22.

LeBron James has praised Brown’s performance this season, taking over for Boston amid Jayson Tatum’s continued absence due to an Achilles injury.

“He’s using the motivation of a lot of people who are saying they’re going to have a bad year because obviously, with JT being out, they’re losing Jrue (Holliday), Al (Horford) gone, (Kristaps) Porzingis gone, their entire championship team is pretty much new. He’s using that as motivation to keep them afloat. They’re playing great basketball because of him and all the other guys. He’s taking the next step,” James said in a video posted. C.L.N.S.

James said he and Brown did it stay civilizedEven if the latter criticized the former’s son Bronny James last year.

“We’ve had a very respectful relationship, other than what he said about Bronny in Summer League. But other than that, we’re OK,” the four-time MVP said with a smile.

“It’s all good. Bronny still has a long way to go, but that’s a different story.”

LeBron James on his relationship with Jaylen Brown:

“Our relationship has been very respectful. Other than that crap he said about Bronny in Summer League. But other than that, we’re okay.”

🤣🤣🤣

(via @celticsclns)

pic.twitter.com/rV9KrpCj4q

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

While watching Summer League at courtside, Brown was caught on video saying, “I don’t think Bronny James is a professional.” It quickly went viral and, of course, James took notice.

The young James has been widely criticized, with many fans sharing Brown’s views. However, he has shown improvement in his second season.

Meanwhile, the elder James said Brown is playing “great basketball,” adding that the Celtics star is not being talked about enough for the MVP award.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Without three of their top four scorers, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and the Cleveland Cavs – 121-113 – at Paycom Center on Sunday. The defending champions took a 28-5 lead in the opening frame. Without the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the starters took advantage of defensive stops and elite shooting as Oklahoma City drained eight of its 21 threes in the first quarter.

In regards to who would guard Mitchell and Harden, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault revealed that the defensive assignment of Lou Dort over Mitchell won a 6–5 vote among his coaching staff. Cason Wallace spent most of the game facing Harden. Mitchell scored 20 points, but it took him nearly 20 attempts (9 of 19) to get there, as he was 0 of 6 from deep.

Harden scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting, nine assists and five rebounds. Wallace finished with 20 points with a career-high 10 assists and recorded his first double-double and three steals. Isaiah Joe’s 22 points led seven Thunder players into double figures, including Dort (12 points, two steals) and Oklahoma City’s entire starting lineup.

The defending champions’ strong defense forced 17 Cavs turnovers, which the Thunder converted into 31 points en route to an eight-point victory.

Cason Wallace shows off his signature performance in Thunder’s win

Thunder guard Cason Wallace understands the assignment ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Cavs. Before facing one of the league’s highest scoring backcourts in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. And while the Thunder’s newest guards in Jared McCann and Nicola Topic have gotten acclimated to their new surroundings, Wallace has helped fill the void left after losing All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso.

After the game, Wallace spoke to the media On his outlook ahead of the Thunder’s matinee matchup against the Cavs.

“I come into the game knowing that I have a high-level opponent that I have to guard against, you know, compete for minutes with him,” Wallace said. “First I had to slow him down. Then, offensively, we’ve got a lot of guys that are good at making plays. So, I can make some plays myself on offense, but those guys help me a lot on that end.”

Cason Wallace on the Thunder’s offense and OKC’s defense against the Cavs’ Mitchell and Harden: “Felt like we came in warmed up, had a little bit of momentum at the beginning of the game… I’ve got to slow it down first.

Then, offensively, we’ve got a lot of guys who are good at making plays.” pic.twitter.com/U65bg0x2bR

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 22 February 2026

The Thunder will travel to face the Raptors on Tuesday.

The Los Angeles Lakers last faced the LA Clippers in the 2025–26 regular season, and as those matchups usually are, it also lost. And while LeBron James was there to close out the game, Kawhi Leonard was forced to leave late with an ankle injury.

James finished the night with 13 points, three rebounds and 11 assists on 5-of-13 shooting for the Lakers, who defeated the Clippers 125–122. Kawhi Leonard produced 31 points, four rebounds and five assists on 11-of-19 shooting in 31 minutes of play before departing with 5:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.

After the game, LeBron James was asked about Kawhi Leonard and his resiliency to come back from injury and perform at an All-Star level.

“Kawhi is amazing, man,” James said. “He’s the best. He’s one of the best players ever. And I couldn’t care less about injuries. Those things, you can’t control. You can only control the guys, and the things he’s controlling is how he comes back and how much perseverance he has every time.”

In 42 appearances this season, Kawhi Leonard is averaging 27.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 49 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three and 90.7 percent from the free throw line.

His strong play throughout the season, but especially since mid-December, has been a big reason why the Clippers have been able to climb out of the 6-21 hole they started the season with.

“He’s a – that guy is amazing,” LeBron James continued. “I swear. I have nothing but good things to say about Kawhi and the kind of basketball he’s been playing the last few months. I mean, he’s been the same for a season. I’m not surprised by this. On another note, I was disappointed on the 2024 Olympic team when he wasn’t able to go with us. I was hoping to make the team with the ‘Whee’ as well. I was a little disappointed about that when he had to deal with another injury. Spent some time with him, but listen, he’s great. He had 31 points in 12 minutes. Obviously, I could talk about him all night.”

I heard LeBron James speak incredibly highly of Kawhi Leonard when I asked him about the resiliency he saw in him:

“Kawhi is amazing, man. He’s the best. He’s one of the best players ever. I couldn’t care less about injuries… That guy is amazing. I swear I don’t have anything… pic.twitter.com/GipDxoJRfX

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 21 February 2026

Kawhi Leonard has dealt with a number of injuries in his career, from a torn ACL to a torn meniscus, not to mention quad and knee inflammation difficulties, in recent years.

LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard have not played 40 games against each other – 28 in the regular season and 12 in the playoffs. Leonard has won 15 of those 28 regular season games and seven of those 12 playoff games.

James and his Miami Heat won the 2013 NBA Championship against Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard and his Spurs defeated James and his Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals.

Deandre Ayton will probably never take the next step in his career. He may just be an impressive center who falls short of true stardom. The Los Angeles Lakers and their fans understand what kind of player the 2018 No. 1 pick is, but they want him to play with obvious energy and happiness. He certainly did that during a thrilling third quarter sequence in Friday’s thrilling 125-122 win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Austin Reaves made a great outlet pass to LeBron James, who immediately passed the ball to Ayton. The alley-oop extended the Lakers’ lead to 14 and electrified the home crowd at Crypto.com Arena, but it also demonstrated the impact the 27-year-old big man can have when his instincts are right. He ran the court beautifully and read James’ eyes perfectly, and the end result was a big play that gave LA tremendous momentum (at least for a while).

Ayton was incredibly grateful to be a part of such a rhythmic experience on the basketball court, and it will stay with him for a long time. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, he said of the fast break, “It was one of the highlights of my career.” “I needed that.”

LeBron James throws it for Deandre Ayton SLAM 🍿😤

pic.twitter.com/1WyeV5zYCL

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 21 February 2026

Deandre Ayton could be the X-factor on this team. If he can be at full strength, the Lakers should be a legitimate championship contender. But which version of the Ayton will appear on the floor?

The former Arizona Wildcats star recorded a modest 13 points and seven rebounds against the Clippers. His scoring is naturally going to be down with offensive dynamos like Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reeves, but he can still make a noticeable difference on the glass.

Ayton is posting a career-low 8.4 rebounds per game (his minutes are down a bit, but on a per 36 minutes basis the statement is still true). The Lakers grabbed 40.9 boards per contest, which ranked 28th in the NBA. They need to be stronger in the paint.

He has averaged a double-double in his career. This is not a role player. Now is the time for him to remind everyone what he is capable of achieving. Perhaps Alley could be the harbinger of a Deandre Ayton renaissance.

Obviously this drama left an impact on him. Los Angeles (34-21) will look to build on that lead when they host the Boston Celtics (36-19) this Sunday night.

As speculation continues to heat up regarding LeBron James and his future with the Los Angeles Lakers, a league insider has openly embraced the idea of ​​a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On the latest episode of Clutch Scoops, ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel said he believes James is leaving Southern California for a third stint in Cleveland this summer.

Siegel said, “Everyone around the league, even at the trade deadline, felt his time with the Lakers was over and it looked like he was going back to Cleveland.” “And that’s been the perception since that road game in Cleveland.”

Siegel pointed to James’ deep ties to the city as a driving factor behind the growing trust.

“We know how much that city means to him. It’s where he’s from, it’s where he still has family and he still does a lot for that community even though he lives across the country,” Siegel said. “So I think for Year 24, at this point, I would be shocked if he doesn’t go back to Cleveland. I just see him taking a discount to do that. Whether it’s a minimum deal, whether they clear cap space to give him something else. I don’t see anyway, A, he returns to the Lakers and B, why he would want to finish his career with a new team.”

. @TomerAzarly And @BrettSiegelNBA Live to talk NBA All-Stars, tanking problems + some early NBA offseason intel! https://t.co/duIKN4TFxL

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 19 February 2026

Cavaliers cap outlook, contenders potentially fuel discussion of LeBron James’ Lakers exit

Siegel said a potential Cavaliers roster that could include James as well as James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley could immediately position Cleveland as a contender in the Eastern Conference.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on Wednesday that the Cavaliers will only be able to offer James a veteran’s minimum contract under current cap constraints.

James, 41, is under contract with Los Angeles and is in his eighth season with the franchise and 23rd overall. He averaged 22 points, 7.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from three-point range in 36 games. The Lakers entered the second half of the season at 33–21 and in fifth place in the Western Conference standings.

Los Angeles resumes play against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night at 7 pm PT on ESPN.

Cleveland, 34-21 and in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, returns from the All-Star break on Thursday night when it hosts the Brooklyn Nets at 4 p.m. PT. The Cavaliers are on a five-game winning streak.

Although no decisions have been made and James has not publicly addressed his long-term plans, Siegel’s comments underscore how there is growing league-wide belief that another chapter in Cleveland could be on the horizon.

洛杉矶湖人队的勒布朗·詹姆斯拥有 NBA 历史上除迈克尔·乔丹本人之外最杰出的签名运动鞋系列。为了庆祝他在联盟的第 23 个赛季，这位耐克终身运动员发布了他的签名款 Nike LeBron 23，这是联盟运行时间最长的签名系列中的最新款。接下来，我们将看到一款新配色，灵感源自詹姆斯加入迈阿密热火队的重大决定。

查看我们的运动鞋新闻，了解更多即将发布的产品和重大内容！

2010 年 7 月 8 日，全世界都坐在一起观看勒布朗·詹姆斯在国家电视台上亮相，宣布他将在下个赛季签约的球队。当詹姆斯离开克利夫兰与德怀恩·韦德和克里斯·波什一起追逐冠军时，被称为“决定”的那一刻为球迷们讨厌联盟中最好的球员创造了一个全新的理由。

然而，当大多数球迷事后回顾时，这个“决定”只会提升整个联盟的水平，并帮助巩固勒布朗·詹姆斯与迈克尔·乔丹一起在“山羊”讨论中的地位。下一个配色名为“Good Intentions”，其灵感源自詹姆斯来到迈阿密的决定。

Nike LeBron 23“善意”

官方照片：Nike LeBron 23 Elite“善意”👑

发布详情：https://t.co/0cJZFWTAFD pic.twitter.com/BmIKybb4TO

— 底特律运动鞋酒吧 (@SBDetroit) 2026 年 2 月 17 日

官方外观：Nike LeBron 23 Elite “善意”👑 @KingJames

灵感源自勒布朗 2010 年做出的“决定”。采用分叉皇冠、金色点缀，并以粉色向他所穿的红白衬衫致敬。

🗓️3月3日
📝 IB9557-601
💵 $235 pic.twitter.com/uoC1wP7gky

— 鳎鱼 (@SoleRetriever) 2026 年 2 月 17 日

最新配色来了 超粉色/黑色-电压绿-雪花石膏 其醒目的外观立即与勒布朗在热火队任职期间所穿的经典迈阿密佛罗里达队队服相媲美。织物鞋面和内侧的“皇冠”中底均采用超粉色，略微致敬詹姆斯在“决定”期间穿的浅红色衬衫。

外侧采用电金色皇冠中底，与整个中足的虹彩色调相匹配。银色宝石 Nike Swooshes 随处可见，后跟处的黑色 Nike LeBron 标志更加突出。粉色鞋带和半透明粉色外底完成了外观，预计这双鞋也将采用专门的包装。

Nike LeBron 23“Good Intentions”将于 2026 年 3 月 3 日通过 Nike SNKRS 应用程序发售，零售价为 235 美元。该鞋款将在 Nike SNKRS 应用程序上以完整成人尺码以及调整价格的 GS 尺码发布。由于库存量应该很充足，预计耐克的部分零售商会更广泛地发售。

There is a possibility that Madison Square Garden Sports CEO James Dolan is taking steps to split the New York Knicks and Rangers, the city’s NBA and NHL teams, into two separate publicly traded companies.

Reports have emerged that MSG’s board of directors has approved a plan to “rediscover its hockey and basketball clubs” (via The New York Times).

If this occurs, the Knicks and their G League team, the Westchester Knicks, will become a separate company from the Rangers and their minor league team, the Hartford Wolf Pack, will similarly be spun off into a separate company.

Still, nothing is “guaranteed to happen” and “there is no timeline in mind to complete this move.” Therefore, fans will have to keep an eye on the situation.

“We are exploring the opportunity to create value for our shareholders by separating our two professional sports franchises into separate companies,” Dolan said in a statement, via The New York Times. “Both the Knicks and Rangers are dominant teams in their respective leagues, with storied histories and large and passionate fan bases.

He further added, “We believe this proposed transaction will provide each company with greater strategic flexibility, its own defined business focus and clearer attributes for investors.”

Will James Dolan and Madison Square Garden split the Knicks and Rangers?

While Madison Square Garden’s board approved the plan, there were other factors involved. Both the NBA and NHL would have to approve the move. The New York Times also notes that “There are other views.”

Regarding the reason for this, some are speculating that such a move would make it “easier” for Dolan to sell one of the franchises. In 1994 the Dolan family became minority owners of the franchise. Shortly thereafter, he became the majority owner.

Dolan is adamant that he has no interest in selling teams. However, he and MSG executives have stated their interest in selling a minority stake.

Another possible reason for the move, as The New York Times notes, is that it could serve as a “precursor” to making the Knicks and Rangers privately traded teams. They are both currently publicly traded.

Throughout almost his entire career, it seems as if LeBron James has been chasing the ghost that has been haunting his career in Michael Jordan. And perhaps the Los Angeles Lakers star is on his way to taking a page out of Jordan’s playbook by ending his career there with the Washington Wizards.

Now, this may be an exaggeration, and there are certainly no concrete indications that James is even considering a move to the Wizards. She is well settled in LA, as she and her family are living comfortably in the city. It is unlikely that James will move away from home at the end of his career.

Nonetheless, James gave a glowing review of the Wizards after their trade deadline, including acquiring his good friend Anthony Davis, which could be the first step toward an unexpected move to the nation’s capital.

“I’m interested to see what they do and how it all comes together. Obviously with AD we know the talent level is out of this world. And Trae, his ability to play the pick and roll game, his ability to shoot the ball, with his lob threat,” James said on the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast.

“They have some pieces and I think for the first time in a few years we can say Washington has grabbed some pieces. So it will be interesting to see what happens.”

LeBron James showers love on Wizards’ youngsters

There really is something going on in the nation’s capital, and James is right that the time to invest in Wizards shares might be now.

“I love the young kid from France that’s on their team too, Sarr. We just played with him two weeks ago. Great touch, great feel for the game. Love the kid George, too. Young kid, um, very good player. And then also the rookie kid they got from Texas, Johnson, Trey Johnson,” James said.

The Los Angeles Lakers were certainly lucky to get Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade that continues to be talked about around the association. However, the Lakers have already built their roster with Anthony Davis in mind that L.A. hasn’t yet been able to surround Doncic with the pieces he needs to make a championship charge.

Currently, the Lakers sit in fifth place in the Western Conference, and they have glaring roster deficiencies that they were not able to address before the trade deadline. Their defense is missing a lot of pieces to help cover for Doncic and Austin Reaves’ shortcomings on that side of the ball.

Of course, it’s impossible to count out any team with Doncic and LeBron James either way. Still, James acknowledged that the Lakers are dealing with the same issues as they have in years past, even though Doncic is now his co-star instead of Davis.

“We’re playing good ball sometimes, but the number one important thing for us is health. We finally got healthy with AR coming back and then Luka went down with the hamstring. So that’s going to be most important for our team. And it’s been that way for our team the last couple of years,” James said on the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast.

The Lakers’ injury problems keep them from getting into a more consistent rhythm

Every game seems like a dogfight for the Lakers, as their defensive limitations force them to constantly outshoot their opponents. Against lockdown defensive teams, the Purple and Gold have struggled, especially with Doncic, Reeves and James in and out of the lineup.

“We’re not set up to the point where we have a lot of room for error or, like, when Eddie was on the team. When Eddie goes down it’s like, crap. We don’t have enough to pick him up. When Luka goes down you know it’s crap, it’s Luka. AR was down, but it was tough for us,” James said.

The future of LeBron James has been a topic that has dominated the NBA season. James is in his 23rd year with the NBA and is still performing at a pace that makes him one of the best players in the league. So, what will the Lakers do in the offseason after his contract expires? According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin in his latest report about the Lakers’ potential offseason plans and James’ future, he will be.

“If James wants to play a 24th season, he would be welcome in L.A. Pelinka announced before the start of this season that he would be fine if James retired with Laker, and sources told ESPN, that sentiment was meant to reflect a 2026 retirement or 2027 retirement if James intends to extend his career,” McMenamin said in his statement. Said in the report.

He further added, “If James returns, his salary will be a major factor in determining what kind of team L.A. can build.”

James currently makes $52.6 million, which will come off the books for the Lakers in the summer. That leaves the Lakers with $51 million in cap space to spend building around Luka Doncic. Should he consider returning to Lex, a significant pay cut would be on the horizon.

McMenamin said, “Although he took the maximum $2.7 million salary cut on the last deal he signed with L.A. to help the franchise avoid second-apron penalties, if he were to take a dramatic pay cut to re-sign with the Lakers this summer, it would be a significant deviation from the way he has negotiated his entire career.”

In his record-setting 23rd season, James is averaging 22 points, 7.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers owns the most luxurious signature sneaker line in NBA history, second only to Michael Jordan. Celebrating his twenty-third season in the league, the lifelong Nike athlete released his signature Nike LeBron 23, the latest installment in the league’s longest-running signature series. Ahead, we’ll see a new colorway inspired by James’ great decision to join the Miami Heat.

Check out our sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!

On July 8, 2010, the entire world sat up and watched LeBron James as he presented himself on national television to announce where he would sign for the upcoming season. In what became known as “The Decision”, the moment James left Cleveland to chase championships with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh created a new reason for fans to hate the best player in the league.

However, as most fans look back, the “decision” only elevated the league and helped solidify LeBron James into the GOAT discussion with Michael Jordan. This next colorway is titled “Good Intentions” and is loosely inspired by James’ decision to come to Miami.

Nike LeBron 23 “Good Intentions”

Official Photos: Nike LeBron 23 Elite “Good Intentions” 👑

Release details: https://t.co/0cJZFWTAFD pic.twitter.com/BmIKybb4TO

– Sneaker Bar Detroit (@SBDetroit) 17 February 2026

Official Look: Nike LeBron 23 Elite “Good Intentions” 👑 @KingJames

Inspired by LeBron making “The Decision” in 2010. Pink features in the form of a split crown, gold accents and a glimpse of the red and white shirt he wears.

🗓️ 3 March
📝 IB9557-601
💵$235 pic.twitter.com/uoC1wP7gky

– Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) 17 February 2026

Latest colorway arrives Hyper Pink/Black-Voltage Green-Alabaster For a loud look that is instantly similar to the classic Miami Floridian uniforms worn by the Heat during LeBron’s tenure. The upper and “Crown” midsole are all painted hyper pink, a slight nod to the light red shirt worn by James during “The Decision.”

The lateral part features an Electric Gold Crown midsole to match the rainbow hues throughout the midfoot. Silver embellished Nike Swooshes appear throughout, featuring a black Nike LeBron logo on the rear heel. Pink laces and translucent pink outsole complete the look as this pair is also expected to come in special packaging.

The Nike LeBron 23 “Good Intentions” will release on March 3rd, 2026 via the Nike SNKRS app at a retail tag of $235. The shoes will be releasing in full adult sizes as well as GS sizes with adjusted pricing on the Nike SNKRS app. Expect a wide release at select Nike retailers as stock quantities should be plentiful.

By Deni Avdija As he makes history as the first Israeli player to play in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James discusses him and his aspirations to move to Israel.

Speaking to reporters, James praised Avdija. He stands by his opinion that Avdija deserves to be named an NBA All-Star for his play.

“I’ve been quoted before about Denny and asked what I think about his season. I said I believe he’s an All-Star. He’s playing exceptional basketball,” James said.

After this he talked about the possibility of visiting Israel. James hasn’t been, but he knows he has fans there. So, he is ready for the tour.

LeBron James on Israel:

“I hope to inspire people out there to not only be great in sports, but to be better in life in general, hopefully someday I can get there.” pic.twitter.com/Z5rPTzFval

– SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) 15 February 2026

James said, “I’ve never been there, but if I have fans there, I hope you’re following my career.” “I hope to inspire people out there to not only be great in sports but to be better in life in general. Hopefully, someday I can get there. I’ve heard nothing but great things.”

For the 22nd time in his career, James was named to an NBA All-Star team. He has made it every year from 2005 to 2026, and has been named All-Star Game MVP three times.

James was part of the USA Stripes team, which paired him with players like Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, and Kevin Durant. He played six minutes in the championship game, scoring five points and recording four rebounds. However, he led the game with two turnovers.

Currently, James is in the middle of his eighth season with the Lakers. The Lakers are 33-21, putting them in first place in the Pacific Division. They have the fifth-best record in the Western Conference. James is currently averaging 22 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game.

Anthony Edwards’ career is on a rapid upward trend, and he is establishing himself as a surefire Hall of Famer, even though he is only six seasons into his NBA career. The Minnesota Timberwolves star has been racking up a ton of accomplishments so early in his career, the latest of which is him taking home All-Star Game MVP honors on Sunday night after scoring a total of 32 points while his team, the Team USA Stars, accomplished the feat.

Edwards scored 32 points in three games and was the Stars’ most consistent player in their NBA All-Star Game-winning performance, earning himself the MVP award in the process. And in doing so, he became the only player in NBA history other than LeBron James to score 10,000 points or more, win an Olympic gold medal, become All-Star Game MVP and be touted as the number one overall pick before the age of 25, as reported by OptaStats on X (formerly Twitter).

Of course, the Timberwolves star is missing a key element of the LeBron experience; He has yet to lead his team to the NBA Finals and has yet to win overall MVP honors, both of which James accomplished at the age of 24. But Edwards still has time to figure it out.

Anthony Edwards’ next goal is to lead the Timberwolves to victory

As confident as Edwards is, he knows legacies are cemented when one’s team is in last place in June. The Timberwolves have never done this yet in their history; They have yet to advance beyond the conference finals.

That’s now Edwards’ next goal – helping the Timberwolves overcome Western Conference challenge. And if he somehow brings a championship to Minnesota, he should earn induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for it.

In 2026, LeBron James made the All-Star team for the 22nd time in his career, with coaches recognizing how impactful he is as a star, even though he hasn’t really been that great in the past for the Los Angeles Lakers. James has the most All-Star nominations in NBA history with 22, but as a wise imaginary man once said, “With great power comes great responsibility”.

Since James has made the All-Star Game 22 times, losses are bound to happen, even for a great guy like him. In 2026, his team, Team Stripes, fell short in the latest edition of the famous exhibition competition, giving them their 11th loss in All-Star Game history.

As HoopsHype reported on

Of course, this isn’t a statistic that was just posted in jest. The All-Star Game doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, and outside of a few years (from 2020 to 2022), not many players even take the game seriously.

And as a result of making the All-Star Game every season, James has more opportunities to lose than everyone else. Not that losing 11 times in ASG is a big deal for someone who has made it 22 times.

Has Lakers star LeBron James played his final All-Star Game?

At age 41, it’s also an anomaly that James is still playing at such a high level that his All-Star Game participation can be argued on merit, unlike Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki in 2019, when they were the only participation nods.

It’s not at all clear if this is the Lakers star’s final season in the NBA. But if that’s the case, he may have just played his final All-Star Game, because there’s no way he’s going to miss the ASG next year if he’s active and healthy.

They may be good friends now, but Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green definitely had a heated feud in the past.

In Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, Green hit James in the groin area after a tackle. Later, when they had another altercation, he called the four-time MVP a “b****.”

Sports commentator Skip Bayless, who hates James, praised Green for calling out the four-time MVP, noting that the latter “can be a b**** sometimes.” However, Green admitted that what he did was wrong.

“That’s my brother. It’s really one of those moments that I regret. Because when I use that word with people, I take it out on the court over and over again, but when I take that word out, I’m ready to fight. So I’m saying this word to you, so you can be ready to fight me right now,” Green said on his podcast.

“So when I look back at that moment, it’s a moment I’m not proud of. Especially where our relationship is today. It’s like, like I said, when I throw that word out, all respect goes out the window. My respect for ‘Bron’ is through the roof.”

In recent years, Green and James have formed a close relationship, even spending time together in the offseason. Being in the same agency firm has also helped them know each other better.

Green, 35, has often expressed his admiration for James, 41, even calling him the GOAT.

Although the Warriors and Lakers still have physical altercations when they face off, they are born out of competitive fire rather than genuine hatred. Ultimately, as Green mentioned, it’s always about respect.

The NBA All-Star Game took place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California on Sunday evening. Also attending the festivities was Lakers star LeBron James, who has long been known as one of the game’s most entertaining players.

While the celebration is taking place in Southern California, James recently explained why he doesn’t see it as a celebration for the Lakers.

“LeBron James said it doesn’t make sense for him to play the All-Star Game in LA because ‘It’s not our building. It’s a road game,'” Athlon Sports’ Joshua Valdez, formerly of the Ax, reported on Twitter.

In fact, the Lakers’ home Crypto.com Arena is a few miles away in Downtown Los Angeles, while the Intuit Dome is to the south in Inglewood.

This is the second year the Clippers have played in the arena, having previously shared a home at Crypto.com Arena, formerly known as Staples Center.

Meanwhile, James was recently declared ineligible for an All-NBA nomination this year after sitting out more than the maximum allowed 17 games due to injury. However, he is still clearly playing at an All-Star level when healthy, guiding the Lakers to a solid record so far, and a potential chance at a top-four seed in the coveted Western Conference playoff picture.

There has been much speculation that this could be the final year of James’ career, as well as questions about what he might do if Los Angeles misses its star in the playoffs once again this year, as they did against the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2025.

Some have noted that the signings of both James and Luka Doncic to large contracts have made it difficult for the Lakers to field a balanced roster.

In any case, the Lakers will next take the field against the Clippers on Friday evening, coincidentally.

On Sunday, the NBA All-Star Game begins at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, with Lakers star LeBron James taking part in the festivities. James was recently made ineligible for the All-NBA team this year due to his absence from the lineup this season, but he will still be in uniform for fans during All-Star weekend.

It’s been an up-and-down season so far for the Lakers, and recently, James has been 100% honest on his team’s title chances entering the extension of the campaign.

According to Brett Siegel, formerly of ClutchPoints, on Twitter, James said, “Our success will depend on our health.”

Health has actually been a major question mark for the Lakers at times this season, as James missed the early portion of the campaign, and Austin Reaves was recently sidelined for nearly a month in the midst of his breakout campaign.

Lakers star Luka Doncic has also been out of the lineup for the past few games, although he will be able to participate in Sunday’s All-Star Game.

Even when fully healthy, many pundits are skeptical of the Lakers’ ability to compete for a championship, given the lack of two-way players on the roster. While Los Angeles has the offensive firepower to compete with anyone, there aren’t many above-average defenders on the roster, a problem that was fully exposed by the Minnesota Timberwolves during last year’s playoffs.

Still, as James said, staying healthy will greatly help this Lakers team maximize its chances in April, and so far, that has been a big challenge for the team in 2025-26.

In any case, the All-Star Game is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 5:00 PM ET. Meanwhile, the Lakers will next be at home against the Clippers on Friday.

For another year, LeBron James has chosen to have his NBA All-Star press conference different from others, and of course, that’s led some to believe that big news is coming. To get this out of the way, James was asked what his plans would be for retirement, and he gave the same answer he has been giving for some time.

“I want to live…when I find out, you guys will know. I don’t know,” James said.

LeBron James on his plans for next year:

“I want to live…when I find out, you guys will know.” pic.twitter.com/L5Iae9ARF1

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 15 February 2026

Honestly, it doesn’t seem like James is focused on retirement just yet, as he’s still playing like he has a lot left in the tank. Just before the All-Star break, he recorded a triple-double in the Lakers’ win against the Dallas Mavericks, becoming the oldest player in history to do so.

After the game, he talked about how he knew when it was time to call it quits, and that it was more about falling out of love with the process than a decline in his play.

“My game is not going anywhere,” James said, via Dave McMenamin. “It’s all these other things, it’s a lot of other factors that go into how long the game has to be played. I don’t think it would ever have any impact on my game if I decided to continue playing, no matter how long it is. I think it should be [my mind]:How long can I stay in love with this process?

“If I can’t continue to be in love with this process, if [my mind] If it goes, my body is going to go. And once my body is gone, it’s a cover.

James still looks to be in good shape and is putting up big numbers even at his age. Even though he knows the time to put on the jersey may come soon, as long as he can get on the field and give it his all, he’s keeping the thought of retirement in the back of his mind.

The idea of ​​LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers for one last dance would be attractive to star guard Donovan Mitchell.

Rumors of James signing with his first NBA team to finish his career have been circulating around the league. The veteran star is going through his eighth season and counting with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Mitchell addressed those rumors during his interview on SiriusXM NBA Radio on Saturday. If James decides to return to Cleveland for his final season in the league, he is very open to this scenario, citing the special occasion.

“As a Browns fan, to be able to be a teammate, obviously, will be special,” Mitchell said during an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio on Saturday.

“Yeah, man, it’s LeBron James. But at the end of the day, that’s not my focus. I’m not here to worry about that. I know I’ll be asked about it a lot throughout the weekend… but my focus is on the fact that we just traded for James Harden, Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis. Let’s try to find a way to get a ring.”

“It’s LeBron James, right?”

Here are Donovan Mitchell’s thoughts on rumors that LeBron could end his career in Cleveland@terminradio | @jumpshot8

Click here for more All-Star coverage – https://t.co/j3RPgmlH7e pic.twitter.com/lm2My2U5HQ

– SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) 15 February 2026

Donovan Mitchell, what’s next for the Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell is right to remain focused on the current season. The Cavaliers traded Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden, increasing their chances of being a serious contender for the remainder of the season.

Mitchell has been excelling as one of the best scorers in the league. In his fourth season with the Cavaliers, he has averaged 29 points, 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in 51 appearances. He is shooting 48.7% from the field, including 37.6% from beyond the arc, and 85.3% from the free-throw line.

Cleveland has a record of 33–21 on the season, placing fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are two games up on the Toronto Raptors and 3.5 games up on the Philadelphia 76ers. However, they trail the New York Knicks by one game and the Boston Celtics by 1.5 games.

With five consecutive wins, the Cavaliers will remain on hiatus until All-Star Weekend festivities conclude. They will resume action at home when they host the Brooklyn Nets on February 19th at 7 PM ET.

Former NBA player Ron Harper competed in the NBA Shooting Stars competition during NBA All-Star Weekend with his two sons, Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper. Harper Sr. was speaking to media members with his sons after the contest was completed. During that time, he hit LeBron James with a wild swing.

Harper, who won five championships during his time in the league, took aim at the Los Angeles Lakers star when asked if he had dreams of competing in an All-Star tournament with his own children. The former point guard made a comment alleging that James forced Bronny James to enter the 2024 NBA Draft.

“I’m not LeBron James,” Ron Harper said. “I’m not going to tell my kids what to do.”

“You,” Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper responded.

Ron Harper: “I’m not LeBron James, I’m not going to tell my kids what to do.”

Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper: “U” 😅

Ron Harper asked if he hopes his son plays in the NBA

(via @celticsclns)

pic.twitter.com/5NYchipCrA

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 15 February 2026

The initial belief was that Bronny James needed to play at least one more year in college before entering the draft. However, he declared to turn professional and was selected by the Lakers in the late second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Since then, Bronny has played as a backup point guard for LA from time to time.

Harper played for 15 years in the NBA, serving as a point guard and shooting guard with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. He won three rings with the Bulls and two with the Lakers.

As for his sons, Ron Harper Jr. has played 10 games as a forward for the Boston Celtics this season. Meanwhile, Dylan Harper joined the San Antonio Spurs as the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Despite playing point guard in college, he is developing as a shooting guard with the club.

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama made it clear on Saturday that he won’t be emotional when Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James finally retires.

Speaking during NBA All-Star Media Day at the Intuit Dome, Wembanyama was asked if he would shed tears when James walked away from the game.

“No.” Laugh

Then he added:

“I won’t shed tears but it’s definitely going to be very awkward.”

Wembley on whether he cries when LeBron retires:

“No” pic.twitter.com/dXHLb3eEtl

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 14 February 2026

The light-hearted exchange came as players reflected on sharing what could potentially be James’ final All-Star appearance. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was asked the same question and gave a different response.

“Am I going to shed tears? I might cry a little.” Laugh.

Ant: “I could cry a little”

Who is asking this question??? https://t.co/sUFOBY7wPo pic.twitter.com/e66sP1tsus

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 14 February 2026

The 41-year-old James is currently in his 23rd NBA season and continues to produce at a high level for the Lakers. Through 36 games, he has averaged 22 points, 7.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds and one steal per game, while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from three-point range in 33.3 minutes per contest. Los Angeles enters the weekend with a 33-21 record.

On Thursday night, James became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double in the Lakers’ 124-104 win over the Dallas Mavericks, adding to a resume that spans two decades.

Wembanyama has previously spoken about what he can learn from James’ longevity and professionalism, calling him an example of how to navigate the spotlight as the face of the league. As the NBA enters a new era, the 22-year-old centerpiece of the Spurs is widely viewed as one of the league’s future standard-bearers.

Whether emotional or not, Wembanyama acknowledged that James’ eventual departure will mark a significant change in the NBA landscape.

Ahead of Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic’s sixth All-Star Game appearance, he talked about the longevity of his career, one month away from teammate LeBron James’ 41st birthday. As for Doncic, he can’t see himself in James’ shoes during the 26-year-old’s eighth NBA season.

Doncic sees a long career ahead of him, but he’s not sure if he’ll still be able to do it Playing basketball at the age of 41he said, according to ESPN’s SportsCenter.

“Definitely not 41,” Doncic said. “I won’t play until 41, I’ll tell you that.”

“Definitely not 41. I won’t play until 41, I’ll tell you that.”

At what age does Luka Doncic intend to retire😅

(via @sports center)pic.twitter.com/OKkWTcdEpr

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 14 February 2026

In his 23rd season, James is still playing at an elite level, averaging 22.0 points on 50.2% shooting, 7.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. While it’s hard to imagine LeBron retiring at the end of this season, at the very least, one more season will welcome a 24th season in 2026-27, when James turns 42.

Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic still has some way to go before he can even think about making it a career. Perhaps a conversation for their amusement about a decade from now.

LeBron James hints at retirement after Lakers’ win

Lakers veteran LeBron James isn’t waiting for his play to decline to retire. Keeping NBA fans excited, James will do this Retire on your own termshe said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“My game is not going anywhere,” James said, via Dave McMenamin. “It’s all these other things, it’s a lot of other factors that go into how long the game has to be played. I don’t think it would ever have any impact on my game if I decided to continue playing, no matter how long it is. I think it should be [my mind]:How long can I stay in love with this process?

“If I can’t continue to be in love with this process, if [my mind] If it goes, my body is going to go. And once my body is gone, it’s a wrap.

James and the Lakers entered the All-Star break 33–21, the fifth-best record in the Western Conference.

詹姆斯·博雷戈帶領的新奧爾良鵜鶘隊擁有聯盟最強大的引擎之一，他們正在經歷一場根本性的、深思熟慮的轉變。錫安·威廉姆森的進攻上限從來沒有被懷疑過。從統計數據來看，它已經進入了NBA最佳陣容。然而，問題在於圍繞一個以高使用率、下坡力量為基礎的陣容建立一個可持續的防守生態系統，而他的最大價值來自於他手中的球。

這位全明星球員的塊頭最好用在低位阻擋或作為協防者，而不是攻擊點進攻者，因此詹姆斯·博雷戈將霸王球帶回了大容易。從一號到五號的大個子減輕了威廉姆森成為后防線橡皮擦的負擔，讓這位控球前鋒能夠在進攻時節省能量，同時仍然適合連貫、有效的防守方案。這就是為什麼薩迪克·貝、特雷·墨菲三世、赫伯·瓊斯和薩迪克·貝應該習慣當前的設置。

“嗯，我認為部分原因是我們增加了陣容的規模，”博雷戈指出。 “我們在這一領域緩慢但肯定地取得了進展，但你知道，我認為董事會，我們一直在關注董事會。”

對於一支一直在努力尋找防守定位的球隊來說，這一轉變代表著哲學上的轉變。博雷戈明確表示，如果防守沒有顯著改善，其中包括完成控球的籃板球，鵜鶘隊就無法爭奪相關性。新奧爾良隊最近變得更好，從本賽季的場均 43.9 個籃板（第 17 位）上升到自從進入更大的首發陣容以來，場均籃板數為 45.9 個（第 10 位）。

“在半場比賽中，身體素質是第一位的。只是以犯規為代價，變得更加靈活、身體素質和侵略性。我們正試圖通過我們的身體素質來扭轉這一局面，”博雷戈解釋道。 “所以，正如我和我們的球員們分享的那樣，要想成為聯盟中一支重要的球隊，你就必須防守。沒有一支球隊的防守能夠在聯盟中排名第 28、29 或 30 位。這不會發生。”

強調身高和肌肉補充了威廉姆森的比賽，同時解決了球隊的防守缺陷。通過用體型更大、身體素質更強的球員包圍控球前鋒，鵜鶘隊的目標是控制籃板並在油漆區建立更具威脅性的存在。

博雷戈指出：“那些比兩年前、一年前取得進步的球隊，都是通過防守鏡頭做到的。” “作為一個組織，我們必須找到一種防守身份來推動這件事向前發展。這就是我們的目標。我們的球員理解這一點，我們重視它，並且向前邁進，我們必須看到並要求防守是首要任務。”

博雷戈願意接受更多的犯規，以換取更多的身體素質，這標誌著方法的根本轉變。鵜鶘隊沒有採取謹慎的防守，而是採取了一種更加激進的心態，優先考慮破壞和強硬。這是扭轉停滯文化的第一步，這種文化似乎很適合參加 NBA 入圍賽。

他還是得逞了！勒布朗·詹姆斯已經 41 歲了，但這位洛杉磯湖人隊球星仍然充滿希望。在對陣華盛頓奇才隊的比賽中，詹姆斯起身接住了德安德烈·艾頓的空中接力。看到中鋒將球傳給這位年邁的球星，這是一個奇特的景象，但詹姆斯仍然能夠抓住高傳球，完成扣籃。

賽后，艾頓承認這場比賽的效果比他預想的要好得多。這位湖人球星開玩笑說，如果他把高球傳給其他人，他就會被坐在替補席上。不過，由於接球的是詹姆斯，所以他成功了。

“那太糟糕了。”艾頓告訴記者。 “我告訴 JJ，‘如果空中接力結束時不是勒布朗·詹姆斯，我就會坐在你旁邊’。然後他開始大笑。這就是事實。因為我想，‘喲，我把球扔出了界外。’”這是你在看台報告中看到的事情之一，勒布朗做了一些令人驚嘆的事情，這就是其中之一。他就是這麼做的。 ”

湖人隊快速擊敗奇才隊，以142-111擊敗奇才隊。對於洛杉磯來說，這是一場精彩、舒適的比賽：與他們之前的比賽相比，這是一種非常不同但受歡迎的基調。詹姆斯當晚拿下20分和6次助攻。與此同時，艾頓本場比賽也表現出色，拿下28分和13個籃板。不過，和往常一樣，盧卡·東契奇才是最引人注目的：這位湖人隊球星在比賽中拿下 37 分、13 個籃板和 11 次助攻的三雙數據。

湖人隊本賽季戰績提升至29勝18負，繼續掌控西部聯盟。本賽季，艾頓場均貢獻13.6分。他的籃板數可能會更好（場均 8.6 個籃板），但他已經為洛杉磯隊做到了這一點。

庫珀·庫普 (Cooper Kupp) 在周日晚上的 NFC 冠軍賽中西雅圖海鷹隊 (Seattle Seahawks) 對陣洛杉磯公羊隊 (Los Angeles Rams) 的比賽中亮相後，與勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 一起參加了獨家課程。

庫普正在經歷他 NFL 職業生涯的第九個賽季，這是他在海鷹隊的第一個賽季。雖然他還沒有恢復到 2021 年的巔峰狀態，但他仍然有作為一名強力接球手大放異彩的時刻。

這位經驗豐富的接球手還面對了他的前球隊公羊隊，他帶領公羊隊在 2021-22 賽季贏得了超級碗冠軍。他在上個休賽期離開了球隊，以一份為期三年的合同加盟西雅圖。

他的出現創造了獨一無二的歷史，其中包括NBA巨星詹姆斯。他成為美國體育史上第五位通過 NFL+ 在季后賽四強賽中面對老東家的球員。

“庫珀·庫普是歷史上第 5 位 NBA 總決賽/世界大賽/超級碗 MVP 在季后賽“四強賽”中面對他們贏得 MVP 的球隊👀 自從勒布朗·詹姆斯在 2020 年 NBA 總決賽中與湖人隊對陣邁阿密熱火隊以來，這是第一次出現這樣的情況，”帖子中寫道。

海鷹隊庫珀·庫普如何對陣公羊隊

庫珀·庫普在這一歷史性壯舉的基礎上表現出色，幫助海鷹隊以 31-27 戰勝公羊隊，將老東家送回家。

整場比賽，兩隊互交鋒，進攻不斷。然而，洛杉磯隊犯了更多錯誤，西雅圖隊佔據優勢並控制了領先優勢，確保了進入第60屆超級碗的資格。

薩姆·達諾德再次表現出色，在海鷹隊的第一年繼續表現出色。他 36 次傳球完成 25 次，推進 346 碼並達陣 3 次。

肯尼思·沃克三世在衝球進攻中表現出色，19次沖球推進62碼，並完成4次接球推進49碼達陣。賈克森·史密斯-恩吉巴 (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) 在接球進攻中佔據主導地位，他 10 次接球推進 153 碼並達陣。庫普緊隨其後，四次接球推進 36 碼並達陣，而拉希德·沙希德則接住了一次 51 碼的傳球。

海鷹隊將在第 60 屆超級碗比賽中期待他們的冠軍希望。他們將於美國東部時間 2 月 8 日下午 6:30 前往舊金山迎戰新英格蘭愛國者隊。

週二，洛杉磯湖人隊在 Crypto.com Arena 以 141-116 擊敗亞特蘭大老鷹隊，結束了三連敗。

半場結束，湖人隊建立了21分的領先優勢，並且沒有回頭。他們將戰績提高到24勝14負，其中主場11勝7負。而老鷹則以20-22落敗。

勒布朗·詹姆斯上演了當晚的精彩表演 大力猛擊 在第四節的中場休息時。

勒布朗處於飛行模式 ✈️pic.twitter.com/D6JA4hevlx

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 1 月 14 日

41 歲的詹姆斯繼續以令人瞠目結舌的表現挑戰邏輯。儘管有人認為他在過去幾個賽季因傷病而放慢了腳步，但他仍然可以站起來。

這位四屆 MVP 因花費大量資金來保持體格而臭名昭著。他的職業道德幫助他保持競爭力，同時也激勵年輕球員追隨他的腳步，包括老鷹隊前鋒賈倫·約翰遜和費城 76 人隊後衛泰瑞斯·馬克西。

詹姆斯在對陣亞特蘭大的比賽中拿下31分、9個籃板和10次助攻，近乎三雙。盧卡·東契奇貢獻27分，其中5個三分球、5個籃板和12次助攻。

詹姆斯和東契奇在賽前被列為可疑球員。

德安德烈·艾頓、傑克·拉拉維亞、馬庫斯·斯馬特和加布·文森特也得分上雙。

尼克爾·亞歷山大-沃克為老鷹隊拿下26分、4個籃板和3次助攻，替補出場的CJ·麥科勒姆得到25分。

湖人近10場比賽戰績僅為5勝5負，但只要詹姆斯和東契奇健康，他們就永遠有獲勝的機會。

他們將於週四主場迎戰夏洛特黃蜂隊，重返賽場。

加利福尼亞州英格爾伍德——週一晚上，詹姆斯·哈登和洛杉磯快船隊繼續強勢發揮，擊敗了夏洛特黃蜂隊，後者在之前的五場比賽中贏了三場，其中包括戰勝衛冕 NBA 冠軍俄克拉荷馬城雷霆隊。

哈登第一節拿下 11 分，距離超越沙奎爾·奧尼爾 (Shaquille O'Neal) 登上 NBA 歷史得分榜第九位僅差 4 分。哈登在第二節表現不佳，7投1中僅得到2分，但在第三節8投4中拿下11分，達到了里程碑。

憑藉這一桶，詹姆斯·哈登超越沙克，登上歷史得分榜第 9 位🙏pic.twitter.com/D4HZIQgQSi https://t.co/zai5Ndgv99

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 1 月 13 日

全場比賽，哈登得到32分、4個籃板、10次助攻和4次搶斷，這是他NBA生涯第109次拿下30+10+助攻的比賽。這位快船球星賽后討論瞭如何超越沙克進入歷史得分榜。

“這絕對很特別，因為你是看著這些球員長大的，”哈登在快船隊以 117-109 獲勝後說道。 “有些是你小時候對手過的，有些是你小時候看過的，所以這絕對是特別的。沙克是我在洛杉磯家鄉的孩子時看過的人，看著他、科比和湖人隊在這里為這座城市做了一些特別的事情。他是有史以來最具統治力的中鋒，所以這絕對是一種榮譽，而且很特別。”

詹姆斯·哈登 (James Harden) 超越沙克 (Shaq) 在 NBA 歷史得分榜上排名第九：

“這絕對是特別的，因為你是看著這些球員長大的。有些是你對陣過的，有些是你小時候看過的，所以這絕對是特別的。沙克是我看過的一個…… pic.twitter.com/P3rGYmUN7t

— 托默·阿扎利 (@TomerAzarly) 2026 年 1 月 13 日

詹姆斯·哈登在洛杉磯長大，在阿蒂西亞上高中，他在 2000 年代初看著科比·布萊恩特和沙奎爾·奧尼爾帶領的洛杉磯湖人隊三奪 NBA 總冠軍長大。這位快船隊後衛在 2009 年 NBA 選秀大會上以第三順位被俄克拉荷馬城雷霆隊選中，並在 17 年的 NBA 職業生涯中打了 1,187 場常規賽和 173 場季后賽。

36 歲的詹姆斯·哈登與勒布朗·詹姆斯（41 歲）、凱文·杜蘭特（37 歲）、斯蒂芬·庫裡（37 歲）和拉塞爾·威斯布魯克（37 歲）等人並列 NBA 第六年長的球員。

在快船隊戰胜黃蜂隊的比賽中，哈登也以30分10助攻的成績擴大了自己的領先優勢，這是他職業生涯第109場這樣的比賽。這在 NBA 歷史上排名第二，僅次於奧斯卡·羅伯特森，後者在職業生涯中投進了 227 次。

這個特定的統計數據對他來說有什麼意義嗎？

“是的！我竭盡全力，”哈登回答道。 “我覺得我工作很努力。你不明白工作有多辛苦，也不知道工作的壽命有多長。只有少數人理解這一點，知道這一點。他們中的幾個人仍在高水平打球，這是一件很美好的事情。對於年輕人來說，了解NBA和籃球，你真的必須珍惜它，因為它可以帶你去往我們從未夢想過的不同地方。它打開了大門，與我們從未想過的人建立了關係。我以為我們會珍惜它，擁抱它，愛它，因為一旦結束，就結束了。

“你正在看像勒布朗這樣的人 [James]史蒂芬布 [Curry], [Kevin Durant]，和拉塞爾 [Westbrook] 在我們這個年紀，仍然以最高水平做他們的事情。這是一件很美麗的事情。這證明了這些人以及我們長期以來所付出的努力。 ”

當我問詹姆斯·哈登關於他職業生涯第 109 場 30+ 分和 10+ 助攻的記錄時，他稱讚了勒布朗·詹姆斯、凱文·杜蘭特、斯蒂芬·庫里和拉塞爾·威斯布魯克：

“是啊！我拼命工作。我覺得我很努力。你不明白工作有多辛苦，然後…… pic.twitter.com/5Vni139peY

— 托默·阿扎利 (@TomerAzarly) 2026 年 1 月 13 日

詹姆斯·哈登（職業生涯得分 28,614 分）緊隨其後的是威爾特·張伯倫（職業生涯得分 31,419 分），排在第八位。在歷史得分榜上，唯一領先於這位快船球星的現役球員是凱文·杜蘭特（31,486）和勒布朗·詹姆斯（42,654）。