The rigors of the NBA rookie season can exhaust even the most prepared first-year players. However, for New Orleans Pelicans rookie Derrick Queen, the physical demands are matched by a growing appreciation for the All-Rookie opportunity in front of him, even when it comes in the middle of the night.

Queen has been one of James Borrego’s key players during an injury-plagued season. However, the physical impact of playing over 1000 pre-All-Star games after a few months of some off-season rehab work isn’t really taking effect yet.

Queen shared, “I feel good. I was just thinking about it. I forgot all about the three months I was out.” “I actually woke up at midnight thinking about it. I’m (somewhat) excited for the opportunity to perform.”

The excitement of finally being on the floor, of finally getting a chance to prove myself in the league, has completely overshadowed the memory of the downtime. When Queen was asked to pinpoint his favorite moment so far, the play that injected some joy into a losing season, he didn’t select a poster highlight or a career-high scoring night. Instead, the rookie chose a moment of pure basketball intelligence.

“When we played Portland, at halftime we were talking about kicks and how we didn’t have to take extra dribbles,” Queen said. “The kicks are open, and they were pressuring us. I got the ball, took a dribble, then passed it to (Sadiq Bey), and he made a three. It was a good pass.”

In a league often obsessed with dunks and isolation scoring, Queen’s favorite play was a simple swing pass resulting in a three-pointer. It was a play born of a halftime adjustment. That’s the only thing the Pelicans are excited about. Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver invested in a man who appreciates playing the game the right way.

Between midnight revelations about her own resilience and the satisfaction she finds in making the right read at the right time, Queen appears to be settling into her rookie season with a quiet confidence. The minutes are accumulating, the lessons are accumulating, and for now, the former Maryland student is excited for the opportunities to come, one sleepless night at a time.

With the NBA playoffs far out of reach and the NBA Draft Lottery the only scoreboard that matters, Will Hardy has transferred his message to the young Utah Jazz roster. Forget rigid scripts. Think for yourself. The Jazz want their players to be decision-makers, independent thinkers who are able to direct their own careers. Speaking after the All-Star break, Hardy presented a philosophy that stands in stark contrast to the hyper-structured world of modern NBA player development.

The Jazz, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with one of the league’s worst records, are succumbing to the realities of a rebuild. Victory is rare. Minutes are plentiful for the young core. They need to figure out who has the ability to gain control instead of just following orders.

“With all of our young players, we’re encouraging them to be independent thinkers about their careers, about their development,” Hardy said. “It’s about who they want to be as a person, where they want to be as a player, because I think in today’s world, we have a lot of personal trainers. We have strength coaches, and the staff has grown up as well.”

The alternative, Hardy warned, is a dangerous inaction.

“So it can be easier for the players,” Hardy admitted, “if they want, check their phone, look at the schedule that’s set out for them. They come into the facility and take what they should be taking for breakfast. We say here are the vitamins you should be taking. They go into the weight room, and it’s two sets of something with eight reps each. We go on the court and tell them where to shoot. They can go all day without having to make decisions for themselves.”

Hardy believes that hand-to-hand existence poses a long-term risk. One day, the structure disappears. Come free agency, a trade means joining a new team, or life after basketball will have to be considered. The players discover that they never learned to pilot their ship.

“It can be a slippery slope,” Hardy said, “because there will come a day when they realize they have no control over what they’re doing.”

Hardy was careful not to suggest a single solution. He acknowledged that agency is not something every young player is ready to embrace immediately.

“I think it’s a case-by-case basis, but we have to encourage all of our athletes to think about it,” Hardy shared. “As you move along in your process, some people may feel like taking on that agency. Some people may not want to take on that agency because they’re not sure what to do with it.”

In a season defined by accusations of tanking (earlier this month the Jazz were fined $500,000 by the NBA for resting healthy players, which the league deemed harmful), Hardy’s approach has doubled as both practical and philosophical. With little to lose in the standings, franchises can afford to experiment, fail and adjust players on their own terms. The goal is not to produce more losses, but to create more self-reliant professionals who will eventually thrive when the franchise fights again.

It remains to be seen whether every player embraces the freedom. Hardy acknowledged that some people would crave the comfort of a printed program. However, in a rebuild where the future is more important than the present, the Jazz are betting that the people who step up and make their own decisions will be the ones who will matter most when the tank eventually ends.

While there are many signs that the Milwaukee Bucks will work to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, a new report links the team to an elite star to pair with him in 2026-27.

Heading into the trade deadline earlier this month, there was no bigger story than the will-they-or-won’t-they saga of the Bucks and the two-time NBA MVP. While Antetokounmpo technically did not ask for a trade, Milwaukee began fielding offers from interested teams because they felt he was ready for a divorce.

However, after a couple of weeks of trade talks, Milwaukee decided to pounce on the nine-time All-Star and retain him. The perception around the league is that the organization did not like the offers it received, and this was an information-building process for the summer when better offers come in, and more teams join the sweepstakes.

Veteran NBA insider Jake Fisher firmly believes that the Antetokounmpo trade will indeed happen this summer. However, in a new post on The Stein Line, he posed an interesting scenario where Antetokounmpo would stay and be paired with Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant.

Were the Bucks ‘sincere’ about interest in Ja Morant trade?

Fisher wrote, “The Grizzlies will have to try again this summer to find a palatable Morant deal. They may have even more options, as the Bucks presumably have, when it comes to Antetokounmpo.”

He added, “One scenario that would have to be addressed is the possibility of a Milwaukee trade for Morant. Several teams came out of the deadline believing that the Bucks’ interest in Morant was genuine.” “Whether it was to establish him as Antetokounmpo’s eventual successor as the face of the franchise or because he believes he can really make the Giannis-and-Ja pairing work.”

While rumors swirled about the team trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, there were also reports that they are looking to add impactful talent before this month’s deadline. The team would love to have the greatest player in team history. Adding Morant when his value is low and getting back to the superstar he was a few years ago could attract the Greek giants and keep him for another season.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Chicago Bulls were given serious news on Saturday. center zach collins Will be out for the rest of the season. the reason is Causes of long term injury to toe Which will require surgery.

Head coach Billy Donovan, before the game against the Detroit Pistons expressed a wish For Collins to return next season. According to the Chicago Bulls, he is playing the final year of his contract.

“I think there are two sides to this,” Donovan said. “When a guy is in free agency, there’s a financial part to it, and then there’s the player, the make-up, the character. It’s hard for me, just not being in the conversation with a lot of people, to really know what a guy’s value is, so to speak, financially.”

“I know this from my perspective [value] It’s about winning. [When] He’s healthy and he’s out there, he’s a really good player for us, and I really like him. So, from that standpoint, I’m just hoping everything works out to get back here next year, because I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a teammate and a worker. Just his mentality, his toughness.”

Collins is completing what remains of his two-year, $34.8 million contract. This was a deal he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. A deal that was later accepted by the Bulls.

Collins played ten games this season. He averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. His last appearance was on December 27 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Collins came up with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in the 112–103 loss.

Arsenal defender Jakub Kivior’s loan deal to FC Porto is likely to be costly even before it becomes permanent.

he is According to Correio da ManhaWhich covers the Defender today. According to the Portuguese newspaper, he could be set for a big bonus.

Kiwior joined the Portuguese side on loan from Arsenal in the summer transfer window. The deal includes an option for him to make it permanent, which is likely to be activated.

arsenal regret

The Polish defender has been earning praise since day one at his loan club. In fact, there have been signs of Arsenal having regrets after the defender Admitted that Mikel Arteta did not want him to leave.

It has been a good season for them too as Porto currently top the table, four points ahead of Sporting Clube de Portugal. Benfica are in third place with 52 points, seven points behind their rivals.

Kiwior has been a major part of their success, and he is sure to benefit from it. Corio reports that the centre-back will receive an additional €800,00 net per year. If he wins the title it will start from next year. This represents an additional €4m on his contract.

He currently earns €1.7m net, but if they win the title, his maximum salary cap at the club will rise to €2.5m.

Porto will pay the highest price for him when a €17m deal becomes permanent in the summer.

long term investment

They have already paid €2m towards the loan. They would then need to add a five-year contract, bringing their total outlay until 2031 to around €25 million. But there is no unhappiness about this fact.

Instead, Arsenal’s pursuit of the defender represents a major investment in the team. Expenditures on salaries of players and coaching staff have increased by 19% compared to last year.

That will increase even more if Kiwior helps them win the league, and that looks likely at the moment.

As the Sacramento Kings have lost their last 15 games, the team is now facing more bad news regarding star forward De’Andre Hunter’s eye injury. Hunter will miss time with the Kings due to an eye injury, with the latest report suggesting he will miss significant time.

According to NBA insiders Chris Haynes and Marc Stein, Hunter “will have to have eye surgery at the end of the season”, which will lock him down for Sacramento, as he played only two games with the team after being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the deadline.

“BREAKING: Sacramento Kings forward De’Andre Hunter to have season-ending eye surgery, league sources say”. [Marc Stein] And me,” Haynes, formerly of X, wrote on Twitter.

In terms of what exactly he’s dealing with, it’s been diagnosed as “iritis,” as he suffered an injury to his left eye during a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last February 6. Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee reported that he will be reevaluated in 10 days, with the ultimate conclusion being season-ending surgery.

Anderson wrote on the

The way Hunter was talking about how good his progress was, it was a profound change in pace, almost speaking as if a comeback could be around the corner.

“It’s not quite there yet, but it’s definitely better than it was,” Hunter said Thursday, according to Sports Illustrated. “I’ve been able to actually play, train and do things like that, so it’s progressing really well.”

At any rate, Hunter looks to be fully healthy for next season and will contribute for the Kings.

A new report suggests Juan Soto was a big win for the New York Mets in 2025 on and off the field.

Many people in baseball and the sports world in general scoffed at the news that the NY Mets had agreed to a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal with veteran outfielder Juan Soto. Sure, he was a 26-year-old four-time All-Star who won a championship with the Washington Nationals, but earning $62 million in the first season of the deal seemed ridiculous.

When he posted a .253 average and eight homers over the first three months of the season, it seemed as if the NY Mets had another overpriced free agent bust on their hands. However, in June, Soto began playing like the MVP candidate fans had seen during his lone season with the New York Yankees.

By the end of the 2025 campaign, he had a slash line of .263/.396/.525/.921 with 43 homers, 105 runs batted in, 120 runs scored and a career-best 38 stolen bases. Those numbers and his third-place finish in the National League MVP voting seem to suggest that for at least one season, he was worth the money, even if the team collapsed in the final weeks of the season.

However, that data is what the outfielder brings to the field for the NY Mets in 2025. However, what he delivered in terms of fan interest last season proves why the club decided to give him a record-breaking deal ahead of last season.

NY Mets set new record for ticket sales in 2025

According to a new disclosure first reported by Sportico, the team generated $311.4 million in revenue last season. This was a large increase compared to the $260.8 million earned in 2024 and $237.8 million earned in 2023. Ticket revenue also increased by more than $20 million – from $136.7 million to $157.6 million – after a sellout to more than 850,000 fans at Citi Field last year.

The outlet also reports that luxury suite and club premium revenues doubled in 2025 ($39.1 million), and concessions increased 55% ($38.3 million).

The big difference fans found between the 2024 team and the 2025 team was the inclusion of Soto. So it makes sense that he was the biggest factor in their turnover surge last season.

However, while they generated revenue of $311 million, they suffered losses three times that amount sometime in 2025. The loss was mostly caused by payroll costs of $347 million and the accompanying $92 million tax bill.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Ochai Agbaji is getting a fresh start with the Brooklyn Nets. Traded by the Toronto Raptors at the deadline, the former lottery pick has an opportunity to regain his form in Brooklyn during the second half of the season.

Agbaji took a step in the right direction during his first extended action in net. The 25-year-old was one of Brooklyn’s only bright spots during Thursday’s 112-84 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He posted 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and one block on 5 of 8 shooting from the field and 3 of 6 from three.

Agbaji finished with a team-best minus-four in 28 minutes.

“[Ochai] Very good job,” Jordi Fernandez said after the game. “He was ready to shoot. He still has to get used to the spacing, the rules, certain plays and defensive concepts. But I think he was great. He was ready; he fought. Physically and mentally, he was ready to go. Nice to see this.”

Agbaji had the best season of his career in 2024–25, averaging 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 50/40/71 shooting splits in 64 appearances. However, he fell out of the Raptors’ rotation this year due to a career-worst shooting slump (12 of 65 from three in 42 games with Toronto).

Ochai Agbaji struggling to secure long-term role after trade with Nets

While the Nets received a second-round pick in exchange for Agbaji’s contract, Fernandez praised the guard’s skills upon his arrival. With a 6-foot-5 wingspan, a 6-foot-10 frame and above-average athleticism, the former Kansas star has the tools to be an impact guard.

that athleticism was on display On Thursday.

Agbaji got Uttar Pradesh for this rejection

➡️ Watch Live on YES & THE @gothamsports App: https://t.co/sWMqNZ0hci pic.twitter.com/sqneGAEdL6

– Yes Network (@YESNetwork) 20 February 2026

His ability to put together a positive shooting night will go a long way in earning an expanded role.

“It felt good. It felt good to see the ball go in and get some rhythm with my guys and score some runs,” Agbaji said after the game. “Obviously, that was one game before the All-Star break, but [it was] Little minutes here and there. Saw this for the first time [extended] A few minutes to really get my form and go with them, and I’m excited. I’m excited about what we can do. The style we play is very unselfish and I’m that type of player. So I fit in.”

Agbaji will be a free agent when his rookie contract expires this summer. He is one of several players — including Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson and Josh Minott — fighting to secure a new deal on the back-end of Brooklyn’s roster.

When Kyrie Irving suffered an ACL tear last March, everyone knew the star point guard would miss a significant portion of the 2025-26 season. As the year progressed, the timeline for recovery became blurry and as the Dallas Mavericks sank more rapidly, the expectation was that he would not play at all until the next campaign. The team officially signed Irving on Wednesday, a move that fans are extremely appreciative of.

Mavs head coach Jason Kidd explained exclusively why the 2016 NBA champions will be inactive for the remainder of the season.

“Long-term health,” he said, according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. “We want to make sure he’s ready for next season… In practice, some of the things he’s been working on have looked good. I think as we get into March and April, we want him to keep moving in the right direction. With the decision he’s made, we’re thinking about his health long-term and us staying healthy next season.”

Mavericks hoping to make a strong comeback next season

Dallas clearly doesn’t want Irving to return for the final round of a losing campaign and potentially cause a blowout or inadvertently harm the franchise’s draft position. The Mavericks have had a rough year as they navigate their way into the post-Luka Doncic era. Spectacular rookie Cooper Flagg ensures that Dallas can return to the upside at some point soon, but he could definitely use some more help.

A premium draft pick in a loaded class could give the Mavs one of the brightest futures in the NBA. Kyrie Irving also benefits from this. The 33-year-old knows he has limited time to win a second ring. He’s still a high-level scorer, but taking on larger offensive responsibilities on a nightly basis seems impractical, especially after a major injury. A rising flag and a potential top-five pick might take the load off a bit.

However, due to the young talent on this roster, Irving will still be an extremely important component of the Mavericks for the next two seasons. However, he cannot play that role until he is healthy. The future Hall of Famer now has an additional 200-plus days to recover.

The topic of NBA teams tanking has been a constant topic of discussion for the past few weeks, but it was uncertain whether the league would do anything about it. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, it looks like NBA commissioner Adam Silver has stepped in, and he plans to set some new rules for next season regarding anti-tanking.

“Commissioner Adam Silver informed the league’s 30 general managers on Thursday that the NBA is planning to make changes to the anti-tanking rule for next season, sources told ESPN. Stakeholders have stepped up conversations about how to deal with tanking,” Charania, formerly of the X, wrote on Twitter.

During the meeting, several topics were discussed on ways to curb tanking, including first-round picks being protected only in the top-4 or top-14+, lottery chances being frozen at the trade deadline or at a later date, a team no longer being allowed to pick a top-4 pick in consecutive years and/or after consecutive bottom-3 finishes, teams not being able to pick a top-4 the following year after making the conference finals, two years The lottery has been expanded to include all play-in teams, and the odds have been leveled for everyone. All Lottery Teams.

Over the past few weeks, teams like the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers were fined. The Jazz were fined after sitting Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen in the fourth quarter of two games, and the Pacers were fined after sitting Pascal Siakam in their game against the Utah Jazz after the league learned he could play.

Benedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell were also fit to play in the game but sat out.

There have been other situations throughout the league where some people suspected some type of tanking was taking place. Anthony Davis will likely miss the remainder of the season for the Washington Wizards, and Trae Young will likely be on that list.

Meanwhile, for the Sacramento Kings, both Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis have been shut down for the remainder of the season.

Still recovering from last season’s ACL injury, many expected Kyrie Irving to return to the field this time around. It looks like he is putting the brakes on returning for this season and recently announced that he will be sitting out the entire year.

According to Joey Mistretta of Clutch Points, Irving wrote a statement regarding the decision.

“This decision was not easy, but it is the right one. I am grateful to the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process,” Irving wrote. “I’m looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The confidence and enthusiasm I have is only growing.

“And I want to say a big thank you to all of my brothers and sisters who have torn ACLs or been injured doing the work they love to do every day. Thank you for the inspiration. No fear!”

Irving’s agent, Shetalia Riley Irving, told ESPN that this will help the Mavericks guard return to full strength next season.

“It’s about being 1000% when Kyrie comes back and giving ourselves the best chance to chase a championship next season,” Riley Irving said, via Shams Charania.

With the Mavericks at the bottom of the Western Conference standings and beginning to build the team around Cooper Flagg, Irving didn’t have much need to rush. Had they been fighting for a playoff spot, things probably would have been different, and he would have bounced back around the time he should have.

Sitting out the entire season gives Irving more time to get back to the player he was before the injury, which is one of the most dangerous scoring point guards out there. It will be interesting to see what he looks like when he returns next season.

Manchester City loanee Vitor Reus was brilliant on Monday night as Verona beat Barcelona 2-1 in La Liga. The 19-year-old centre-back played a decisive role in the upset. As a result, the Spanish and Brazilian media have begun to push the idea that Pep Guardiola should look into this ahead of next season.

Victory in the 24th round of La Liga. However, most of the post-match attention was focused on Vitor Reis. The defender finished the match with 14 defensive contributions and did not face a single successful dribble against him. Additionally, he leads all Brazilian players in LaLiga in minutes played this season.

Praise for the Spaniards after their heroic victory

Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo did not hold back in its assessment. “Imperial! A machine for winning duels inside the box!” the newspaper wrote after the final whistle. The article headline after his match called him “Boss of the new Verona”.

spanish journalist Victor Laboria Escutia He went even further in his analysis. “I see Vitor Reus as one of the most promising centre-backs this season. He is a leader and has great qualities. He should be an option for all the big clubs.” He said.

Such praise comes after a strong month for the Manchester City defender. In January, LaLiga named him the best under-23 player in the competition. This recognition came after continuous performance and increasing authority behind.

Verona brought him on loan to guarantee minutes and continuity. So far, that strategy has worked. The Brazilian has secured a starting role and rarely leaves the field. so, development plan The agreement with Manchester City appears to be yielding clear results.

Brazil calls on Guardiola to take action

The Brazilian media have now begun to link his rise directly to Manchester City’s plans. Trivella argued that his performance against Barcelona, ​​along with their campaign overall, “Proves that he can already be considered a member of Manchester City.”

Meanwhile, journalist Fernando Campos offered a more forceful opinion. “Vítor Reus is a monster of the new generation of centre-backs. Absolutely extraordinary at Verona. Guardiola needs to use him next season,” He said.

Those comments increase the spotlight surrounding the teen. Manchester City signed him for £34m (€40m) with a long-term plan in mind. At the time, the club prioritized growth over immediate impact.

However, the story is now changing. There is external pressure building, with Verona competing strongly and Vitor Reis lining up against Barcelona.

what happens next Much will depend on Guardiola’s team’s plans this summer, but the noise around the Brazilian is growing.

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.

As the Miami Heat are in the midst of a much-needed All-Star break, one of the few players representing the team this weekend is Norman Powell. With Powell earning All-Star honors for the first time with the Heat, which has been a goal of his for some time, he mentioned why this season has come full circle in a certain way.

Powell was considered an All-Star candidate by many last season with the Los Angeles Clippers, as he stood out as an offensive lineman for the team, especially when they were dealing with injuries to Kawhi Leonard and others.

Fast forward to this year, Powell has shined for Miami, leading the way with 23 points per game, but he believes it “completes the story” given that the All-Star festivities take place in his former home of Los Angeles.

“I think that wraps up the story,” Powell said, according to The Miami Herald. “I think it’s something you can’t even write about or think about. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, the All-Star Game is in L.A., now I’m definitely trying to make it.’ “I guess that’s just the way it is.”

“I really thought I’d be an All-Star with the team last year, and it didn’t happen,” Powell continued, referencing this time with the Clippers. “Moves are made, and then that spot is actually the same place you were just traded from, and you get selected to be one and go back in front of that organization, in front of the fans. I think it’s just a nice little Easter egg to the story of my career.”

At any rate, Powell is looking to help the Heat further as the team’s record is 29-27, which gives them the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

2024-25 Season Stat Leaders (Mid-Season Trends)

• Top Goal Scorer: Emerging as a race between the league’s elite snipers.
• Most Assists: Playmakers are dominating the puck possession game.
• Highest Team Scoring: Offense-heavy teams are currently leading the standings.

As NBA All-Star festivities continue at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Luka Doncic expressed confidence that the Los Angeles Lakers have the ability to win a championship this season.

Speaking with Chris Haynes during Saturday’s NBA TV broadcast, Doncic made it clear the team’s objective remains unchanged despite injury setbacks and inconsistent availability among primary contributors.

“Obviously, we’re trying to win a championship. I think we can do it. We have the team to do it but obviously we’ve had a lot of injuries. Me, Bron and AR, everybody’s been out for a while. So now coming back from All-Star, I think everybody’s healthy. It’s going to be a good test for us.”

The Lakers entered the All-Star break with a 33–21 record, clinching the fifth seed in the Western Conference and firmly establishing themselves in the playoff picture. However, establishing continuity has been difficult. Doncic has missed 11 games this season, including the last four because of a strained left hamstring. LeBron James has been sidelined for 18 games due to sciatica, weight management and left foot arthritis. Austin Reaves has missed 22 games, 19 of which stem from a left calf strain.

x

“Obviously, we’re trying to win a championship. I think we can do it. We have the team to do it… Coming back from All-Star, I think everyone is healthy. It’ll be a good test for us.”

Luka Doncic on Lakers’ title hopes 🗣️

(via @ChrisBHaynes)pic.twitter.com/QTThqZ3cak

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 14 February 2026

Luka Doncic confident Lakers can compete for championship despite injuries

As a result, Doncic, James, and Reaves only appeared in 10 games together, limiting the opportunity for the team to build chemistry during the first half of the season.

Despite those absences, Los Angeles remains within striking distance of the top of the conference. The Lakers are five games behind the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs (38-16) and 1.5 games behind the third-seeded Denver Nuggets (35-20).

The 26-year-old star is expected to recover from his hamstring strain during Sunday night’s All-Star Game, a sign that the Lakers anticipate having a healthy roster heading into the final stretch of the regular season.