Rumors

Justin Martinez: Shams Charania says Luka Doncic will miss the start of Los Angeles' series against OKC. He's being evaluated on a week-to-week basis for his Grade 2 hamstring strain.

Twitter

Oh No He Didn't: Austin Reaves: "It's been a grind. I've been running around Los Angeles doing everything I could possibly do to get back to this moment. We've done it. Wish I played a little better, wish I made a couple more shots"

Twitter

Varun Shnkar: Alperen Şengün said the Rockets are going to LA for a fight (not literally). “Everybody’s hungry still and we’re going over there to get another one and come back home and make them a little nervous.”

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Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Derik Queen has shown a lot of versatility, particularly closing the season strong on the glass. Where have you seen the most growth in his game? DeAndre Jordan: He’s grown a ton. He’s done some great things and the sky is really the limit for him. This upcoming offseason is going to be huge for him. Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You two are planning to work together in Los Angeles this summer. What specific skills are you going to focus on? DeAndre Jordan: [Smiles] I’d rather keep that a secret. We’re going to work, we’re going to hang out and he’s going to enjoy his summer but he’s definitely going to work. Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Does Derik’s style of play remind you of anyone else in the league? DeAndre Jordan: He’s a true playmaker. He can really handle the ball. He has a real relationship with the ball, which is rare for someone his size. He can handle it, he has great touch and he can score on all three levels. He does things that are usually guard oriented and he can shoot the ball and he can playmaker. Now, we just have to figure out how to enhance that and help him grow on both ends of the floor.

ScoopB.com

“I think he’s got about one or two more years left in his body,” said Payton of James. “I don’t think he wants to move anywhere. People talking about where he’s going to end up. That’s not what LeBron is about right now. I think it’s about comfortability, about how his daughter — which is the only one still left in the house — and how his wife wants to be. I don’t think they want to be in the cold. I think they think they’re very comfortable in Los Angeles and that’s where they’re going to be. I think he’s going to stay here and try to work something out with the Lakers.”

r.org

Last Sunday night in Los Angeles, as the Lakers were closing out their regular season against the Jazz, the broadcast cameras landed on two guys courtside who looked like they didn’t belong — and somehow belonged more than anyone else in the building. Their names are Brandon Taylor and Tom Biddle, and they are not celebrities. Not yet. They’re just two content creators from Indianapolis who showed up courtside to the game dressed as LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

New York Post

Fullcourtpass: Giannis says he prefers Miami over LA Dragic: “Vacation, LA or Miami?” Giannis: “Miami. Miami, Miami. I think LA superficial. I don’t like LA” (Via Gogis Garage YT, h/t @HeatCulture13)

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After nearly two weeks in Europe, the prodigal son has returned. Luka Doncic returned to Los Angeles on Friday on the eve of the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Rockets. Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2 in Oklahoma City, and after receiving imaging in Dallas, he jet-setted to Spain to receive treatment on his hamstring that could potentially expedite the healing process and his return to the court.

New York Post

His decision, whatever it might ultimately be, will undoubtedly have family considerations heavily factored in. And the prospect of relocation that comes with some of these options is nothing to gloss over, with one executive from an interested team sharing that James’ reluctance to leave Los Angeles has been no secret among outside suitors.

New York Times

Redick said Reaves and Doncic are both out “indefinitely.” Doncic is due back in Los Angeles late Friday after receiving his final treatment in Madrid for his Grade 2 hamstring strain. Reaves has been with the team in Los Angeles and been undergoing a variety of treatments in both the Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers facilities, per a team source.

New York Times

Nick DePaula: Stephen Curry laces up the “snakeskin” Kobe 4s again tonight in LA. : @SooWavy11 / http://instagram.com/visualsbyave

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Nick DePaula: Stephen Curry arrives in LA tonight in the UNDFTD Air Jordan 4 : http://instagram.com/alexkey

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In a Loyola Marymount survey asking Los Angeles County residents to identify their favorite among the 12 pro sports teams within the local media market, nearly half picked the Dodgers. The Dodgers’ lead over the Lakers — 43% to 28% — represented the largest gap between the teams in the nine editions of the survey, first conducted in 2014 by the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Times

95.7 The Game: Steve Kerr told @WillardAndDibs that Draymond hosted everyone for a dinner at his house in LA last night: “Everybody loves coming to LA. We all went over to Draymond’s house last night for dinner. He hosted the whole team and coaching staff which was awesome. Some good bonding.”

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