Sports
Los Angeles Lakers Are Masquerading as NBA Title Contenders
If you watched the Lakers dismantle the Mavericks this week, you understand why many people believe Luka’s new team has a chance to go farther in the playoffs this year than his old team did last season.
And there’s only one eventuality that would allow that to happen.
Don’t be fooled. It’s not going down that way.
The Lakers should not be considered one of the NBA title favorites.
The squad we saw thrash the defending Western champs by 15 points was Luka’s team. The return to Dallas was his night, his shining moment for 2025.
But effective about 3 p.m. today, when the regular season ends and the lights get brighter, the Lakers become LeBron’s team. Just like every other team he’s been on for about two decades.
So totally disregard anything you saw earlier in the week.
History tells us pairing Luka with a second star can be successful. The Mavericks are a good example.
Dallas was no better than a 29-26 team when Kyrie Irving played his first game for the Mavericks in February 2023. They looked great that night, rolling to a 13-point win at Utah even with Luka sitting out.
The first time they shared the court, the Mavs were beaten in Sacramento. The dynamic duo combined for 55 points, but it was clear Dallas had changes to make.
They had two great scorers and passers. They needed more complementary pieces.
Over the next 12 months, they went about acquiring them. The version we saw in the NBA Finals last season included a productive center tandem, a stretch power forward and multiple 3-point shooters.
The transformation took time. But when complete, the Mavs, 9-16 with Irving and having missed the playoffs in 2023, enjoyed a 50-win regular season and three rounds of playoff wins before running into the Celtics.
The Lakers appear headed down that same path. At least the first part.
Like the 2023 Mavs, they have no real big man. That’s a problem for two reasons.
First off, the West is loaded with quality bigs. The Thunder have two; the Rockets, Nuggets, Clippers, Timberwolves, Grizzlies and Kings all have one. Somebody is going to have to guard these guys … and it sure ain’t going to be LeBron.
And secondly, Luka needs a defensive goalie. You know, a shot-blocker hanging around the rim for when the guy the chubby dude is assigned to guard dribbles around him and makes a beeline for the hoop.
Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II were godsends for Luka last season. Mark Williams might have been this year as well … until red-flagged X-rays sent him back to Charlotte, leaving the Lakers, uh, with nobody in the net.
Jarred Vanderbilt has been a nice player for the Lakers, except that he can’t shoot and allows an opposing defender to zone up on Luka and LeBron. Another bad fit.
Like the 2023 Mavericks, the Lakers have work to do. And like the 2023 Mavs, two months isn’t nearly enough time to accomplish the major undertaking.
As currently constructed, the Lakers can play two different ways: through Luka and through LeBron. In the former, arguably the greatest player of all time stands around and watches. In the latter, a triple-double machine takes an in-game vacation.
Neither play call is conducive to winning basketball or good relationships.
The Warriors had a similar problem in the 2017 season when they brought the ball-dominant Kevin Durant into their pass-and-cut offense. Some swear Durant uttered, “I don’t do screening,” the first time he was told to “run the offense.”
The Warriors won two titles in Durant’s three seasons, failing only when he and Klay Thompson got injured in the 2019 playoffs. Credit Durant, who sacrificed and had three of the six lowest-scoring seasons of his career, and Steve Kerr, a coach who had already won a title with lesser talent.
Should JJ Redick be mentioned in the same breath as Kerr? Certainly not yet.
And will Luka sacrifice like Durant did? It’s interesting to note that he’s shooting about as much as he did with the Mavericks, and he’s jacking up more 3-pointers.
He had his best game when told to swing for the fences rather than sacrifice. That’s probably the worst thing that could have happened for the Lakers.
Keep an eye on L.A. next season. But this year …
They’ll begin the playoffs with the fourth-lowest odds to walk away with the hardware. Frankly, they’re a better bet to lose in the first round.
Sports
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Entering her eighth season in the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is poised to build on what was arguably the most dominant individual campaign in league history.
Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the second player in league history to win a unanimous MVP award and joined an exclusive club as the fourth player to win the award three times. She averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season and set the all-time single-season mark for points (1,021) and rebounds (451).
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, injuries and fatigue from their two previous championship runs mounted and resulted in the team’s worst regular-season record (27-13) since 2019. The Aces’ three-peat hopes ended with a 76-62 home loss to the New York Liberty to drop their semifinal series 3-1.
It’s that loss on her home floor that served as Wilson’s motivation this offseason.
“Losing sucks, especially on your home court,” Wilson said “It still kind of burns a little bit, but I’ve used that as fuel to help my teammates understand how hard it is to win in this league. Yes, we can celebrate the two championships. They were great. But for us to move forward, we have to understand how hard this league is and value the basketball and the little things. I think that’s what we lacked last season, so we’re going to make sure that we can show up better than we did.”
While the Aces appeared to be on top of the world heading into their potential three-peat campaign in 2024, the reality inside the locker room was that both the internal and external pressure to win another championship had become suffocating. A common theme across media day was the fact that the team feels less pressure entering the 2025 season, a sentiment Wilson shared as the unquestioned leader of the team.
“(Three-peat talks) obviously impacted us, because it’s like, y’all think we don’t want to win? We’re trying as well,” Wilson said.
“I would definitely say it’s refreshing this year. I feel like this is one of my only years where it feels like there’s no weight. There’s a lot of weight to be defending champs. It’s a lot of weight to be trying to win one. We don’t have that. We actually have a clean slate to really dial into getting back to who we are culturally, like, in our system and everything.”
Leading the Aces back to the top of the mountain for a third time in four years is one of a few historically significant achievements Wilson can collect this upcoming season. Wilson could also become the first four-time MVP in league history, though the meaning of that is something she hasn’t quite allowed herself to ponder yet.
“I haven’t given it much thought, but it would be a blessing to have my name in that conversation,” Wilson said. “Every year, I try to be better than I was the year before just to give myself a chance in this league. Because the league is getting better. We’re growing. At this point, you just want to maintain your stamina. You want to maintain your mental, all of that, because the season gets hard. I can’t think too much about that just yet, but I’m definitely going to try to be better than I was last year.”
As Aces coach Becky Hammon put it, fans can expect to see an even better version of Wilson this season.
“What I see is, she went and got better,” Hammon said. “Which is hard to do when you’re already the best, but it speaks to her work ethic, her desire and her mindset this whole offseason. We talked a lot this offseason. She’s a busy lady, but I can tell you what she always does is her workouts. She’s always getting her workouts in. That comes first and foremost, she never gets her priorities jumbled up.”
When Hammon was asked what a player like Wilson would possibly need to improve after last season’s campaign, the coach did not feel like revealing too much.
“There was (something for Wilson to improve), and she did,” Hammon said. “I’m not going to tell you what it was. Actually, there were two things.”
–Will Despart, Field Level Media
Sports
Jacob Wilson joins Aaron Judge in spotlight for Yankees-A's series
May 5, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) throws to first for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The top two hitters in the majors square off Friday night when the New York Yankees face the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series in Sacramento, Calif.
It’s no surprise to see Yankees star Aaron Judge off to a superb start after winning American League MVP honors last season. He has a major league-best .400 batting average and entered Thursday’s play tied for the big-league lead with 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
But who had Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson ranking second in the majors at .357 as the season nears the quarter pole? Wilson has played in just 64 career games and quickly has solidified himself as a future All-Star, perhaps even this season.
Sharing the marquee board with Judge seems quite surreal for the 23-year-old shortstop who was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
“It’s a great feeling, for sure,” Wilson said of his name being mentioned with Judge. “Obviously, everybody has seen what he is doing. It’s pretty incredible watching him do his thing on a daily basis. To be up there with him is pretty cool for me.
“I’m excited to play against him this week and see what it looks like in person.”
Wilson had his first career four-hit game during Wednesday’s 6-5 home loss against the Seattle Mariners and has six multi-hit outings in the past eight games. He went 8-for-14 with one game-winning hit in the three-game series against the Mariners and is 16-for-34 (.471) with four walks during the eight-game stretch.
The hot hitting led to Athletics manager Mark Kotsay moving Wilson to the leadoff spot on Wednesday. Kotsay indicated Wilson may be sticking at the top of the lineup.
“I think you’ll see Jacob up there now,” Kotsay said. “Jacob’s earned it. … Jacob has shown enough over the last week. He’s walking and taking pitches, and, obviously, swinging the bat really well.”
Judge arrives in Sacramento in the midst of a four-game funk in which he is 2-for-15.
The two-time MVP just went 1-for-10 in a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, but the one hit was a homer.
Judge grew up 50 miles south of Sacramento in Linden and starred for Linden High but wasn’t highly sought by major league teams. The then-Oakland Athletics selected him in the 31st round in 2010.
Judge instead went the college route and starred for Fresno State. He was chosen in the first round (32nd overall) by the Yankees in the 2013 draft.
Trent Grisham was one of the heroes of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Padres. He hit a tying two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning.
Grisham had two homers and five RBIs in the series against the Padres — one of his former teams — and already has 10 long balls in just 89 at-bats. He hit just nine last season in 179 at-bats.
“I’m having fun with the guys, I would say that more than anything,” Grisham said. “The clubhouse is really good in here, led by Cap (Judge). So, I would say the guys have been the most enjoyable part.”
New York is starting right-hander Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA) in Friday’s series opener. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71) will be on the mound for the Athletics.
Warren, 25, struck out a career-high eight in 4 2/3 innings while losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He gave up five runs (three earned) and seven hits. Warren hasn’t previously faced the Athletics.
Bido, 29, received a no-decision against the Miami Marlins last Saturday when he gave up four runs on three hits over five innings. He is winless (0-1) over his last three starts. Bido hasn’t faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement
Aug 21, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manny Pacquiao (right) fights Yordenis Ugas in a world welterweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to end his retirement and return to the ring on July 19 against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, ESPN reported Thursday.
Pacquiao, 46, will be fighting for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
The fight will be for Barrios’ WBC welterweight championship belt. Barrios turns 30 on May 18.
Pacquiao is an eight-division champion who is slated to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in June. He reportedly will formally announce his return to boxing next week. The report stated that Pacquiao has been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
In recent years, Pacquiao has been focusing on his political career in the Philippines.
The boxer nicknamed “PacMan” has a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during his career. He won his first major title — the WBC flyweight crown — at age 19 in 1998.
Pacquiao was 54-3-2 prior to turning 33 and 8-5 afterward. One of those losses was to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via unanimous decision in 2015, a bout that reportedly drew nearly $400 million in pay-per-view sales.
Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) fought to a 12-round, split-decision draw against Abel Ramos last November. This will be his third defense since winning the title by beating Ugas in 2023.
–Field Level Media
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
