Los Angeles Lakers

One day after sending out a tweet apologizing to fans for the team's performance, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James explained what he meant. 

Speaking to reporters after Monday's 101-95 win over the Utah Jazz, James said he sent the tweet for his own accountability with how the Lakers have been playing. 

"Talk can be cheap at times, because you gotta go out and have action," he said. "We did that tonight."

James added the Lakers "all understood that our energy and effort wasn't where it needed to be."

This is what James sent out following the 133-97 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 15:

The loss to Denver dropped the Lakers' record to 21-22, marking the first time James has been under .500 this late into a season since his rookie campaign in 2003-04. 

Lakers legend Magic Johnson was critical of the team after that game:

As their record indicates, things have not gone well for the Lakers this season. Some of their struggles are down to injuries. James missed eight straight games in November with an abdominal strain.

Anthony Davis hasn't played since Dec. 17 because of a sprained MCL. ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported there is "optimism" within the organization that Davis could return during the Lakers' six-game road trip from Jan. 21-30. 

Kendrick Nunn, who has yet to appear in a game this season, suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury and has no timetable to return.

Russell Westbrook hasn't been injured, but he isn't having the impact Los Angeles expected when it acquired him from the Washington Wizards during the offseason. The former NBA MVP is averaging 18.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game, but he's only shooting 43.6 percent from the field on 16.1 attempts per contest. 

James has been doing his part to keep the Lakers afloat in the Western Conference. He is averaging 32.9 points on 53.6 percent shooting, 9.1 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game in 14 starts since Dec. 19. 

The Lakers are seventh in the Western Conference standings with a 22-22 record. They are only one game behind the Nuggets for the sixth spot in the race to avoid the play-in tournament.    

Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook commented on his emphatic dunk over Utah Jazz center and three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert following L.A.'s 101-95 win against the Jazz on Monday night.

The dunk occurred with around two minutes remaining in the first half, and it gave the Lakers a 10-point advantage:

During his postgame comments, Westbrook expressed his belief that the dunk gave the Lakers some "swagger" entering the locker room:

"I think for our team, it gave us an extra boost going into halftime," Westbrook said. "[It gave us] some swagger, which is what we need, especially right now."

Monday's win was huge for the Lakers, as they rode a three-game losing streak into the contest and were coming off a 133-96 loss to the Denver Nuggets that dropped them below .500.

They responded in a big way against a Jazz team that is fourth in the Western Conference this season at 29-15.

Westbrook didn't have a great statistical performance with 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting to go along with eight rebounds and three assists, but he may have given Los Angeles a much-needed boost with that dunk.

As is often the case, LeBron James was the star of the show for the Lakers with a game-high 25 points plus seven rebounds and seven assists.

The Lakers also got a great performance out of their bench with three of the four bench players who saw action scoring in double figures, including Stanley Johnson with 15 points.

All told, the Lakers scored 44 bench points compared to just 25 for the Jazz.

By virtue of Monday's win, the Lakers got back to the .500 mark at 22-22, leaving them seventh in the Western Conference.

The Lakers are just one game behind the Nuggets for sixth, which is key since the top six seeds will avoid having to take part in a postseason play-in game.

L.A. has been trying to keep its head above water without superstar big man Anthony Davis, who has missed the past 14 games with a sprained MCL.

Lakers head coach Frank Vogel gave a positive update on AD following Monday's win, saying he has been cleared for "on-court ramp-up with contact" after his most recent MRI came back clean.

The Lakers will look to keep the momentum rolling Wednesday when they host the Indiana Pacers at Crypto.com Arena.

Los Angeles Lakers wingman Stanley Johnson has apparently made a good impression during his brief time with the team.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reports that the Lakers are planning on signing Johnson to another 10-day contract on Monday to keep him with the team for the foreseeable future.

Johnson signed with the Lakers' G League affiliate in South Bay in November after he was waived by the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.2 steals in six games before the Bulls brought him back in early December, but he never appeared in a game for Chicago.

Johnson signed his first 10-day contract with the Lakers on Christmas Eve. Los Angeles gave him another 10-day deal on Jan. 6. In nine games for the Lakers with five starts, he's averaging 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game. 

Los Angeles is Johnson's fourth team since he was drafted eighth overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2015. He also played for the New Orleans Pelicans and Toronto Raptors. The defensive specialist has never averaged 10 or more points in a season.

The Lakers are 21-22 and have lost their last three games. The team is coming off a 37-point loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, their largest defeat against the Nuggets. Los Angeles has struggled to find consistency throughout this season, as this current skid was preceded by a four-game winning streak.

The Lakers will look to get back on track on Monday in a home game against the Utah Jazz (28-14).

The Los Angeles Lakers have been arguably the most disappointing team in the NBA this season, and their star player knows it.

LeBron James apologized to Lakers fans Sunday and promised they will improve after a 21-22 start that includes three straight losses following Saturday's defeat at the hands of the Denver Nuggets:

Los Angeles came into this season with championship-or-bust expectations after overhauling the roster this past offseason and bringing in Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, among others.

Yet Anthony Davis is sidelined with a knee injury, and Westbrook has struggled with efficiency and overall fit while adjusting to an offense that also features James as a ball-dominant playmaker.

In fact, Westbrook is shooting 29.1 percent from deep while averaging 4.3 turnovers per game.

The result has been plenty of responsibility on James' 37-year-old shoulders, and his 36.7 minutes per game is his highest mark since he was on the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2017-18 campaign. 

He has responded well while averaging 28.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, but it is at least fair to wonder how fresh he will be during playoff time with more offensive responsibilities for a team that is fighting to make the postseason at this point.

The Lakers are seventh in the Western Conference and would be in the play-in tournament for the Nos. 7-10 seeds if the season ended with the current standings. That would mean they had to win an extra game just to get into the first round of the playoffs, where some of the best teams in the league will be waiting.

Los Angeles doesn't currently look ready to challenge the likes of the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns or even Memphis Grizzlies, but perhaps James' message will help spark a midseason surge.        

The Los Angeles Lakers have lost three in a row, including a 37-point blowout loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, but the players aren't giving up on the year.

"You can't stop believing that you're gonna win and just say, 'Ah, f--- it, let's give up,'" Howard told reporters after the game. "We know we've put ourselves in a pretty tough predicament, but all it takes is a couple games and some good energy and some positivity, so just got to stay as positive as we can."

This comes after harsh criticism from Lakers legend Magic Johnson regarding the team's effort:

With a 21-22 record on the season, the Lakers currently sit seventh in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles also ended last season as the No. 7 seed, winning the play-in game before losing in the first round to the Phoenix Suns.

There were higher expectations in 2021-22 after mostly overhauling the roster in the offseason. The team kept stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis while adding Russell Westbrook and proven veterans like Howard, Carmelo Anthony and DeAndre Jordan.

With younger contributors like Malik Monk and Talen Horton-Tucker also in the rotation, there appeared to be enough to get the squad back to title contention.

Injuries have been a problem, with James and Davis each missing over 10 games so far, but the squad has still struggled with an offense that ranks 24th in the NBA in efficiency while ranking 20th in defensive efficiency.    

Despite individual and team struggles this season, veteran guard Russell Westbrook has no regrets about getting traded to the Los Angeles Lakers during the offseason.

When asked if he had any regrets, Westbrook told Sam Amick of The Athletic: "No. Nah. I mean, not at all, because—like I told you—it's bigger than basketball for me."

While the Lakers hoped a Big Three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Westbrook would get them back to the top of the Western Conference, things haven't gone as planned, as the Lakers are seventh in the West with a disappointing 21-21 record.

L.A. parted with a great deal of depth in exchange for Westbrook, sending forward Kyle Kuzma, center Montrezl Harrell and guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Washington Wizards.

While the Lakers didn't have to move any stars to land Westbrook, it can be argued that their trade for the nine-time All-Star has been a loss.

In 42 games this season, Westbrook is averaging 18.7 points, which is his lowest scoring total since 2009-10, his second year in the league. The 33-year-old is also putting up 8.2 rebounds and 8.1 assists per contest, more in line with his career numbers.

Aside from that, Westbrook hasn't been efficient, shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 28.8 percent from beyond the arc while turning the ball over 4.4 times per game.

Westbrook's uneven play has had a role in the Lakers' inconsistency this season, but he isn't solely to blame.

Both James and Davis have missed time because of injuries. Given that the team is built on their backs, the Lakers can ill afford to lose them for any period of time.

LeBron has been healthy and highly productive as of late, but AD has been sorely missed, as he has sat the past 12 games with a knee injury and isn't due back anytime soon.

Davis is arguably the premier big in the NBA, and the Lakers don't have another player on the roster who can come close to replacing what he brings to the table.

AD's absence has put even more on the plate of James and Westbrook, and while James has risen to the occasion, Westbrook is still trying to find his way.

Westbrook came home to Los Angeles in search of the final accolade needed on his Hall of Fame resume: a championship.

It isn't outside the realm of possibility that the Lakers could get back to that level when Davis returns, but right now, they aren't playing championship-caliber basketball.

Cam Reddish is headed to the New York Knicks, but one of the NBA's other big-market teams was reportedly interested in him before the Atlanta Hawks sent him to the Big Apple.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported during Thursday's episode of NBA Today that the Los Lakers were interested in a Reddish deal prior to the trade to New York. Chris Kirschner and Fred Katz of The Athletic reported the Lakers offered Atlanta two second-round picks but the Eastern Conference team wanted a first-rounder.

Wojnarowski reported on the actual trade, noting the Hawks landed a protected 2022 first-round pick via the Charlotte Hornets and Kevin Knox II. The Knicks ended up with Solomon Hill and a 2025 second-round pick via the Brooklyn Nets.

It was somewhat surprising to see the Hawks move Reddish less than three years removed from their decision to select him with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, especially since he is averaging a career-best 11.9 points per game this season.

Yet the team is on the outside of the playoff picture looking in at 17-23 after last season's Eastern Conference Finals appearance and decided to make a change. There is also no shortage of depth on the wing thanks to the presence of Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.

Los Angeles' interest in Reddish was justifiable since he would be an ideal complementary piece alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

The Lakers need more outside shooting, especially with Westbrook's well-publicized struggles from beyond the arc. Reddish is hitting a career-best 37.9 percent of his shots from deep and could either provide a spark off the bench or play in the starting lineup if needed.

Malik Monk has played some of the best basketball of his career by taking advantage of the openings created by the attention Los Angeles' star players command from defenses, and Reddish could have done something similar.

Alas, he will be joining a Knicks team that the Hawks knocked out of the playoffs last season.

New York is battling with Atlanta and others for positioning near the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff picture but is 4-1 in its previous five games after Wednesday's blowout victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Reddish should be a boon to a short-handed Knicks backcourt that has endured lengthy injuries to Derrick Rose and Kemba Walker following Thursday's trade.       

Los Angeles Lakers star Russell Westbrook got the last word against the Sacramento Kings after the arena staffed trolled him Wednesday night. 

Westbrook struggled in his team's 125-116 road loss to Sacramento, finishing 2-of-14 from the field and 0-of-5 from three-point range.

The Kings responded by naming him the "Ice Cold Player of the Game" on the big screen, while the house DJ played the song "Cold As Ice" after missed shots, per TMZ Sports.

"That's funny," Westbrook said of the trolling after the game. "I hope they played that the last 14 years, too."

Even with the win, the Kings are still just 17-27 on the season and on pace for their 16th straight year with a losing record. The last time Sacramento made the playoffs was in 2006 when it suffered a first-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Kings might not be best placed to be making fun of anyone in the NBA.

Westbrook may be struggling with the Lakers, but the nine-time All-Star has reached the playoffs with his teams in 11 of the last 12 years. 

The second round of voting for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game looks a lot like the first round. 

Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the way. Curry is still the top vote-getter with 4,463,426 votes. 

Curry, James and Durant are the only players with more than 4 million votes after two rounds. 

The Golden State Warriors superstar also has the largest lead at his position among all players. Ja Morant is the No. 2 guard in the Western Conference with just over 1.6 million votes. 

Curry's status as the front-runner for MVP has taken a hit because of a recent cold streak. The seven-time All-Star is only shooting 32.9 percent from behind the arc in 13 games since Dec. 11, but he's still averaging 25.7 points per game during that span for the second-best team in the NBA. 

Durant remains an unstoppable force for the Nets. He leads the league in scoring average (29.7 points per game) and is shooting 50.9 percent from the field in eight games since clearing health and safety protocols. 

The race for the top spot in the Eastern Conference frontcourt is a two-man showdown between Durant and Antetokounmpo. The Brooklyn Nets star holds an edge of nearly 280,000 votes. 

Antetokounmpo trails only Durant and James in scoring average (28.4 points per game) this season. The reigning NBA Finals MVP also ranks sixth in rebounding (11.4) and is averaging a career-high 6.0 assists per game. 

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is also making a move up the leaderboard thanks to his recent hot streak. He has gained 1.1 million votes in the past week since the first round of voting was released. 

Even though the Sixers' seven-game winning streak was snapped by the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, Embiid has scored at least 30 points in eight straight games. The four-time All-Star is averaging 32.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 11 starts since Dec. 16. 

As great as Embiid has been recently, the hottest player in the NBA right now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. James has put up 34.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and is shooting 37.8 percent from three-point range in his past 12 starts. 

The Lakers have been a disappointment overall with a 21-21 record, but there is no denying that James is still capable of taking over a game like few players in the NBA. 

Fan voting for the All-Star Game will continue through Jan. 22. Starters will be revealed on Jan. 27, with reserves set to be announced on Feb. 3. 

The 2022 NBA All-Star Game will be played on Feb. 20 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. 

Coming into the season, the Los Angeles Lakers were viewed as a team that is built for the playoffs.

Knowing this, star forward LeBron James acknowledged that the Lakers would likely be in for some early-season struggles. In a conversation with Los Angeles forward Carmelo Anthony in training camp, James likened the situation to the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that went on to win the Super Bowl after a slow start to their season.

"Just from the standpoint of starting off slow and having new guys on the team. New system. ... And what made it beautiful for the Bucs is that once it came together, it came together and you saw what happened with that," Anthony told reporters on Tuesday, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

James made his prediction because of all the new pieces the Lakers added in the offseason. Los Angeles traded for star point guard Russell Westbrook and added a slew of veterans in Anthony, Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan and Trevor Ariza.

At the midway point of the season, James' premonition has come to fruition. The Lakers are 21-20 and are coming off a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in which they trailed by as many as 29 points.

Despite being in seventh place in the Western Conference, Anthony said the Lakers aren't panicking because they were ready to face the early-season woes.

"It was just kind of preparing ourselves for whatever happens, whatever comes along," Anthony said. "I think we were, I don't want to say prepared for those [difficult] moments and those times mentally and emotionally, but yeah, those were conversations that were happening."

Los Angeles has been without Davis for nearly four weeks as he recovers from a sprained MCL. The team is expected to provide an update on his status on Friday.

While the team isn't at full strength, Anthony said the comparison to the Buccaneers gives them a reason to stay optimistic about the season's outlook.

"I don't think it's something that we think about on a daily basis," he said. "We just have some type of analogy to compare it to, and what better team and what better situation to compare it to than what the Bucs did last year?"