The Golden State Warriors have built their identity on continuity, and Stephen Curry has spent his entire career inside that kind of structure. That’s part of what makes the current contrast with the Los Angeles Lakers so striking. While Golden State has leaned into sameness, the Lakers are once again dealing with a major ownership shift, and Luka Doncic is the one trying to make sense of it all.
As first reported by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne on Wednesday, American businessmen Josh Kushner and Bob Iger are buying the Lakers from Mark Walter, who had only recently purchased the franchise from the Buss family last year. It is another huge turn in a short stretch for a team that already landed Doncic early last year in one of the biggest bombshell trades in NBA history.
Doncic’s presence has already pushed the Lakers into a full roster reset this offseason. The front office has spent the summer reshaping the team around the Slovenian star, making a series of free-agent moves highlighted by the sign-and-trade addition of former Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler.
“Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA. I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to…”
That kind of constant movement is part of the challenge now. Building success takes alignment from top to bottom, and it gets tougher when the voices at the top keep changing. Whether this latest ownership move ultimately affects what happens on the floor remains to be seen, but it is another significant moment in Lakers history.
The pressure is also different because Doncic is not Curry. Curry is a homegrown star who has spent his career in Golden State. Doncic, by contrast, is 27 and under guaranteed contract for only two more seasons, which means the Lakers have to get this right if they want to keep him committed long term.
Golden State, meanwhile, has gone so far in the other direction that its stability is starting to look like stagnation. The Warriors brought back the same roster this summer and went through the first six weeks of free agency without signing a single rival player. That refusal, or inability, to shake things up has only fueled more questions about Curry’s future.
Even general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. acknowledged on Tuesday that the Warriors would listen if Curry asked out. That’s where things stand now: one franchise in the middle of another sweeping change, the other so locked into its habits that it is raising doubts about its biggest star.
Wednesday’s Lakers ownership news only sharpened the comparison. Right now, the Warriors and Lakers sit at opposite ends of the continuity spectrum, and there’s a case to be made that both are still searching for the right balance between stability and change.
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Joe Lacob Just Reopened A Painful Warriors Draft Debate
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Joe Lacob recently stepped back into that conversation by defending the decision to draft Kuminga, saying he does not consider it a mistake even with the forward no longer on the roster. The timing makes the topic linger a little longer, too, with Kuminga still unsigned several weeks into free agency and now being mentioned as a possible target for the Los Angeles Lakers. [Read more 🡒]
Juan Toscano-Anderson Still Means Something Special To Oakland Fans
Juan Toscano-Andersons return to Oakland this week carried the kind of easy familiarity that has made him a favorite far beyond his box score value. He took part in the unveiling of a refurbished basketball court and mural at the OK Program of Oakland, a nonprofit centered on mentoring Black youth, and used the moment to speak about his path to the NBA and the pride that comes with representing your hometown.
Toscano-Anderson also spent time on the court with the kids, mixing conversation with a little basketball and spending time with program leaders and participants. For Warriors fans who still connect him with the citys basketball roots, it was another reminder that his bond with Oakland is about more than the memories he made there as a player. [Read more 🡒]