The Lakers keep stacking wins, and that was enough for Skip Bayless to take a shot at LeBron James while the conversation around Los Angeles turned to its hot start.
After Monday’s 124-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks, the Lakers moved to 10-2, which is the best record in the NBA. Austin Reaves sat out against Atlanta, but Luka Doncic was back in the lineup and carried the load with 32 points and 10 assists.
Bayless, who has never exactly hidden his feelings about James, used the moment to poke at the former Lakers star. “The Los Angeles Lakers now have the NBA's best record. No, they do not miss him,” Bayless posted on X, formerly Twitter.
James spent eight seasons in Los Angeles before leaving this summer and signing with the Philadelphia 76ers. Philly has started strong too, sitting at 9-2 and holding the best record in the East, so the move has worked out for both sides so far.
There’s also real substance behind Bayless’ jab. The Lakers have fully shifted into a Luka Doncic-led team, and the early returns have been loud. Doncic is putting together the best stretch of his career, leading the league with 39.3 points per game while also averaging 7.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists.
Reaves has stepped into a bigger role as a reliable second option, putting up 25 points per game. And the Lakers’ gamble on Walker Kessler, described as Doncic’s preferred type of center, has paid off as well, with Kessler averaging 14.4 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
So while Los Angeles doesn’t look like it’s missing LeBron, James has landed in a place that fits him well in Philadelphia. Right now, it looks like a win-win.
In Other News...
Stephen A. Smith Just Reframed His LeBron James Feud
Stephen A. Smith has reopened a chapter Lakers fans know well, but this time the tone is noticeably different. The ESPN personality publicly revisited his long-running feud with LeBron James and said he no longer carries ill feelings, even as he reflected on how the dispute escalated after his critical remarks about Bronny James and the confrontation that followed at a Lakers game.
Smith also made clear he recognizes James place in the game, calling attention to his greatness and saying he wants to move past the disagreement as the end of James career draws closer. For a rivalry that had become as much about public posture as basketball, the shift matters because it suggests the noise around LeBron may finally be giving way to something closer to closure, even if one lingering detail still hangs over the story. [Read more 🡒]
Austin Reaves Turned A Heated Lakers Moment Into Something Detroit Hated
Austin Reaves had one of those nights in Detroit where the noise around him could have easily taken over the game, but he kept his focus where it needed to be. A courtside heckler tried to get under his skin during the Lakers Nov. 8 matchup with the Pistons, and Reaves answered the only way that mattered, by staying composed and carrying Los Angeles through a tough road win while Luka Doncic watched from the sideline.
One of the more memorable moments came on a banked-in three-pointer that Reaves said had a little of Doncics flavor to it, which fit the strange rhythm of the night. The Lakers got the result they wanted in Detroit, and then Doncic came back in the next game against the Hawks to help lead another win, giving the team a quick reminder of how dangerous it can be when its stars and supporting pieces are both rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Just Proved This Streak Is Bigger Than Missing Pieces
The Lakers kept rolling against Atlanta even without Austin Reaves in the lineup because of illness and Quentin Grimes sidelined by a finger issue, a reminder that this winning stretch has started to look less dependent on any one missing piece. Luka Doncic carried the offense with 32 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks, while Walker Kessler added 21 points and 10 rebounds as Los Angeles found enough firepower to extend its run to six straight.
What stood out just as much was the support behind them, with the bench chipping in 49 points to keep the pressure on throughout the night. For a team already navigating absences, that kind of depth matters, and it gives the Lakers another reason to believe this surge is built on more than just a hot hand at the top of the rotation. [Read more 🡒]