Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have three players in the Locked On rankings of the top 100 NBA players. Luka Dončić (4), LeBron James (12) and Austin Reaves (58). They're the only team with an ultra elite player in Luka, and a (basically) top 10 guy in LeBron. Add in Reaves, and it's not a bad core. But how does that compare to the rest of the conference? Do the Lakers have similar balance to the competition, even if their talent at the very top might be better? How much two way talent do they have, even with the additions of Marcus Smart and an improvement at center in Deandre Ayton? Compare that to OKC, who has a host of legitimate two way guys, the Nuggets, who feature a few names on the list, all of whom (save Jamal Murray) can play on both sides of the ball. Houston was a great defensive team last year, and even after moving Dillon Brooks should be once again this season. So what kind of roster balance do the Lakers have? What's the relative advantage with fit vs. overall talent? How much of both do the Lakers have relative to the competition? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Three in the Top 100! SEGMENT 2: What kind of balance do the Lakers have? SEGMENT 3: How does what the Lakers have match up with the rest of the conference? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Tee up that trip! Enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament* in the USA. Visit 5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Master’s tournament. Ends October 31, 2025. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Player rankings can be an irritating exercise, because in most ways theres rarely much functional difference between the 13th and 14th best player in the league, and certainly not the 73rd and 74th. What can be meaningful, however, are player tiers. Guys can be grouped together in ways that make a little more sense in terms of impact. There are God-level stars, and regular stars. There are All-Stars and near-All-Stars. So as the season creeps towards us, the Locked On Network has put together its list of the best 100 players in the NBA. Three Lakers make the cut. (You can guess which ones...) -Luka Dončić, 4th. -LeBron James, 12th. -Austin Reaves, 58th. Luka is up in the super-elite group with Jokic, Shai and Giannis. LeBron is in that next tier down (for what it's worth, your hosts both had him in the top 10). And there's something special about that über-elite level guy that can cover a lot of sins. The Lakers are the only team to have someone at that level, plus another at LeBron's. Add in Austin Reaves at 58 and LA has a good amount of representation. But is it the right kind? Is it distributed as needed, from a skill set standpoint? Does it really matter, when the two guys headlining the thing are Luka and LeBron? Meanwhile, the Lakers have added guys who wouldn't be that far outside the top 100 in Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, and have Rui Hachimura, who has developed into a very reliable frontcourt shooter. All Stars? No, but in Ayton and Smart the Lakers are making major upgrades over what they had last year. So put it all together, and can you say the Lakers might be a little underrated? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get three guys in the Locked On Top 100. SEGMENT 2: What it means to have Luka and LeBron. SEGMENT 3: Are the Lakers underrated? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Tee up that trip! Enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament* in the USA. Visit 5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Master’s tournament. Ends October 31, 2025. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Luka Dončić has gotten progressively better game to game throughout Eurobasket, helping Slovenia get on a hot streak. Sunday against Italy in the Round of 16, Luka put in his best effort of the competition, finishing with 42 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. He throttled the Italians, basically accounting for half of Slovenia's offense. He continued drawing fouls, getting to the line 16 times. All in all, his performance is ramping up as the tourney goes along, and he gets more comfortable and gets more minutes under his belt. Even as the competition gets more intense and the quality rises. All of this contributes to add to the "Summer of Luka," and while Lakers fans obviously can't project with precision how Luka's performance for Slovenia will carry through into the regular season (not that they won't try), one thing that is unquestionably true: Everything that's happened this offseason is a) likely beyond the best case scenario envisioned by Lakers management for the summer, and b) increasing the already incredibly high level of anticipation about his presence on the team. In many ways, it reinforces the notion that the Luka Era really began at the end of last season, not necessarily when he was traded to the Lakers. Meanwhile, the Basketball HOF had its induction ceremony over the weekend, and Dwight Howard was there as a first-ballot HOFer. Why does that seem to surprise and anger a certain element of the fan base? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka lights up Italy. SEGMENT 2: How this impacts the dawn of the Luka Era in LA. SEGMENT 3: Why is there resistance to Dwight Howard in getting in the HOF first ballot? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Tee up that trip! Enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament* in the USA. Visit 5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Master’s tournament. Ends October 31, 2025. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Pablo Torre broke a crazy potential scandal involving Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Ballmer and some suspicious money. NBA Squad breaks down all that we know, what this could mean for the league and much more! Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nba Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nba Follow the Locked On Podcast Network Twitter 📲 https://twitter.com/LockedOnNetwork TikTok 📲 https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonsports Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! | Offers: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/offers/ #NBA #Basketball #Podcast #NBAPodcast #Sports #SportsPodcast

Luka Dončić is rounding into form at exactly the right time for Slovenia at Eurobasket. He put up 37 points and was a dime away from a triple-double as the Slovenias won 106-96. They'd already advanced to the Round of 16, but now do so on a two-game win streak, and with Luka looking outstanding. Lakers fans, of course, are primarily concerned about how Luka's play in the tournament might foreshadow something good once the NBA season starts, and to that end it's worth noting that Slovenia's last two games were Luka's strongest in terms of getting into the paint and to the rim. Over the last few years, it's something Luka has progressively done less of, and his detractors used it as an indication that he wasn't as explosive as he had been... and maybe the weight had a role. So the idea Luka might put a stop to, or even reverse that trend is encouraging for Lakers fans. Meanwhile, more bad news for the Clippers, as additional reporting (this time from the network's own John Karalis!) indicates that the endorsement deal received by Kawhi Leonard, reportedly given in an effort to circumvent the salary cap, may have been more lucrative than thought when the story was broken by Pablo Torre on Wednesday. Ballmer went on ESPN Thursday to defend himself and the organization (done before we taped the show) but things are looking... not great for the LAC right now. Finally, are the Lakers better off adding another superstar to go with Luka, or would it be better to build with one star and a bunch of really good, B/B+ type guys? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka crushes it vs. Israel. SEGMENT 2: KawhiGate gets messier. SEGMENT 3: How should the Lakers build around Luka? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Wednesday, news broke that Kawhi Leonard was the reported beneficiary of an endorsement deal that would, to say the least, run afoul of NBA regulations. The reporting from Pablo Torre Finds Out sent shockwaves through the league, and prompted strong denials from the Clippers. The NBA says they'll launch an investigation. So what happens now? And what happens if, in fact, Torre's reporting is verified by more sources? Plus... MAILBAG! Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Listener Survey We’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

How transformational has the Summer of Luka Dončić been? Not just for Luka himself, but for for the Lakers? And how they plan to approach the future? It's hard to argue that the Lakers haven't watched the best case scenario play out this offseason, insofar as Luka is concerned. New body, new contract (signed the first moment possible), recruiting efforts for the front office and a dominant performance in Eurobasket. So are the Lakers planning to aggressively build around Luka now (or at least at the first opportunity) or is the plan to be patient no matter what? For next summer, or even the summer of 2027? These are questions we discuss with Anthony Irwin, host of the Lakers Lounge, former host of this space, and Senior Lakers Insider at Clutchpoints. We cover a lot of key issues from the summer, diving deep into where we think the squad is heading from a personnel and team building standpoint, using someone like Rui Hachimura -- extension eligible -- as a great test case. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Summer of Luka! SEGMENT 2: What kind of team are they trying to build? SEGMENT 3: Is the plan to stay flexible? If so, why? Listener Survey We’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Slovenia is 1-2 in Eurobasket play, but Luka Dončić is 3-3. Meaning he's had three games, and all of them have been outstanding. That trend continued over the weekend, as Slovenia lost against tourney favorite France and then registered its first win, coming against Belgium. Against the French, Luka nearly had a triple double, keeping the Slovenians in the game longer than many expected, then did get a trip dub (a rarity in Eurobasket). For Slovenia to advance, they'll need wins in their final two games of pool play, against Iceland and Israel. While there are plenty of Luka/Slovenia fans who hope that happens, are those fans who are "Lakers first" really pining for Slovenia to get through? Especially given a couple of legit injury scares in the first few games of the tournament? On the court, though, Dončić is thriving, particularly when it comes to getting into the paint and drawing fouls. He went to the line 20 times against the French, who sport four active NBA players and a few others with NBA experience. Finally, we open up the mailbag to talk about JJ Redick and whether or not he's predisposed to go small at the expense not just of centers, but centers who are better than the guys he plays instead. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka continues to thrive in Eurobasket. SEGMENT 2: Do Lakers fans want Slovenia to advance? SEGMENT 3: Is JJ too dedicated to "going small?" Listener Survey We’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Slovenia kicked off its Eurobasket competition against Poland—one of the host nations—Thursday. A tough draw for sure against a fired up local crowd. Many Lakers fans are undoubtedly pulling for Slovenia right now, because they're pulling for Luka Dončić... ...but on the other hand, a lot of them are more pulling for Luka. And man alive, did Luka come through. Dončić put up a gaudy numbers even as Slovenia lost. 34 points, including 17/18 from the free throw line, plus nine assists and five steals. The court vision was great, he was able to get into the heart of a Polish defense that was, to say the least, overplaying him. So at least when it comes to LA's star, it was so far, so good. Meanwhile, Lakers governor Jeanie Buss gave an interview to Slovenian radio in which she recounted the unusual nature of Luka's arrival, and particularly the unusual nature of his emotional state. It explains a lot about why Dončić couldn't quite hit the level fans (and even he, likely) hoped for after the trade. Good, yes. But not top form. Finally, it's a question that comes up a lot. Should Austin Reaves come off the bench? There are a few reasons to give it a shot, unlikely as it is to actually happen... but would the Lakers perhaps have a little extra incentive to make Reaves a sixth man? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka dominates against Poland, but Slovenia loses. SEGMENT 2: Jeanie on Luka's arrival. SEGMENT 3: A.R. as 6th Man? Listener Survey We’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

He's signed the contract. He's not going anywhere anytime soon. But the Lakers certainly aren't resting on their laurels. As Slovenia prepares to start Eurobasket play Thursday afternoon against Poland, the Lakers brass, starting with Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka, stopped by practice to show support. They took photos. Pelinka released a statement, making it very clear how much the organization supported Luka in this moment that is so important to him. And if it's important to Luka, it's important to the Lakers. That's how it works, now. It wasn't something the Lakers needed to do, but it was smart to hop on a plane and cross an ocean to support their guy. It's a good look, it's smart business. It's the type of extra step the Lakers have historically taken for its stars, and now Luka is on the receiving end. Meanwhile, we open the mailbag, starting with ... Luka questions! Can Dončić play the type of defense that would allow him to be seen as teh league's best player? Even better than Nikola Jokic? (Or if not better, really close?) If he plays at an MVP level, and LeBron is, say, Top 8 or so again this year, how many games does it mean the team has won? What about the pick-and-roll combination of Luka and Deandre Ayton? How potent might it become? And what kind of offense should Lakers fans expect from JJ Redick this season, more broadly? Finally, is the Laker most likely to ask for a trade not the guy most media are thinking of? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers make a smart trip to Poland. SEGMENT 2: Luka on D, Luka as MVP. SEGMENT 3: Who asks for a trade? Listener Survey We’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

One good way to measure how confident the NBA pundit class is in the Lakers is to look at offseason predictions around things like awards. And by that standard, the Lakers are doing ok. Luka Dončić finished second behind Nikola Jokic (who is pretty good!) in a preseason MVP handicapping, as judged by a panel of ESPN experts. For that to happen, first and foremost Luka needs to put up big numbers, something similar to what he did in Dallas a couple seasons ago. And second, the Lakers have to be very, very competitive. If they're middling around the Western Conference, struggling to stay relevant in the playoff race, Luka isn't sniffing an MVP. As for the first part of that, Skinny Luka looks like he's primed to perform. As for the second? As we've discussed on the show, the Lakers won 50 games last year. They're better than the version that finished the season, post trade. So assuming the right folks stay out of street clothes, they should be good enough this year to keep Luka in the conversation. Meanwhile, the Lakers (not surprisingly) were a popular vote for "Team Turmoil." In related news, LeBron James was third among players in the "Next Superstar to Request a Trade..." category. Obviously those things are related. But here's the thing... the circumstances for the Lakers to be "Team Turmoil" are hard to fathom (for reasons we explain) and if things don't go to pot (which, save injury, feel unlikely for reasons we explain) LeBron James IS NOT GOING TO ASK OUT. And, you guessed it, we explain why. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka is an early MVP fave. SEGMENT 2: What has to happen for Luka to be in the race. SEGMENT 3: Some people REALLY want LeBron to be LeDrama this year. Listener Survey We’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

For gamers, at least, it's a big day -- when the NBA 2K rankings start leaking out. (Big day for content creators, too, since it comes in the dog days of August.) So were the Game Gods appropriately respectful to the Lakers? Broadly, yes. Luka Dončić and LeBron James are among the league's top 10 (virtual) players. Austin Reaves was in the top 50. So basically these rankings pretty closely mirror those we just saw out of The Ringer, for example. So things seem to be properly aligned there. And meanwhile, the leaked rankings do seem to bolster the argument the Lakers have better depth this season, with guys like Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton cracking 80. As for the team? The Lakers are placed as a "Tier 1" group, though near the back end of that bunch. Which, if we're all being fair, is about what it should be. They're seen to be potentially potent offensively, and shaky on the other end. Again, sounds about right. So hard to argue with the preseason evaluation of the simulated Lakers, at least. We'll see how things go for the real club. Meanwhile, Warner Brothers is reportedly in development for a Kobe Bryant related movie... and they're doing it smartly. In part, by not making it just about Kobe, and then by avoiding having to stage too much basketball. We explain. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The 2K rankings are out! SEGMENT 2: What's the right way to make a Kobe movie? SEGMENT 3: Is Warner Bros. on the right track? Listener Survey We’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Apparently, the Golden State Warriors are not entirely out of the LeBron James business. Jake Fischer, who works for the outstanding Stein Line Substack, noted over the weekend how the interest in LeBron James from the Golden State Warriors—which was certainly has been a low hum in the NBA discourse for a long time, getting louder periodically—hasn't gone away. Golden State will apparently be kicking the tires on LBJ for a while longer. It's a reminder that the speculation around LeBron, which is a constant anyway, is only going to get louder. Now it's not a forgone conclusion that James leaves LA after this season, for reasons explored in the episode. And it's highly unlikely, short of a catastrophic turn of events for the Lakers, that he's traded during the season (again, for reasons explained on the show). And even as a free agent, James might find that, depending on how his priorities truly shake out, the best spot for him is still the Lakers (for... wait for it... reasons explained in the episode). That news may not excite a certain section of the fanbase, no question. Meanwhile, it was a big Kobe Bryant weekend, with his birthday (8.23) followed by Kobe Day (8.24). Which got us thinking, in the spirit of the LeBron vs. Kobe rivalry the NBA could never quite make happen on the floor, but that certainly gained traction off it, where are the next great player rivalries? Is the league not as well-constructed for that type of thing now? Could the Lakers now be in a new "Rivalry Era" with Luka in the fold and the potential to generate more repeat playoff matchups with the same stars in competition with each other? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: LBJ rumors aren't going to stop. SEGMENT 2: Where is LeBron going to be able to go? SEGMENT 3: Rivalries! Listener Survey We’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Lakers are, barring something unexpected, considered to be set for training camp, in terms of the roster. But that said, is there the potential for anything unexpected? Sacramento is trying desperately to unload Malik Monk (a former fave of Lakers fans, if only for a short time) so they can pick up Russell Westbrook. (That's an odd choice, we think, but a bigger question for Matt George at Locked On Kings.) Understanding that the mechanics of a Westbrook deal would be difficult to manage (remember, Sacto is trying to open up a spot, so a 1-1 trade likely doesn't work), would Monk be a welcome addition? More specifically, would Monk be the type of player worth sacrificing part of the flexibility Rob Pelinka so clearly values? It gets down to your POV about roster building... and also about the current team. Are players (and their contracts) worth more than cap space? Do the Lakers have the confidence to acquire players they think will have appeal on the open market, if they need to be moved again? Is it worth sacrificing flexibility later for guys (whether Monk or someone else) who can help win now? This is a conversation that will be happening a lot, especially as the Lakers get closer to this year's trade deadline. In the meantime, we can all enjoy Eurobasket, which is set to start next week now that everyone is all finished up with their warm up games... or at least Slovenia is. They, and Luka, took one on the chin Thursday against Serbia. Luka, who absorbed a tremendous amount of attention from the opposition, again struggled from the perimeter (2-10 from 3-point range) but managed overall to still put up a solid line with 17 points and multiple trips to the FT line. That, by the way, is something to watch. Luka hasn't been as successful getting to and finishing at the rim as he was earlier in his career. Will his physical transformation change that trend? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Why Luka gets it. SEGMENT 2: Slovenia takes one on the chin. SEGMENT 3: Malik Monk? Would that be a good idea for the Lakers? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Files

The Lakers are in an interesting spot. On the one hand, they were dumped rather unceremoniously from the playoffs by the Timberwolves last spring. The perception, at least in some circles, is that they didn't make any big swings in the offseason. Nothing glamorous, managing only to acquire a couple of distressed assets (Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart) while a big piece (Dorian Finney-Smith) went to Houston. On the other hand, while the new guys might not be All Stars, even with some of the shine off their proverbial apples, those two still fill critical holes the Lakers played with in the postseason, and represent significant upgrades. Meanwhile, they have a top five guy in Luka Dončić and a top 10 guy in LeBron James. And they won 50 games last year, finishing as a three-seed in a brutally competitive Western Conference. So are they paying a "Lakers Tax" when it comes to perception? Both of the team's offseason, and its standing in the West? And finally, LeBron is up for (yet another) extremely cool milestone this year. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Are the Lakers being overrated or underrated? SEGMENT 2: Let's be fair to Deandre Ayton SEGMENT 3: LeBron and Kareem records. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Everyone can exhale. After last weekend's injury scare for Luka Donćić, he was indeed back in action on Tuesday in Slovenia's Eurobasket prep exhibition against Great Britain. Just being healthy enough to play was encouraging (yes, it was reported that he was fine, but people want to see the evidence) but it was even better to see Luka dominate. In just over 28 minutes of play, he had 28 points (7-17 shooting, dragged down by a 2-11 mark from 3-point range, but boosted by 14 trips to the FT line), along with six rebounds and 10 assists. So once again, things are looking good, and it's a lot easier to once again focus on the potential for a huge year from Luka. The Lakers are also still holding out for big things from Dalton Knecht, even if others are more skeptical. To that point, The Athletic did a re-draft of the 2024 class, and Knecht, who was seen as a steal last summer but took some knocks as the year went along, following it all up with a less-than-stellar Summer League run. Knecht wasn't even in the top 20 of the re-draft, even in a class that wasn't considered that strong. So is it fair? Even if it's fair, does it "mean" anything? What can the Lakers reasonably expect from Knecht this year and going forward? What is the best case scenario? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka looks good against Great Britain. SEGMENT 2: Knecht falls in the re-draft... SEGMENT 3: Big questions around the rotation? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

As promising as the pairing of Luka Dončić with LeBron James and Austin Reaves seemed following last winter's trade, the Lakers never really managed to find a great rhythm, or post the type of production folks expected. One example of that? The lack of production in the pick and roll, especially with Luka and LeBron in the action. According to ESPN, the Lakers only had the two of them as the pairing in P&Rs 4.4 times per 100 possessions. That number went up in the playoffs, but isn't nearly high enough. And especially when you factor in Austin Reaves, the three of them should be working off each other far more frequently than what was happening last season. Not just in those sets, but in a variety of options. The capacity for all three of those guys, starting with Luka and working down to Reaves, to do unique things based on high hoops IQs, ball distribution and so on is high. So how hard will it be for JJ Redick to unlock all of this? How much will training camp impact these questions? Meanwhile, the Lakers have another question about Rui Hachimura, and what his future might look like in Los Angeles. According to Jovan Buha, the Lakers aren't expected to offer him a contract extension going into this season, given how much they're emphasizing flexibility next summer. That doesn't mean Rui's gone either during this season or after, but clearly the Lakers don't see him as so critical that they'll change the plan. So what does that say about their plan, though? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Can the Lakers maximize the "Big Three?" SEGMENT 2: What are the challenges that come with getting the most out of them? SEGMENT 3: Should the Lakers extend Rui Hachimura? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Lakers got their first big scare of the offseason, when Luka Dončić had to leave this weekend's game for Slovenia against Latvia (after lighting up the Latvians in the first half). It made for some scary Tweets, but in the end, turned out (we think) to be ok. Dončić reportedly wanted to go back into the game and was held back. He's reportedly already practicing again, and isn't expected to miss Eurobasket action. Now, this type of thing scares the **** out of the Lakers and Lakers fans. But it's also something everyone needs to get used to, because summertime international play is part of the Luka experience. And will be most offseasons. It's another reason this question of fitness and diet is so important. These games may not count on his NBA ledger, but they count for his body. It's additional wear that has to be accounted for. So two things - first, fans can be excited by the 26 point first half Luka posted before exiting the game, but they can also freak out over every injury scare like this one. But this is the world the Lakers live in. Time to get used to it! Meanwhile, Pat Riley is getting a statue this year. Can't imagine fans would argue about that, but it begs the question, who's next? How many people are still in the queue? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka gets an injury scare prepping for Eurobasket. SEGMENT 2: Why the fitness matters SEGMENT 3: Riley gets a statue! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

It's not exactly the summer equivalent of Christmas Day -- that's the start of free agency -- but without question Schedule Drop Day is always a big one in NBA circles. Who's on TV the most? Where are the big matchups? How many back-to-backs? Where are the big rivalry games? Thursday, we started to get those answers, as the NBA (after leaking some of the big event day games) finally put out the whole thing. As for the Lakers, there's no way you can look at a Western Conference schedule and not think, "wow, that's brutal," but all that aside did the schedule gods make things even harder? How many long trips? Challenging travel in B2B's? Do they open with a home heavy schedule? Finish with a ton on the road? And when are some of the big event games -- like the night Pat Riley's statute gets unveiled outside Crypto.com? (Which always begs the question, who gets the next one?) So much intrigue and so many questions for a season that's still weeks away. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Schedule reaction! SEGMENT 2: Where the Lakers have the biggest challenges. SEGMENT 3: The Riley statue and statues to follow. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Lakers made some news this week, hiring Jeremy Holsopple to be their next strength and conditioning guru. Holsopple, who worked in Dallas for a long time (stretching across the Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Dončić eras), is well-regarded in league circles, and just as importantly, has a great relationship with Luka. That seems to play into why Holsopple was let go by the Mavs. But should Lakers fans be excited by the addition, beyond the idea of making Luka happy? What exactly do strength and conditioning coaches do, anyway, and how easy is it to tell if they're doing it well? How do they fit into a larger player health architecture, and are the Lakers finally, after years of turnover, making some progress in this area? We answer these questions and many, many more with Jeff Stotts, certified athletic trainer, the founder of instreetclothes.com and one of the more respected voices around the NBA on player health and injuries. He's a big fan of the hire, and believes it's a good sign for the direction of the team in this area. Stotts also weighs in on how Luka's big summertime transformation could impact him this year and beyond, what we might expect from LeBron physically, and why injuries might be spiking around the league, despite more attention than ever to player fitness, the physiology of basketball, and things like load management. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Who is Jeremy Holsopple? And what do strength and conditioning coaches do, anyway? SEGMENT 2: How Luka's new body impacts him now and down the road. SEGMENT 3: LeBron, NBA injuries and more. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)