Evan Mobley
January 2026
Mobley has a calf strain and is expected to miss one to three weeks, with Cleveland preparing for a road trip after hosting the Lakers. Tightness after the Magic game led to imaging confirmation; Mobley previously missed time with a Grade 1 calf strain and recently became the youngest Cavs player to reach 500 career blocks.
Deandre Ayton
January 2026
Ayton posted 25 points on 10-for-10 shooting with 13 rebounds to power a 110-93 Lakers win, joining a small group of Lakers to hit 10 shots without a miss with 10-plus rebounds. With Toronto undersized, the Lakers repeatedly fed Ayton on lobs and close finishes, keeping all attempts inside eight feet; Redick emphasised rewarding bigs who screen and roll, while Doncic said Ayton’s focus on both ends raises the team’s ceiling heading into a long road trip.
Los Angeles Lakers
January 2026
Lakers produced their most complete performance with season-high threes and assists, but the same volatility showed up with turnovers and mid-game lapses, raising the consistency question again. A pregame meeting reset focus, stars drove playmaking, then fatigue and pace triggered a shaky stretch before a big fourth-quarter close, with Redick pointing to daily commitment as the gap between ceiling games and week-to-week reliability.
Anthony Edwards
January 2026
Edwards became the third-youngest player to reach 10,000 career points during Minnesota’s 131-122 win over Cleveland, joining a short list of under-25 scorers. He reached the mark in his fourth-quarter minutes after a strong all-around night. His pace ranks among the fastest for active players, and he is now one of the few Timberwolves ever to cross 10,000 points.
LeBron James
January 2026
LeBron said every remaining back-to-back this season is uncertain, citing age and workload, even after another 30-point performance and strong fourth-quarter burst in a road win. He framed decisions as day-to-day management rather than a fixed plan, balancing elite output with recovery. The comments signal the Lakers will keep monitoring his body and likely prioritize rest when the schedule compresses.
Russell Westbrook
December 2025
Russell Westbrook climbed to seventh on the NBA’s all-time assists list, passing Magic Johnson with his 10,142nd dime and finishing the night on 10,149. He also recorded his 2,000th career steal, becoming only the 14th player in league history to reach that mark. The Kings guard, a former MVP and three-time assists leader, now has realistic chances to leapfrog Mark Jackson and Steve Nash this season, while also chasing Mookie Blaylock and Karl Malone in career steals. The double milestone underlines his long-term playmaking and defensive impact despite changing roles late in his career.
NBA
December 2025
The NBA’s Christmas Day schedule will showcase nine of the league’s ten most-viewed players across official social platforms, underlining how star power drives fan attention. Dončić, Wembanyama, Curry, James and others headline five nationally televised games, continuing an 18-year run of a full holiday slate. Cavaliers vs Knicks, Spurs vs Thunder, Mavericks vs Warriors, Rockets vs Lakers and Timberwolves vs Nuggets form the broadcast lineup on ABC and ESPN. Only Giannis Antetokounmpo from the social top ten is absent, as the league uses its biggest digital draws to maximise Christmas audiences and commercial impact.
Ivica Zubac
December 2025
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac will miss several weeks after suffering a Grade 2 sprain to his left ankle, having landed awkwardly on LeBron James’ foot during the first quarter of a 103-88 win over the Lakers at the Intuit Dome. Zubac left the game after posting five points and two rebounds in 11 minutes, with scans confirming significant ligament damage, and the 28-year-old’s absence deprives the Clippers of a double-double machine who anchors their interior defense and has been central to their frontcourt identity.
Luka Dončić
December 2025
Luka Dončić left the Lakers’ derby defeat to the Clippers at halftime with a left leg contusion, cutting short the NBA’s leading scorer’s night after 19 minutes and 12 points and adding fresh concern over his fitness in an already injury hit Los Angeles squad. Coach JJ Redick said he noticed Dončić limping in the second quarter but could not offer a timeline, while LeBron James called injuries the worst part of sport as the Lakers juggle absences for Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Austin Reaves and search for stability in the Western Conference race.
Luka Dončić
December 2025
LeBron James hailed “Luka magic” after Dončić torched the Jazz for a 45-point triple-double, leading the Lakers to a 143-135 win and a 10-0 record in clutch games this season. Dončić added 14 assists, 11 rebounds and five steals while committing just one turnover. Despite tight officiating and constant traps, Dončić controlled crunch time, setting up Jaxson Hayes and Marcus Smart for key buckets and trading words with courtside fans as the Lakers closed out. Team-mates praised his composure, and Luka said he still sees room to improve.