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.
Caitlin Clark
January 2026
Clark will appear on NBC’s pregame coverage for the launch of “Sunday Night Basketball” for Lakers vs Knicks, then return for Knicks vs Thunder. NBC positions Clark as a major crossover draw, noting her existing NBC appearances and a marketing relationship with Xfinity under Comcast’s NBCUniversal umbrella.
Luka Doncic
January 2026
Doncic said the Dallas return felt easier emotionally than last year as he posted 33 points and 11 assists and the Lakers beat the Mavericks 116-110, continuing his unbeaten run against Dallas since the trade. He briefly walked toward the wrong locker at halftime before turning back, and noted lingering emotions while acknowledging support from fans and people in Dallas. The crowd response was calmer than earlier in the season, with “MVP” chants replacing prior “Fire Nico” chants tied to resentment over the trade.
Kawhi Leonard
January 2026
Leonard returned after missing three games and scored 24 points as the Clippers beat the Lakers 112-104. He slotted back in immediately, continuing a high-scoring run and maintaining a season average cited as a career best through 30 games.
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.
Dennis Schröder
January 2026
Schröder received a three-game unpaid suspension for confronting and attempting to strike another player in an arena hallway about 40 minutes after a loss to the Lakers. The NBA disciplined him after the postgame altercation; he begins serving the ban in the next Kings game, sidelining him for three contests.
Dennis Schröder
January 2026
Schröder was banned three games without pay for confronting and attempting to strike another player in an arena hallway after a Kings loss. The NBA said Schröder sought out the player roughly 40 minutes after the game and initiated the incident. The suspension starts with Sacramento’s next game against Houston.
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.
Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo
December 2025
The first 2026 NBA All-Star fan returns have Luka Dončić leading all players in votes, while Giannis Antetokounmpo tops the Eastern Conference. The current top fives include Nikola Jokić, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama in the West. Fan voting counts for 50% of starter selection, with players and media at 25% each, and voting is positionless. Dec. 30 is a 3-for-1 day, with the next update on Jan. 6. The Feb. 15 game uses a U.S., U.S., and World round-robin format.
