Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Wednesday's season opening win over the Warriors was notable for more than just the smack talk between Luka Dončić and Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Although that's definitely getting a lot of attention.
There's also the matter of what Luka did before the game. It started with a full page ad in the LA Times, thanking Lakers fans for their support of the team, and what he says they will work to make a championship effort. Luka also took care of parking at the arena for 150 or so fans, This is on top of donations to wildfire relief, the reconstruction of Kobe murals, and other acts for his new community in LA.
Doncic has said he hopes to retire a Laker, and is behaving like a guy who believes a meaningful connection to the city is important.
Austin Reaves, in a conversation with Melissa Rohlin of the California Post, was asked about the difference between Luka's reception/relationship with Lakers fans and LeBron James's, having played and developed good relationships with both. (Obviously he and Luka are now besties.) Austin noted that LeBron arrived in LA with a context that made it harder for fans to embrace him. Austin's comment centered around the rivalry between James and Kobe Bryant, which definitely impacted how fans felt about LeBron from the jump. But there's more too it. There was a transactional feel to his time here, and at the time he signed, most people didn't think it would be an eight year relationship. Many fans appreciated his talent, and what he did to pull the franchise out of the muck, but resented some of the drama or already carried some dislike based on how the rivalry between him and Kobe Bryant was framed.
Luka doesn't have those issues. He didn't expect to come to LA, but has embraced the city and the franchise since arriving. He's someone that Lakers fans can lean into as "theirs," even though he wasn't drafted by the team. The relationship is designed to span most of a decade, so it's long term.
Overall, Wednesday was a reminder that not all stars operate in the same circumstances, and that something much more similar to LA's relationship with previous stars could be at work here.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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The opening game in the 2026-27 NBA season couldn't have gone any better for the Lakers, who need to get off to a good start with their completely revamped roster. That's exactly what happened, as the purple and gold got rolling after a back and forth first quarter, outscoring the Golden State Warriors 68-35 and breaking the game wide open.
Final score, 127-105.
Early returns on the Big Three? Excellent.
Luka Doncic finished with 28 points in only 30 minutes, along with eight rebounds and seven assists. Austin Reaves had 23/6 with a pair of steals, and Walker Kessler was a perfect 12-12 from the floor, en route to 26 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in his Lakers debut. And even when Kessler wasn't finishing at the rim, it was clear his Lakers teammates were working hard to get him the ball. A ragged first quarter featured too many turnovers, many of which came trying to force feed the ball to Kessler.
Clearly everyone is excited to have a new toy to use.
And while the new Big Three was the driving force behind the win, Jake LaRavia, Quentin Grimes and Ziaire Williams combined for 29 points.
81 more to go, but this was a great way to start the year.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers dominate en route to an Opening Night Win

SEGMENT 2: The Big Three has a huge debut.

SEGMENT 3: Strong stretch defensively.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

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The Lakers' season kicks off tonight in a classic (if perhaps forced, post-LeBron?) matchup against the (very short-handed) Golden State Warriors. The punditry consensus is much higher on L.A. than Golden State, but both teams have many questions to answer heading into the season. To break it all down, the Kamenetzkys talk with Chuck Walter (Locked On Warriors).

Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with guest Chuck Walter!

Photo credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

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Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.


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It's Opening Night for the Lakers, who will be hosting the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena to kick things off. And it's a game they need to win, not just to get things off to a good start, but to take advantage of a shorthanded Warriors squad.
But beyond that, it's the start of what truly feels like the beginning of the Luka Dončić Era, not the Luka and Era. This is his team, assembled to leverage his skills and preferences. It does, as JJ Redick has liked to say, feel more coherent than squads they've had in the last few seasons, and it certainly feels like something more permanent. It's the start of something with this roster, rather than a feeling of playing out the string. Where it goes, nobody knows, but there are lots of reasons to be excited.
It starts with Luka, and moves to Austin Reaves, who had a really good preseason after signing his huge offseason deal. Walker Kessler gives the Lakers real rim protection they've lacked since Anthony Davis, and guys like Sandro Mamukelashvili have quickly become fan favorites. Without trying to be homers, we do feel like the team is being undersold.
So how many wins? Any big surprises? We discuss.
Plus, some news that does put a bit of a damper on the start of the year. While Collin Sexton is questionable to play and has been trending in that direction, Adou Thiero is out with swelling in his surgically repaired knee, and Cam Carr won't play either, thanks to an oblique injury.
So while the Lakers can certainly get buy without them -- only Thiero was really projected to play much early, and even that is with the understanding that the minutes might not be heavy -- Lakers fans will be disappointed, and remain quite conscious of how much trouble the team has had keeping young players on the floor.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Why it's ok to be bullish.

SEGMENT 2: Predictions? Surprises?

SEGMENT 3: Health alerts! Thiero and Carr out, Sexton questionable.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mandatory Credit: Jon Endow-Imagn Images

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KALSHI
Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.
Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to 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)

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The Lakers did what was widely expected on Monday as the NBA's roster cutdown day arrived. Dalton Knecht was released to get the Lakers down to 15 players.
That closes the door on a VERY recent #1 pick, and given how promising a start Knecht had, is a pretty shocking end.
So what went wrong, here? Did the Lakers do the right thing? Should they have released Bronny James instead? What is the lasting damage to the franchise for having two straight top picks wash out (Jalen Hood-Schifino, we hardly knew ya)? There's a lot to unpack, even beyond just Dalton himself.
It does increase the pressure on the (currently injured) duo of Cam Carr and Adou Thiero to pan out, because the draft cupboard is exceedingly bare at this point, between picks that have been traded and others that are committed to potential swaps.
Speaking of injuries, the Lakers might be getting one of their banged up guys back, which is good news. Collin Sexton spoke with the media in El Segundo on Tuesday, and while he didn't commit to getting on the floor in Wednesday's opener, the fact he was talking is a very good sign. Injured players aren't obligated to speak with reporters, and are generally not put in front of them. Just the act of being made available indicates the Lakers will have him, even if on a restriction, when the season opens.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers cut Dalton Knecht. What went wrong, here?

SEGMENT 2: Collin Sexton ready to go?

SEGMENT 3: There are believers in the defense!!!

PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
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Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.

PrizePicks
Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!
Odoo
Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.
KALSHI
Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.
Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to 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)

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