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LUKA DONCIC AND REAVES: NBA'S TOP-SCORING DUO FUELS LAKERS SUCCESS

MVP-calibre Luka Doncic, averaging 35.1 PPG, was named Player of the Week as the 15-4 Lakers ride a 7-game win streak. Doncic and Reaves are the NBA's top-scoring duo.

Luka Doncic and Reaves: NBA's Top-Scoring Duo Fuels Lakers Success
Luka Doncic Named Western Conference Player of the Week

The Los Angeles Lakers are having a great season so far, sitting at 15-4 and riding a seven-game win streak as they head into Monday night's game. That puts them second in the Western Conference, just behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Even though LeBron James has only played in four of the team's 19 games, he doesn't need to carry the team anymore. With Luka Doncic on board, James can take a step back while still helping the Lakers win. Right now, Doncic is playing like an MVP.

This last week was typical for the 26-year-old. Luka averaged 37.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game. His performance helped Los Angeles beat the Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, and New Orleans Pelicans by double digits. Because of his great play, the NBA named Doncic Western Conference Player of the Week.

Luka Dončić Is Playing Like an MVP

Luka Dončić's great week isn't a fluke. The former first-round pick is averaging 35.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game for the season. He's scored at least 30 points in 11 games this season, including six in a row.

He hasn't won the MVP award yet, but this might be his year. In the past, Doncic has had to compete with guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This year, Doncic is playing better than all of them.

The 6-foot-8 guard is the league's top scorer and is second in usage percentage. The Lakers depend on Doncic, and he's stepping up. He's on pace to have a career-best season in points per game. Doncic has scored over 30 points per game twice in his career, and this season might be the third time.

Doncic and Austin Reaves: A Great Duo

Doncic isn't doing it all alone. He has James to rely on, but Austin Reaves has been a pleasant surprise this season. Reaves is averaging 28.8 points per game and is a perfect fit next to Doncic. In fact, Doncic and Reaves are the first Lakers duo in 50 years to each score at least 30 points in three straight games.

Going into Monday night, they are the highest-scoring duo in the NBA, averaging 63.9 points per game. The Lakers, as a team, average 119.6 points. If these two stay healthy, the Lakers will be one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles plays the Phoenix Suns at home on Monday night. Then, the Lakers will go on a three-game road trip to end the week.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES TRADE JAREN JACKSON JR. TO UTAH JAZZ IN 8-PLAYER BLOCKBUSTER

The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, creating a record $28.8 million trade exception for 2026.

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Grizzlies finalise Jaren Jackson Jr. deal

The Memphis Grizzlies turned heads on Tuesday, pulling off a blockbuster trade that sent two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz. Along with Jackson, the Grizzlies shipped out Vince Williams Jr, John Konchar, and Jock Landale. Coming back their way: Walter Clayton Jr, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, and, maybe the most important part, three future first-round picks.

And honestly, it feels like Memphis isn’t done stirring the pot. Inside the organisation, they see Zach Edey and Cedric Coward as the future. Both went late in the lottery in the past two drafts, and the Grizzlies landed some value in the second round this year, too, grabbing Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer.

All this movement means Ja Morant’s future in Memphis suddenly looks shaky. He’s been the face of the franchise since they took him No. 2 overall back in 2019. When he’s healthy, he’s electric—no question. But injuries and off-court drama have slowed him down, and now, with the trade deadline closing in, the Grizzlies are openly shopping him. Teams around the league are watching.

There’s another wrinkle here: by dealing Jackson, Memphis created a massive trade exception—$28.8 million, the biggest in NBA history, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Shams Charania. It’s a huge chess piece. With that exception, the Grizzlies can absorb big, ugly contracts from other teams in exchange for more draft picks. Think of what the Thunder did a few years back—stockpiling picks by taking on bad deals until they rebuilt into a contender.

Now, you’ve probably heard Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name floating around in trade rumours. He hasn’t officially asked out of Milwaukee, but everyone in the league expects something to happen soon. Teams like the Timberwolves and Knicks are circling. The Grizzlies? They’re not likely to chase Giannis directly. But with that trade exception, they could play a big role as a third team—taking on salary dumps or unwanted contracts, collecting more picks, and helping another franchise pull off the Giannis blockbuster. Memphis just put itself squarely in the middle of the NBA’s hottest rumour.

KLINT KUBIAK SNUBS NFL RIVALS TO LEAD RAIDERS’ NEW ERA UNDER TOM BRADY

The Las Vegas Raiders are zeroing in on Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as their next head coach, with Tom Brady leading the search.

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Klint Kubiak is set for the Raiders as Seahawks coach faces the New England Patriots

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the middle of a huge shakeup right now. Klint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, is set to become their new head coach—and honestly, he’s nothing like Pete Carroll.

Kubiak’s still in his 30s, calling plays on offence, while Carroll just wrapped up last season as the NFL’s oldest head coach. The Raiders had their eyes on Ben Johnson previous year, but when he decided to take the Bears job, they turned to Carroll instead.

This time, Las Vegas seemed to have that same level of interest in Kubiak, but they had to wait things out because Seattle was still in the playoffs. Tom Brady, who’s a minority owner with the Raiders, clearly played a big part in picking the new coach.

Since nothing’s official until after the Super Bowl, Brady can’t come right out and talk about Kubiak joining the team. Still, he didn’t hold back when it came to sharing what he liked about the guy.

“Klint’s played to his team’s strengths. Last week, he did a ton of good things against a really strong Rams defence,” Brady said on the “Let’s Go!” podcast. “That’s what it took for them to win. The Rams are a tough team. That game in Seattle could’ve gone either way... Seattle really had to play a complete game in all three phases to pull it out, and they’ll need to do the same this weekend in Santa Clara.”

Brady also talked about Fernando Mendoza.

Another big reason the Raiders’ coaching job is so appealing? They’ve got the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Everyone expects them to grab Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Brady doesn’t have to be secretive about it—nobody’s jumping ahead of them in the draft. He was pretty open about how much he likes Mendoza.

“What do I value most? When I see him, he’s always talking up his teammates. He wins the Heisman, and he’s giving credit to everyone else,” Brady said. “That’s the kind of attitude you want in a leader.”

Kubiak focused on the Super Bowl, not the job switch.

Kubiak’s career is about to take off, but right now, he’s locked in on trying to win his first Super Bowl. So, he isn’t ready to talk about the Raiders just yet.

“I’m coaching the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and that’s all I’m thinking about,” Kubiak told reporters on Monday. “I’m just excited for this week and this game.”

Not everyone in Seattle is thrilled to see Kubiak go. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had nothing but praise after working with him this year.

“He was unbelievable,” Darnold said Monday. “The stuff I picked up from Klint—just with schemes, and then learning from him as a coach and a person—the grit. He’s up before the sun, gets to the facility at 4 or 4:30, and leaves later than anyone. The guy just grinds. He loves football, and he’s always straight with his players. I know I really appreciated that, and so did the rest of the guys.”

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