THE LUKA DONCIC PROBLEM: WHY TRUSTING TEAMMATES IS THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE L.A.
JJ Redick addresses how contract anxiety affects the Lakers' ball movement and calls on Luka Doncic to trust his teammates more.
Like a lot of guys across the league, the Lakers’ free agents have their eyes on the future, trying to lock down their next deal—whether that’s in L.A. or somewhere else. The quickest way to stay in the league? More minutes, more shots, better stats. That’s what gets you paid.
JJ Redick gets it. He spent 15 years in the NBA, four of them with the Clippers, and he’s been in these shoes. “I’ve been there,” he said. “There’s a human side to this. Guys worry about what’s next, especially when you’ve got a roster full of free agents and player options. Of course, they’re thinking about offence. It gets in your head—‘I’ve been out there for five minutes and haven’t even touched the ball.’ That’s just how it is. No one’s to blame.”
The numbers tell the story: five Lakers are in the final year of their contracts, and three more have options for the 2026-27 season. That’s eight guys who could hit free agency this offseason.
LeBron James, Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura, and Maxi Kleber are all in their contract years. Austin Reaves has a player option for next season, but word is he’s waiting to test the market before he decides. The Lakers could put five years and $241 million on the table for him. Marcus Smart, 31, and DeAndre Ayton also have player options.
With so many guys thinking about their next move, it’s no surprise trust can get shaky on the court—especially when it comes to sharing the ball. Redick didn’t call anyone out; he just said it’s a general thing. But he did say getting everyone involved starts with Luka Doncic, their main ball handler.
During Thursday’s 112-104 loss to the Clippers, Doncic put up 27 of the team’s 88 shots (he made 11) and took 13 of their 33 three-point attempts (he hit three).
“He’s going to have the ball more than anyone,” Redick said. “But he’s got to trust his teammates. If two defenders come at him, if he’s surrounded, he’s got to move the ball. We talk a lot about being connected on defence, but you’ve got to be just as connected on offence.”
Doncic knows he’s supposed to get guys involved, but he pointed to their 24 assists on 40 field goals against the Clippers and said, “Not bad.”
“Could be better, obviously. But the ball was moving in the second half; that’s how we got back in it,” Doncic said, talking about the run where the Lakers cut a 26-point lead all the way down to two in the fourth quarter. “JJ said at halftime, the ball needs to move more. That’s what we did.”
LeBron, who handles the ball plenty himself, took 19 shots against the Clippers and made nine. Hachimura went 5 for 11 (2 for 7 from deep), and Smart shot 4 for 10 (1 for 5 from three).
As for his own future, LeBron said he isn’t stressing, even with the trade rumours swirling. After the game, he sounded at ease about sticking with the Lakers. “I’m good. I’m good,” he said.
LUKE LITTLER STAGES IMPROBABLE COMEBACK TO SECURE PREMIER LEAGUE DUBLIN TITLE
Luke Littler staged a miracle 0-5 comeback to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-5 and claim Premier League Night Seven in Dublin.
Luke Littler pulled off an incredible comeback to win Night Seven of the 2026 Premier League Darts in Dublin, edging out Gerwyn Price 6-5 in a gripping final at the 3Arena.
Starting the match down 5-0, Littler managed to turn things around, finishing with a sharp 81 checkout on double 15 to claim his second nightly win of the season. This victory strengthened his position in the hunt for a playoff spot. Price, the world champion, seemed to be heading for a comfortable win after dominating early on. However, a string of missed match darts allowed Littler to complete this remarkable turnaround, much to the delight of the lively Dublin crowd.
Littler and Price both earned their places in the final with strong performances throughout the night. Littler kicked off with a solid 6-3 win over Stephen Bunting in a match where both players averaged over 100. His ability to close out legs made the difference, converting six doubles from 13 attempts to secure his spot in the semi-finals.
There, he faced Michael van Gerwen in one of the season’s standout matches. The high-scoring battle featured big moments from both sides, including a spectacular 170 checkout from Van Gerwen. Littler matched the intensity, hitting his own impressive finishes and eventually held his nerve in a deciding leg to win 6-5 and move into the final.
On the other side, Gerwyn Price was ruthless in his journey to the final. He opened with a commanding 6-0 victory over Josh Rock, who has continued to struggle in this season’s Premier League. Price’s clinical play, averaging over 100 and converting six doubles from 11 tries, set the tone. He carried that momentum into the semi-finals with a dominant 6-1 win against the reigning champion Luke Humphries, averaging 109.04 and maintaining pressure from the first dart.
The final started predictably, with Price in full control. He quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead, capitalising on Littler’s early missed chances. After finally getting on the board with a 52 finish, Littler seemed outmatched at 5-1. But Price missed several opportunities to close out the match, including a crucial miss at double top for a 72 checkout.
Seizing the moment, Littler struck back with a 76 checkout, shifting the momentum. The Dublin crowd got behind him as he rattled off consecutive legs, eventually tying it at 5-5 after Price missed another double. In the deciding leg, Littler sealed the comeback with a precise 81 checkout, combining treble 17 and double 15, leaving everyone in the arena stunned.
Beyond the headline final, Night Seven had other significant developments in the playoff race. Jonny Clayton, the league leader, took his first quarter-final defeat of the season, losing 6-3 to Luke Humphries. This not only ended Clayton’s unbeaten run at this stage but handed him his first pointless night.
Josh Rock’s struggles also continued. After seven weeks, he remains without a win, suffering a heavy defeat to Price and staying at the bottom of the table as his Premier League debut continues to be a tough challenge.
There was a last-minute change when Gian van Veen withdrew due to illness, giving Van Gerwen a walkover into the semi-finals. Still, Van Gerwen couldn’t take advantage of the extra rest, falling to Littler in a nail-biting deciding leg in the semis.
HOW THE KNICKS PLAN TO REPLACE JOSH HART’S HISTORIC ENERGY
Josh Hart is out with knee pain, but Jalen Brunson returns as the Knicks eye a fifth straight win against the Nets.
The Knicks face a tough challenge Friday night as they’ll be without one of their key glue guys. Josh Hart is sidelined with patellofemoral syndrome in his right knee, a hit that comes at a pretty awkward moment. The team’s riding a four-game winning streak and trying to solidify their playoff standing in the Eastern Conference.
With Hart out, Landry Shamet is expected to slide into the starting lineup. Coach Mike Brown might lean more heavily on veteran Jordan Clarkson and rookie Mohamed Diawara to cover those extra minutes on the floor.
There’s a bit of good news to balance this out: Jalen Brunson is back after missing Tuesday’s game due to a sore ankle and neck strain. That gets the Knicks’ offensive engine back in gear, but losing Hart carries a different kind of weight.
Hart’s been central to this group all season, not just scoring, but keeping the lineups cohesive and pushing the tempo. His relentless hustle, grabbing rebounds, leading fast breaks, and doing the gritty work, helps the whole team click. Brown has openly praised how crucial Hart’s energy and connection are.
“He’s been fantastic, giving us that energy, keeping our group connected,” Brown said after their recent win. “Crashing the boards, picking up the pace, attacking in transition – those are the things that make a difference.”
Brown even compared Hart’s impact to what Andre Iguodala brought to championship-winning teams. It’s that veteran savvy and basketball IQ that might not always show up in stats, but often marks the difference between just making it and truly winning.
Hart’s recent game really underscored what he adds when he’s firing on all cylinders. In Tuesday’s 136-110 rout of the Pacers, he exploded for a Knicks career-high 33 points, hitting 12 of 13 shots and draining all five of his threes. On top of that, he grabbed seven rebounds, dished five assists, and swiped two steals in just 26 minutes.
That wasn’t just a hot streak; it was historic. Hart became the first NBA player ever to score at least 30 points, hit five threes, grab five rebounds, and dish out five assists all on 90% shooting or better. He also joined a very exclusive Knicks group with a 30-point night at 90% shooting.
Thanks in large part to him, New York cruised to a 45-25 season mark. OG Anunoby added 26, Karl-Anthony Towns notched a double-double, and the team looked strong overall.
Now the focus shifts to the supporting cast as the Nets come to town. Shamet will bring much-needed shooting to the starting five. Clarkson’s scoring punch is going to be even more important with Hart out, and Diawara should see more extended minutes, especially on defence.
The Nets will be eager to play spoiler, so the Knicks will need everyone diving after loose balls, maintaining the pace, and staying connected. It will definitely take a collective effort to cover for Hart’s absence.
Hart’s knee issue doesn’t seem like it will drag on, but missing him highlights just how pivotal he has become to New York’s success this season. Brunson’s return helps keep the offence on track, but replacing everything Hart offers, especially following a night like that, is no easy feat.
