The Lakers are downplaying a “heated” exchange between coach Luke Walton and a pair of veteran players following Saturday’s loss to Golden State, writes ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Walton singled out several players in the locker room, accusing them of having a selfish approach and making poor decisions late in games, McMenamin relays. Michael Beasley and JaVale McGee lashed back, expressing their frustration over Walton’s changing rotations.
Beasley, who also clashed with Walton last month, repeatedly referred to his coach as “bro,” which Walton took exception to. The confrontation was described as tense, but it died down quickly.
“It never got close to getting out of control, people are always emotional after a loss,” a source told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. Another claimed to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk that it was “way overhyped.”
“Nothing crazy happened,” an unidentified Lakers player explained to The Undefeated’s Marc Spears. “Luke said some things. The players said some things back. No one was disrespected. Nothing crazy was said.”
Another veteran, Lance Stephenson, posted a message on his Instagram account denying any involvement in the dispute.“Media decided to add Lance Stephenson … I’m in a very happy place … Nothing but positive,” he wrote. “If u going to write a story get the real facts please.”
Brandon Ingram might be the worst defensive player in the NBA. The dude doesn’t even try. The lakers team as a whole doesn’t play a lick of defense. That falls on the veterans on the team.
You misspelled James Harden.
If you think Harden is the worst defender in the league, you haven’t watched basketball in the past couple of years.
Harden is third in the league in steals per game. He’s by no means a DPOY candidate, but his defense is very underrated.
He’s a HORRIBLE defender. Everything is a gamble, which accounts for his steals BUT most of the time it just ends leaving his teammates hung out to dry playing 4 on 5. I have zero respect for one way players.
“Guards” the weakest offensive player on the opposing team. His defense is to slap at passes.
He had a bad game defensively yesterday but he’s been good all season. Don’t base your opinion of the one game you saw this year?
He is also very clumsy with the ball when trying to run the point
I mean, they play on the Lakers, you probably are selfish. Look at their fearless groin and hairline impaired leader.
implying lbj’s as a toxic cancer is why other star players don’t chase a ring with him sounds familiar i.e. pg13, durant, kyrie, etc.
Lebron didn’t sign them to be selfish.
Honestly if I’m the pelicans there’s no reason to trade right now. Guaranteed the lakers offer would be the same in the summer and you will have more suitors. Just watch them play the rest of the year and struggle with this roster magic and LeBron constructed. Just to really stick it to the lakers and LeBron. I mean seriously he’s like a home wrecker 2 teams 2 years in a row he’s gonna grade half of his entire team..
Trade*
Maybe not, Lakers will be more concerned with signing a FA.
Anyone surprised by this report? That band of 1 year misfits are all going to be selfish because they are all playing for a contract.
I think (almost) every guy the Lakers signed this off season has had attitude issues in the past.
Everyone saw this coming except “Laker Fans”. Them holding Lebron out just gives the Lakers franchise an excuse of not making the playoffs.
Actually I think holding James out is smart. He is already 34(team is going nowhere) and most likely Davis isn’t moved till off season. I would keep James out miss playoffs and use that lottery pick to package with young talent for AD(but I will admit I think lakers young talent already on roster is overrated)
Your comments makes zero sense! If we can get AD now then let’s go get him!
Based on lakers first offer(which was complete TRASH). He isn’t getting traded to LA before the deadline. I think he gets moved in off season
The first offer is history. Pay attention, there was a second that was fair. If Demps plays there will be more. Right now the offer is not a problem.
Laker fans saw this coming too, it’s also not all the one year contracts and if you actually read the article it has multiple sources saying this whole thing is being over hyped.
Michael Beasley a bad guy?!?! Nooooo. Say it ain’t so!
Beasley went 1-on-1 and jacked up some terrible shots down the stretch. It’s always gonna be frustrating when you blow a second half lead, but the truth is there’s a lot of anxiety as half the team could legit be moved next month
Walton is trying to instill the team values that he learned with the Warriors…..team play, no egos, DEFENSE, sharing the ball, etc. It won’t work with the current Laker team makeup. LeBron is not the core player to use that type of approach.
That’s one thing that makes the Warriors so special. No egos nobody gets ruffled feathers.
Why you think Durant wanted to go there…he’s tired of the crap selfishness elsewhere. Can’t Blame A man for wanting to go to work and enjoy being at work.
And people think Durant is leaving this summer to go to LA? Hilarious. Or the Knicks? Double hilarious.
I thought YOU left! That was a long Christmas break.
Yeah I got busy and didn’t have time to make my stupid comments LOL
Why do so many of you hate LeBron? Guy gets his teams to 8 straight finals but he’s a team cancer. Y’all some jealous and salty MFers lol
Lebron knows what it takes to win. He’s gonna completely change the Lakers in next couple years. It starts with getting rid of the spoiled head coach who’s life was given to him on a plater and can’t do anything with it. Luke misses the layup every time.
Lebron is not gm and when he did that with Cleveland they only won once
Jealous much? Luke knows more about professional basketball than you will ever dream of so keep making those pizzas.
Those complaining about Walton, not just you, who you going to pick to coach this team instead?
Everybody has complaints, but no Solutions. That does no good at all.
You bring me a problem, bring me a solution with it or else don’t bring me the problem. Business 101.
There’s a reason that Magic stacked the roster w/ 1 year contracts. It’s not about this year, he’s playing chess. They’ll acquire AD then they’ll sign a 3rd stud over the summer. Most of these clowns will not be wearing Laker unis this time next year.
Trade the kids for AD, sign Kawhi. Done.. super team plus a couple vets on 1 year deals.
I actually like Lance Stephenson he’s playing great this year so is Rondo.
It’s clowns like Michael Beasley that screw things up. Yes he can score in bunches and is an extremely talented offensive player, but the negatives outweigh that a little bit. When’s the last time Beasley made an incredible pass? JaVale McGee alao has a reason for bouncing around from Team to team to team.
I think Lance will go back to the Pacers. Tyreke Evans hasn’t worked out and he’s exactly what they need with Oladipo hurt. The Indy fans love him and he’s always liked them.
Many could ask you the same thing , why do you love him?
I don’t think anyone hates him but notice how despite the success, his teams have a habit of these types of rumors.
It may be all of his teams are just hyper competitive because they expect to win playing with him but….you do have to wonder if his leadership style is to blame.
Always drama with LeGM James teams. Dude just can’t play basketball and actually earn his money.
All of this nonsense makes Paul George look pretty smart to stay in OKC.
Behind the scenes story is that LeBron did not want to waste a Max spot on Paul George. He’s not a closer.
He falls into the DeMar DeRozan Kyle Lowry Russell Westbrook category of not getting you over the hump. Not a big time pressure situation player.
More than likely to dribble off his foot out of bounds or take a terrible shot then win a ball game for you.
He can get you 25, but he can’t get you 2.
Max money guys…. if you have the choice, go to guys like Kyrie Irving. Closers. You need two points he’ll get it for you.
Kawhi Leonard. Steph Curry. Kevin Durant Most of the time LOL, Damian Lillard, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in the past… closers.
Earvin/Lebron did not want to waste the other max slot on someone who would not help win an NBA title. Also Paul George’s game would clash with Lebron’s. Also PG has turned out better outside of Indy than I think people would have predicted…
He would still be taking minutes from Hart, Ingram & Kuzma though, in a transitional year.
I’d be curious if he was calling out those two guys. I’m not saying they played a great game, but the problem is Ingram, not them. He dribbles and dribbles and dribbles. And no one moves because he doesn’t pass it very often. It’s like Kobe reincarnated and that’s not a compliment. He has the ball for 10 seconds straight. You don’t see anyone on the Dubs do that…..NO ONE! 3 seconds, pass, dribble, shoot. It’s not hard to defend when one person dribbles in a small area and doesn’t pass. He only uses pick and roll to get a switch and mismatch for himself. He never extends his drive off that and he never passes to the pick man.
Trade him….now
Why you think the trade hasn’t happened? You’re not the only one seeing that from your couch. There’s guys on payroll that watch nothing but tape.
Finally the excitement of GM Bron, Bron , and I never saw a camera or microphone I didn’t like Tragic Johnson drama is starting to be a weekly series. They suck but still will get the ratings.
What happened to the days when coaches coached and players played? Why does drama follow Labron around? Is he the common denominator ? That’s why MJ will always be the GOAT
Lots of blame on LBJ. I was never a fan. But now, I watch them with him playing and without him playing. Such a difference. It proves to me how great he is. He’s way better than Kobe. Kobe never passed. KB fun to watch just from an individual entertainment standpoint, but I don’t think he improved people around him like LBJ does. Lastly, this guy came here on his own. No chance of Winn I gotta a title year one. It’s not like Durant who couldn’t get a ring on his own so just plugged in where he knew he’d get one. I give LBJ a lot of credit for that.
*Sorry…that was no chance of winning a title year one
This ‘clash’ was not a big deal, not a medium deal, barely qualifies as a small deal, and Lebron was not involved.
As for the actual game, it was Josh Hart who looked bad, but balancing that was Moritz Wagner showing some German mettle and “sturm und drang”. Any big man playing the Warriors has to deal with the emotions of Green & Cousins and Wagner was good for the struggle. However McGee was maybe resonating with it too much and that was what Walton was trying to change with his challenge.
Coaches should be able to challenge players without causing a media ruckus or stimulating fan obsessions and hatreds of unrelated players not even on court. Posters here are not rational concerning James.
Cousins looked lumbering. No need for him to be a ballhandler on a serious team. The pregame clowns were saying he is the same as ever, but no. Still the same self-obsession as always, maybe moreso.