The Athletic NBA Daily Wemby, VJ, and the Mafia + Yaron Weitzman on the LeBron Lakers
Oct 25, 2025
Yaron Weitzman, an accomplished author and journalist, joins to discuss his book on the LeBron Lakers, diving into the dramatic behind-the-scenes dynamics of this storied franchise. He reveals the Lakers' legal pushback during his reporting and shares an amusing anecdote about Lonzo Ball and a $100 bill. The conversation touches on a surprising near-trade for Paul George and tensions between LeBron and Russell Westbrook, offering captivating insights into LeBron's legacy and uncertain future with the Lakers.
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Week One Amplifies NBA Volatility
- The opening week produced extreme storylines from arrests to historic rookie debuts, emphasizing the NBA's volatility.
- Early performances like P.J. Edgecombe's 34‑point debut and Tyrese Maxey's 40 illustrate how narrative shifts quickly in week one.
Clipper Effort And Cohesion Worries
- The Clippers' season opener exposed effort and cohesion concerns as they lost to Utah without leading a single second.
- Andrew Schlecht called the performance embarrassing and flagged age and injuries as structural problems.
Rockets' New Shooting Mix Creates Defensive Tradeoffs
- The Rockets' three‑point volume shifted after roster changes, pressuring new players like Reed Sheppard defensively.
- Alex Speers warned that Sheppard's defensive lapses could force line‑up choices that undermine offensive development.
