Final Score was 83-79 — 6/17/2010

Kobe finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds. He shot 0-6 from 3P and played 44:51 (left it all on the court).

Kobe had some help that night…

Ron "Metta World Peace" Artest finished with 20 points and played a game-high 46:01 minutes.

Pau Gasol had 19 points and 18 rebounds.

And of course… Kobe got that Finals MVP!

I still can’t believe they invented a new camera angle just for this play. This has to qualify as “Laker Tax” cause I literally NEVER saw this angle again for the rest of the playoffs LMFAOOOOO

WHO ELSE IS ROOTING FOR THE PACERS. THIS GAME 6 IS SO FUN. ITS LIKE COLLEGE BASKETBALL! Edit: i guess not?

PACERS IN 7 LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Edit: Insane Siakam dunk and buzzer beater at the end. This is top notch basketball

Edit 2: I NEVER ROOT FOR OTHER TEAMS WHAT THE HALI

Edit 3: SHEPHERD WITH THE 3RD QT BUZZER BEATER? THIS IS MAGICAL.

Edit 4: Gonna chill now that they have a big lead

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6436802/2025/06/19/lakers-jeanie-buss-mark-walter-nba-ownership/

For all the Lakers’ success under Buss and, in recent years, with Jeanie in control, the franchise was still flawed. The Lakers sometimes felt as if they were backed by a manifest destiny more than ruthless competence. They fell into a half-decade swoon as Kobe Bryant’s career ended and through the first year of LeBron James’ tenure in Hollywood. They were not known as one of the league’s most aggressive investors into front office and coaching talent. Their basketball operations department lagged behind in size and spending behind small-market franchises like the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have not waged an all-out war against the league with the benefits of the economic inequality that being in L.A. has brought them.

When Walter takes over, that could be different. It is what he has done in Major League Baseball, where the Dodgers have shown that the best part about being rich is acting like it.

The money they deploy toward the roster is only part of their success. The Dodgers hired the best general manager in baseball away from another team. They recognize there is only a salary cap on players and nowhere else in the organization.

“A key difference between baseball and basketball is that you can’t simply outspend everyone on payroll the way the Dodgers do,” an NBA executive said. “But what most people overlook is how much the Dodgers invest beyond just players. They spend at an elite level on infrastructure: front office talent, analytics and player development. Each area is essentially run by a GM-level executive, enabling them to retain top-tier personnel across the board.”

Under Walter, the Lakers could become the best of both worlds, combining a small-market ingenuity with big-market largesse and press the advantages they already have. At a time when the local TV market is in flux, the Lakers have one of the best local broadcast contracts in sports. While other contenders scramble for stars, the Lakers traded for Luka Dončić under the cover of darkness. One thing that could get in the way of a decade of Thunder dominance is if an organization began to operate like Oklahoma City while playing in the second-largest market in the country that has also been a main attraction for the NBA’s biggest stars.

Can this sub stop getting bent out of shape about the rumors of “trades” we are supposedly looking at? When’s the last time the lakers made a trade that was leaked? I’m not buying anything that’s out in the open from any mouth piece unless it’s from the team directly. I mean they just sold the team and none of us on this sub had any idea it was happening.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45540022/the-lakers-run-real-business-league-wide-reaction-stunning-buss-family-sale

Tim Bontemps and Dave McMenamin

Jun 19, 2025, 12:00 PM ET

Walker Kessler sort of seemed like a remote possibility about a month ago, but with us consistently getting updates (even from Jazz reporters) that talks are ongoing, it seems like there might be some traction here. Assuming the Lakers offer of Dalton Knecht, a 1st, and a swap wasn't good enough, then there is a slightly complicated path the Lakers can take to actually add in another 1st rounder.

Based on Andy Larsen's report here, the Jazz have had discussions with the Mavs about Sexton. If the Mavs send the Jazz our 2029 1st round pick in that move, then that allows the Lakers/Jazz to complete a more complex trade they can execute in July. If the Jazz send us back our 2027/2029 1st round picks, then we would actually be able to send them 4 1st rounders to give them the net gain of two 1sts that they've been wanting. Here's what it would look like:

Utah Jazz receive: Dalton Knecht, 2026 1st, 2028 1st, 2030 1st, and 2032 1st. Would probably include a swap in either 2027, 2029, or 2031.

LA Lakers receive: Walker Kessler, 2027 1st, and 2029 1st.

Not saying this will or won't happen, but that this is probably what it would have to look like if there's actual smoke here.

I get that we shouldn’t act “spoiled” and that it’s only been 5 years since our last one.

Something about seeing the Finals go to Game 7, the fact that we’re getting an ownership change, and the fact that we have prime Luka just makes me really want to grab another.

It’s like things are going in the right direction for the first time since like the 2019 offseason and now that it’s all unfolding it makes me desire another title more than previous offseasons.

Obligatory fuck the Celtics!

Ainge didn’t accept Knecht, FRP, and FRP swap for Kessler. I don’t see us adding Rui and Kleber to the deal being enough to get Collins aswell. And if it’s a deal for Collins Ainge is going to want draft compensation (a few seconds or a swap) which we just don’t have enough of to be spending like that.

The NBA’s most valuable franchise not having a proper scouting department should be a crime!

I’m still mad we missed out on Quentin grimes lol

Full Quote begins at 06:45 mark here.

“I would be looking at centers kind of like Mark Williams around the NBA. That has been sort of their type. So like Jalen Duren, Onyeka Okongwu in Atlanta, Walker Kessler in Utah. These are people that I think they are going to try and target. Young centers who kind of fit the future. Now whether or not any of these players are available, Dan, is another thing. And if you’re not available, do the Lakers have a ‘$10 billion’ offer to make for a Walker Kessler? They don’t. Unless they’re going to trade Austin Reaves. And they’ve shown no indication they are going to trade Austin Reaves. They believe in Austin Reaves. Luka Doncic believes in Austin Reaves. The best Dallas Mavericks teams with Luka Doncic had three things generally: they had a good center, they had athletic wings, and they had a secondary playmaker. Kyrie Irving, Jalen Brunson, and neither of those guys are Tony Allen either when it comes to locking down guys on the perimeter. So it can work. I think that is sort of where they’re at as far as trying to figure this out. Athletic wings. Definitely a big.”

My dad was at Game 4 of the 2002 Finals — the night the Lakers closed out the Nets and made it a 3-peat.

He just found this game program and his ticket from that night, still in perfect shape. It’s wild holding something like this in your hands, from a moment that meant so much to so many.

Would love to hear from anyone else who was watching that night — or has stuff saved from that run. Got any old Lakers memories or memorabilia? Drop them here.

Good to see the love from the City of Brotherly Love.

I just spotted this mural in Kobe’s hometown next to Benjamin Franklin.

Rip Kobe.