The Los Angeles Lakers have hired Kurt Rambis as Senior Basketball Advisor. 

In his role, Rambis will report to Johnson and support the basketball operations and coaching staffs in their day-to-day functions.

“As a member of the Showtime Lakers, Kurt is a champion and knows how to win,” said Johnson. “He has been an integral part of the Lakers organization winning four NBA Championships as a player and an additional four as a part of the staff. His insights and wide range of experiences will be a huge benefit to our operations.”

Rambis previously spent 16 years (1994-2009, 2013-14) in various coaching and front office roles within the Lakers organization. During this time, the team made six NBA Finals appearances (2000-02, 2004, 2008-09) and won four NBA Championships (2000, 2001, 2002 and 2009). Rambis also served as the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2009-11 and most recently spent four seasons (2014-18) as associate head coach of the New York Knicks, including a brief stint as interim head coach.

One of the reasons LeBron James committed to the Los Angeles Lakers over the long-term was to embrace a process he knew the organization would have to undergo, according to sources.

James realized the Lakers would be unable to contend for a title in his first season and believed he had multiple seasons remaining in his prime.

James has been challenged by the media several times this week to set parameters for the season.

"I don't expect anything. The unknown is what to expect," James said. "You work for what you want."

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Arturo Galletti (@AmericanNumbers) break down the over/unders for the Western Conference.

They discuss the win total, division, conference and title odds as well as any pertinent individual award lines for the Kings (1:58), Suns (10:35), Mavericks (16:40), Grizzlies (25:51), Clippers (30:40), Trail Blazers (39:55), Spurs (46:39), Pelicans (54:25), Timberwolves (1:01:22), Lakers (1:13:21), Nuggets (1:24:22), Thunder (1:30:27), Jazz (1:37:59), Rockets (1:44:26) and Warriors (1:57:51).

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LeBron James could miss the Los Angeles Lakers' preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets.

"I don't know," James told ESPN after practice Wednesday when asked about how he plans to manage the preseason schedule. "I don't need preseason games [at this stage of my career] to get ready."

James played in only one preseason game at the outset of the 2017-18 season while he rehabbed an ankle injury.

James played in three preseason games in 2016.

Anthony Davis signed with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports and it has ramped up speculation over his future with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Davis will be eligible to sign a supermax contract in 2019 and his willingness to sign that deal or not will be an indicator of how he feels about his future with the Pelicans.

"I am predicting that Anthony Davis ends up in Los Angeles with LeBron James (next season) and they will be another dynamic duo trying to put together a squad to take down, potentially, the Golden State Warriors," said Jalen Rose.

Davis cannot become a free agent until 2020, which means the Lakers would have to trade for him.

LeBron James admitted the Los Angeles Lakers have "a long way to go" before they reach the same level as the Golden State Warriors.

"We got a long way to go to get to Golden State," James said when asked about the Warriors. "They can pick up right where they left off, starting with training camp. ... We are picking up from scratch so we got a long way to go. We can't worry about what Golden State is doing. ... They've been together for a few years now."

The Lakers kept their young core together this offseason after signing James while also adding a number of veterans.

"We are all new to each other, we have to take our bumps and our bruises," James added. "There are going to be good times and bad times. If we continue to work the process and continue to sacrifice for one another and put in the commitment and time to being great, everything else will fall into place."

The Monday press conference was the first time James has spoken with the Los Angeles media since signing with the Lakers.

Ryan Coogler will produce the long-anticipated sequel to Space Jam starring LeBron James.

Terence Nance, who created HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness and directed the experimental film The Oversimplification of Her Beauty, will direct. 

Production on the film will begin in 2019 during the NBA offseason.

“I loved his vision” for Black Panther, James tells The Hollywood Reporter, noting that when he was a kid growing up in Akron, Ohio, there were no black superheroes. "So for Ryan to be able to bring that to kids, it’s amazing.”

James has been in The Finals in every season dating back to 2011, which has shortened his typical offseason. James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.

Andrew Bynum worked out at the Los Angeles Lakers' practice facility this week as he pursues a return to the NBA.

While it wasn't an official workout with the Lakers, they gave him the opportunity for open gym runs.

Bynum hasn't played in the NBA since the 14-15 season.

LeBron James' SpringHill Entertainment has sold a script to NBC based on the life of Ben Simmons.

Brotherly Love is inspired by the life of Ben Simmons and centers on a unique sibling relationship within a multi-ethnic family. 

Former Fresh Off the Boat co-executive producer Kourtney Kang is co-executive producer.

Simmons was born and raised in Australia to an Australian mother and American-born professional basketball player father. 

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux), Kevin Pelton of ESPN (@kpelton) and Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated (@BenGolliver) go in-depth on the NBA’s Pacific Division.

They discuss how the Warriors, Lakers, Clippers, Suns and Kings fared in the off-season, including which teams improved and what moves stood out. The three also predict the season to come, including projected finish, breakout players and rookies they are most excited to see.

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