2024–25 Los Angeles Lakers season explained

The 2024–25 Los Angeles Lakers season is the 78th season of the franchise, its 77th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA), its 65th season in Los Angeles, and its 26th season playing home games at Crypto.com Arena. On May 3, 2024, the Lakers fired head coach Darvin Ham and all of their assistant coaches, including Phil Handy, who had been with the team since their 2020 championship season.^[2] On June 24, 2024, the Lakers hired JJ Redick as their new head coach. They entered the season as the defending NBA Cup champions.

Prior to the start of the season, the Lakers announced that jersey No. 21 would be retired in honor of Michael Cooper during their game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 13, 2025, after he was announced as a finalist for the 2024 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In their season-opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, LeBron James and his son Bronny made NBA history by becoming the first father-son duo to play together in the league.

For the first time since 2016–17, the Lakers won on opening night and started 3–0 for the first time since 2010–11. With their victory over the Utah Jazz on November 19, 2024, the Lakers posted their first six game winning streak in 3 seasons.

Draft

See main article: 2024 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College / team
1	17	Dalton Knecht	SF	United States	Tennessee
2	55	Bronny James	PG	United States	USC

The Lakers entered this draft (which was two days long instead of one day long like it had been since 1989) with a first-round pick and a second-round pick.^{[3] [4]} On the first night of the draft, the Lakers selected small forward Dalton Knecht from the University of Tennessee with the first round pick that was conveyed to the Lakers after the New Orleans Pelicans decided to defer it back to the Lakers in exchange for the Lakers' 2025 first-round pick through a previous trade they made. Then, on the second day of the draft, the Lakers selected University of Southern California guard Bronny James, the son of current Lakers player LeBron James, with the 55th pick of the draft. It would famously become the first time in NBA history that a father-son duo would play together in the NBA.

Standings

Conference

Game log

Preseason

Due to renovations at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers did not play any preseason games at their regular home arena. |- style="background:#fcc"| 1| October 4| Minnesota| | Knecht, Reaves (16)| Max Christie (7)| Austin Reaves (7)| Acrisure Arena
9,235| 0–1|- style="background:#fcc"| 2| October 6| Phoenix| | LeBron James (19)| Davis, Hachimura, Hayes (8)| Austin Reaves (7)| Acrisure Arena
9,494| 0–2|- style="background:#cfc"| 3| October 10| @ Milwaukee| | Rui Hachimura (14)| Davis, Knecht (8)| D'Angelo Russell (6)| Fiserv Forum
15,526| 1–2|- style="background:#fcc| 4| October 15| Golden State| | Anthony Davis (24)| Anthony Davis (12)| LeBron James (4)| T-Mobile Arena
16,907| 1–3|- style="background:#cfc"| 5| October 17| @ Phoenix| | Davis, Knecht (35)| Anthony Davis (10)| D'Angelo Russell (10)| Footprint Center
17,071| 2–3|- style="background:#fcc"| 6| October 18| @ Golden State| | Quincy Olivari (22)| Hayes, Olivari, Traoré (7)| Jalen Hood-Schifino (7)| Chase Center
18,064| 2–4

Regular season

|- style="background:#cfc| 1| October 22| Minnesota| | Anthony Davis (36)| Anthony Davis (16)| D'Angelo Russell (5)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc"| 2| October 25| Phoenix| | Anthony Davis (35)| Anthony Davis (8)| James, Reaves (8)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 2–0|- style="background:#cfc"| 3| October 26| Sacramento| | LeBron James (32)| LeBron James (14)| LeBron James (10)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 3–0|- style="background:#fcc"| 4| October 28| @ Phoenix| | Anthony Davis (29)| Anthony Davis (15)| James, Russell (8)| Footprint Center
17,071| 3–1|- style="background:#fcc"| 5| October 30| @ Cleveland| | LeBron James (26)| Anthony Davis (13)| D'Angelo Russell (5)| Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
19,432| 3–2|- style="background:#cfc"| 6| November 1| @ Toronto| | Anthony Davis (38)| Anthony Davis (11)| LeBron James (10)| Scotiabank Arena
19,800| 4–2|- style="background:#fcc"| 7| November 4| @ Detroit| | Anthony Davis (37)| Anthony Davis (9)| LeBron James (11)| Little Caesars Arena
20,062| 4–3|- style="background:#fcc"| 8| November 6| @ Memphis| | LeBron James (39)| Jaxson Hayes (10)| LeBron James (6)| FedExForum
17,794| 4–4|- style="background:#cfc"| 9| November 8| Philadelphia| | Anthony Davis (31)| LeBron James (12)| LeBron James (13)| Crypto.com Arena
18,485| 5–4|- style="background:#cfc"| 10| November 10| Toronto| | Austin Reaves (27)| LeBron James (10)| LeBron James (16)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 6–4|- style="background:#cfc"| 11| November 13| Memphis| | LeBron James (35)| Anthony Davis (14)| LeBron James (14)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 7–4|- style="background:#cfc"| 12| November 15| @ San Antonio| | Anthony Davis (40)| LeBron James (16)| LeBron James (12)| Frost Bank Center
18,916| 8–4|- style="background:#cfc| 13| November 16| @ New Orleans| | Anthony Davis (31)| Anthony Davis (14)| Austin Reaves (7)| Smoothie King Center
18,761 | 9–4|- style="background:#cfc| 14| November 19| Utah| | Dalton Knecht (37)| Anthony Davis (14)| LeBron James (12)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 10–4|- style="background:#fcc| 15| November 21| Orlando| | Anthony Davis (39)| LeBron James (10)| LeBron James (7)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 10–5|- style="background:#fcc| 16| November 23| Denver| | Austin Reaves (19)| Anthony Davis (10)| LeBron James (7)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 10–6|- style="background:#fcc| 17| November 26| @ Phoenix| | Anthony Davis (25)| Anthony Davis (15)| LeBron James (10)| Footprint Center
17,071| 10–7|- style="background:#cfc| 18| November 27| @ San Antonio| | Dalton Knecht (20)| Anthony Davis (14)| LeBron James (11)| Frost Bank Center
19,120| 11–7|- style="background:#fcc| 19| November 29| Oklahoma City| | Dalton Knecht (20)| Anthony Davis (12)| Anthony Davis (7)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 11–8|- style="background:#cfc| 20| December 1| @ Utah| | Anthony Davis (33)| Anthony Davis (11)| LeBron James (14)| Delta Center
18,175| 12–8|- style="background:#fcc| 21| December 2| @ Minnesota| | D'Angelo Russell (20)| Anthony Davis (11)| Davis, Russell (5)| Target Center
18,978| 12–9|- style="background:#| 22| December 4| @ Miami| | | | | Kaseya Center
| |- style="background:#| 23| December 6| @ Atlanta| | | | | State Farm Arena
| |- style="background:#| 24| December 8| Portland| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 25| December 13| @ Minnesota| | | | | Target Center
| |- style="background:#| 26| December 15| Memphis| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 27| December 19| @ Sacramento| | | | | Golden 1 Center
| |- style="background:#| 28| December 21| @ Sacramento| | | | | Golden 1 Center
| |- style="background:#| 29| December 23| Detroit| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 30| December 25| @ Golden State| | | | | Chase Center
| |- style="background:#| 31| December 28| Sacramento| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 32| December 31| Cleveland| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 33| January 2| Portland| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 34| January 3| Atlanta| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 35| January 5| @ Houston| | | | | Toyota Center
| |- style="background:#| 36| January 7| @ Dallas| | | | | American Airlines Center
| |- style="background:#| 37| January 9| Charlotte| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 38| January 11| San Antonio| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 39| January 13| San Antonio| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 40| January 15| Miami| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 41| January 17| Brooklyn| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 42| January 19| @ L.A. Clippers| | | | | Intuit Dome
| |- style="background:#| 43| January 21| Washington| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 44| January 23| Boston| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 45| January 25| @ Golden State| | | | | Chase Center
| |- style="background:#| 46| January 27| @ Charlotte| | | | | Spectrum Center
| |- style="background:#| 47| January 28| @ Philadelphia| | | | | Wells Fargo Center
| |- style="background:#| 48| January 30| @ Washington| | | | | Capital One Arena
| |- style="background:#| 49| February 1| @ New York| | | | | Madison Square Garden
| |- style="background:#| 50| February 4| @ L.A. Clippers| | | | | Intuit Dome
| |- style="background:#| 51| February 6| Golden State| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 52| February 8| Indiana| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 53| February 11| Utah| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 54| February 12| @ Utah| | | | | Delta Center
| |- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Game|- style="background:#| 55| February 20| @ Portland| | | | | Moda Center
| |- style="background:#| 56| February 22| @ Denver| | | | | Ball Arena
| |- style="background:#| 57| February 25| Dallas| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 58| February 27| Minnesota| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 59| February 28| L.A. Clippers| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 60| March 2| L.A. Clippers| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 61| March 4| New Orleans| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 62| March 6| New York| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 63| March 8| @ Boston| | | | | TD Garden
| |- style="background:#| 64| March 10| @ Brooklyn| | | | | Barclays Center
| |- style="background:#| 65| March 13| @ Milwaukee| | | | | Fiserv Forum
| |- style="background:#| 66| March 14| @ Denver| | | | | Ball Arena
| |- style="background:#| 67| March 16| Phoenix| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 68| March 18| Milwaukee| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 69| March 19| Denver| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 70| March 22| Chicago| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 71| March 24| @ Orlando| | | | | Kia Center
| |- style="background:#| 72| March 26| @ Indiana| | | | | Gainbridge Fieldhouse
| |- style="background:#| 73| March 27| @ Chicago| | | | | United Center
| |- style="background:#| 74| March 29| @ Memphis| | | | | FedExForum
| |- style="background:#| 75| March 31| Houston| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 76| April 3| Golden State| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 77| April 4| New Orleans| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 78| April 6| @ Oklahoma City| | | | | Paycom Center
| |- style="background:#| 79| April 8| @ Oklahoma City| | | | | Paycom Center
| |- style="background:#| 80| April 9| @ Dallas| | | | | American Airlines Center
| |- style="background:#| 81| April 11| Houston| | | | | Crypto.com Arena
| |- style="background:#| 82| April 13| @ Portland| | | | | Moda Center
|

NBA Cup

See main article: 2024 NBA Cup. The groups were revealed during the tournament announcement on July 12, 2024.^{[5] [6]}

West Group B

Game Log

|-style="background:#cfc"| 1| November 15| @ San Antonio| | Anthony Davis (40)| Anthony Davis (16)| LeBron James (12)| Frost Bank Center
18,916| 1–0|-style="background:#cfc;"| 2| November 19| Utah| | Dalton Knecht (37)| Anthony Davis (14)| LeBron James (12)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 2–0|-style="background:#fcc| 3| November 26| @ Phoenix| | Anthony Davis (25)| Anthony Davis (15)| LeBron James (10)| Footprint Center
17,071| 2–1|-style="background:#fcc| 4| November 29| Oklahoma City| | Dalton Knecht (20)| Anthony Davis (11)| Anthony Davis (8)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 2–2

Transactions

See main article: article and List of 2024–25 NBA season transactions.

Trades

Free agency

Re-signed

Date	Player	Contract terms	Ref.
July 6, 2024		Undisclosed	[7]
July 6, 2024		Undisclosed	[8]
July 6, 2024		Undisclosed	[9]

Additions

Date	Player	Contract terms	Former team	Ref.
July 5, 2024		Undisclosed	Pittsburgh Panthers	[10]
July 5, 2024		Undisclosed	ADA Blois	[11]
August 14, 2024		Undisclosed	Maine Celtics	[12]
August 14, 2024		Undisclosed	Xavier Musketeers	[13]
September 4, 2024		Undisclosed	South Bay Lakers	[14]
September 5, 2024		Undisclosed	Dallas Mavericks	[15]
September 6, 2024		Undisclosed	Memphis Grizzlies	[16]
September 16, 2024		Undisclosed	Toronto Raptors	[17]
October 18, 2024		Undisclosed	Dresden Titans	[18]

Subtractions

Date	Player	Reason	New team	Ref.
July 9, 2024		Free Agent	Milwaukee Bucks	[19]
August 3, 2024		Free Agent	Dallas Mavericks	[20]
September 24, 2024		Two-way contract	Golden State Warriors	[21]
September 25, 2024		Two-way contract	Minnesota Timberwolves	[22]
September 28, 2024		Two-way contract	Charlotte Hornets	[23]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Team Directory. 2020–21 Los Angeles Lakers Media Guide. NBA Properties. December 20, 2020. May 24, 2021.
2. Web site: Lakers Part Ways with Head Coach Darvin Ham. NBA.com. May 3, 2024. May 3, 2024.
3. Web site: 2024 NBA Draft Order: Picks 1-58. NBA.com. May 14, 2024. May 30, 2024.
4. Web site: Quinn. Sam. Why Pelicans are deferring the final Lakers' first-round pick from Anthony Davis trade until 2025. CBS Sports. June 1, 2024. June 2, 2024.
5. Web site: NBA unveils new logo and game dates for Emirates NBA Cup 2024. NBA.com. July 12, 2024. July 11, 2024.
6. Web site: Emirates NBA Cup 2024: Group Draw Results. NBA.com. July 13, 2024. July 12, 2024.
7. Web site: S.. Wong. Lakers Re-Sign Max Christie. NBA.com. July 6, 2024. July 6, 2024.
8. Web site: Los Angeles Lakers Re-Sign Lebron James. NBA.com. July 6, 2024. July 7, 2024.
9. Web site: Lakers Re-Sign Colin Castleton to Two-Way Contract. NBA.com. July 6, 2024. July 7, 2024.
10. Web site: Lakers Sign Blake Hinson and Armel Traore to Two-Way Contracts. NBA.com. July 5, 2024. July 5, 2024.
11. Web site: Lakers Sign Blake Hinson and Armel Traore to Two-Way Contracts. NBA.com. July 5, 2024. July 5, 2024.
12. Web site: Los Angeles Lakers Sign Kylor Kelley and Quincy Olivari. NBA.com. August 14, 2024. August 14, 2024.
13. Web site: Los Angeles Lakers Sign Kylor Kelley and Quincy Olivari. NBA.com. August 14, 2024. August 14, 2024.
14. Web site: Los Angeles Lakers Sign Vincent Valerio-Bodon. NBA.com. September 4, 2024. September 6, 2024.
15. Web site: Los Angeles Lakers Sign Alex Fudge. NBA.com. September 5, 2024. September 6, 2024.
16. Web site: Los Angeles Lakers Sign Jordan Goodwin. NBA.com. September 6, 2024. September 7, 2024.
17. Web site: Lakers Sign Christian Koloko to Two-Way Contract. NBA.com. September 16, 2024. September 16, 2024.
18. Web site: Los Angeles Lakers Sign Grayson Murphy. NBA.com. October 18, 2024. October 20, 2024.
19. Web site: Milwaukee Bucks Sign Taurean Prince. NBA.com. July 9, 2024. July 9, 2024.
20. Dallas Mavericks. Our guy is back. Welcome home, @SDinwiddie_25 @Chime // #MFFL. 1819742997707153704. dallasmavs. August 3, 2024. August 3, 2024.
21. Web site: Luke. Adams. Warriors Sign Blake Hinson To Exhibit 10 Contract. HoopsRumors.com. September 24, 2024. September 25, 2024.
22. Web site: Taylor. Nardinger. Timberwolves Sign Trevor Keels, Jaedon LeDee, Skylar Mays and Eugene Omoruyi. NBA.com. September 25, 2024. September 26, 2024.
23. Web site: Hornets Announce Roster Transactions. NBA.com. September 28, 2024. September 28, 2024.