Why Warriors-Lakers was the quiet end of an incredible NBA era — SkimNews
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- Lakers defeated the Warriors 127-105 on opening night, with Luka Doncic scoring 28 points and dishing seven assists.
- Austin Reaves signed a four-year, $180 million deal to remain with the Lakers and is now the longest-tenured Laker after six seasons in Los Angeles.
- LeBron James joined the Sixers on a two-year, $8 million deal and recorded 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in Philadelphia’s opening-night win in New York.
- Luka Doncic took out a full-page LA Times ad, offered free parking and bike rides, and addressed the home crowd before the game to connect with supporters.
- Walker Kessler made 12 field goals without a miss and 10 dunks; his field goals were the most by a Laker since Chamberlain in 1969, while his dunks were the most in a game since O’Neal had 11 twice in 2003.
- Steve Kerr said the Warriors’ four consecutive Finals meetings with James’s Cavaliers remain iconic, but called the current squads “a new Lakers team, and a new Warriors team.”
Why it matters: Reaves’ four-year, $180 million deal and six seasons make him the Lakers’ longest-tenured player, but James’ two-year, $8 million exit transfers the lead role to Doncic. Their 127-105 win over Golden State came under that changed arrangement, which Kerr described as a new Lakers team and a new Warriors team.
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