Exclusive Articles - Page 21

Unlike most 16-year-olds, Zac Benalloul has already begun not only his career, but also a company: Benalloul Sports Management. He recently spoke with ClutchPoints about why he chose this career path, how he broke into the business, his current clients, and much more. How did you end up here? The way I ended up here, […]

Michael Jordan? LeBron James? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Kobe Bryant? NBA fans have been debating who the GOAT (greatest of all time) is for decades and will likely be debating it for  decades to come as the league develops more superstars. The conversations have been heating up the last few weeks as ‘The Last Dance’ documentary on […]

Caron Butler started out his 14-year NBA career with the Miami Heat after being selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. The following season, the Heat drafted the guy they thought would be his backcourt mate for years to come in Dwyane Wade. That all changed, however, once the Los Angeles […]

A decade ago, the Los Angeles Lakers were a dominant force in the NBA with Kobe Bryant leading the team to prominence in the league once again playing alongside what turned out to be the perfect teammate in Pau Gasol. In three straight NBA Finals appearances, the Lakers faced the Orlando Magic and the Boston […]

The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics goes back decades. The two storied franchises have 33 NBA titles between them. They met in the NBA Finals on numerous occasions with the most recent being 10 years ago when Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol led the way against a star-studded Celtics roster, which […]

In Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Klay Thompson tore his ACL, ending his season. The injury crippled both the Warriors’ hopes at a three-peat, and their dominant, dynastic run. Thompson’s recovery caused him to miss the entire 2019-20 season. On May 6, 2020, fans were given a rare glimpse into Thompson’s recovery process […]

During the Los Angeles Lakers’ run of dominance between 2008 and 2010, forward Pau Gasol played a pivotal role in the team’s success. The team acquired Gasol in a blockbuster trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in February of 2008, and the team was off and running as a legitimate title contender once again. Gasol proved […]

Two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol hasn’t dawned the purple and gold since 2014. The veteran forward played a pivotal role in the Los Angeles Lakers winning back-to-back titles a decade ago, but in the aftermath of the vetoed Chris Paul trade and the failed rebuild with Dwight Howard and Steve Nash that followed, Gasol decided […]

The 10th anniversary of the Los Angeles Lakers winning back-to-back titles with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol leading the way is right around the corner. The iconic franchise dominated the competition during a three-year span after the team acquired Gasol, and we have reached out to the members of the team to talk about what […]

During his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, big man Pau Gasol won two NBA titles and cemented a lasting bond with Kobe Bryant. Gasol became part of an elite one-two punch with Bryant and as a result, could see his No. 16 jersey hanging in the rafters along with his former teammate one day. […]

It has been 10 years since the Los Angeles Lakers won back-to-back titles. Kobe Bryant and company dominated the competition at that time reaching the NBA Finals in three straight years resulting in hoisting two more championship banners in the rafters at the Staples Center. Although the Lakers were a dominant force during their three-year […]

Few rivalries in professional sports have been able to stand the test of time like the one between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. Although the rivalry hasn’t been incredibly intense in recent years with the Lakers struggling and Boston remaining among the league’s best teams in the Eastern Conference, the bitter rivalry saw […]

The Athletic’s Ethan Sherwood Strauss recently published a book titled, “The Victory Machine: The Making and Unmaking of the Warriors Dynasty.” His book offers a unique look at the fast-moving, deal-making, often brutal world that built the Golden State Warriors basketball powerhouse. In this work of reportage, Strauss investigates the Warriors’ culture, their financial ambitions […]

During the world’s hiatus from sports, we took time to talk to DaKidGowie, a content creator who lives off the industry just like ClutchPoints. In this Q&A, we talk about how Gowie built his brand, where he fits in the sports media space, and how people interested in sports media should craft their passion. Even […]

A decade ago, the Los Angeles Lakers headed into an epic rematch in the NBA Finals with the arch-rival Boston Celtics. Kevin Garnett and company were able to take down Kobe Bryant’s squad two years prior as Los Angeles lost in six games, but in 2010, it was a different story for the purple and […]

It is no easy task to win back-to-back titles in any professional sport. Once a team like the Los Angeles Lakers is crowned NBA champion, next season the franchise has a target on its back with every team in the league gunning for defending champs. Derek Fisher, who won five NBA titles during his stint […]

In the second part of our 10th-anniversary series reflecting on the back-to-back titles won by the Los Angeles Lakers, Derek Fisher talks about the players on these championship teams that didn’t get the credit that they deserved for the roles they played in the team’s success. Although this team was stacked with talented players with […]

Back on June 16, 2010, the Los Angeles Lakers hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy once again with the storied franchise winning back-to-back NBA titles resulting in hanging a 16th championship banner at the Staples Center. With the 10th anniversary of the team’s last title approaching, we reached out to members of that Lakers squad that […]

Two-time NBA champion Adam Morrison first started his career in the league with the then-Charlotte Bobcats. The Gonzaga star was selected No. 3 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft, with Michael Jordan starting to play a significant role within the organization before ultimately becoming the owner of the team. Although Morrison admittedly didn’t have many […]

During his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers, Adam Morrison was able to play alongside a legend in Kobe Bryant and be a part of a squad that went on to win back-to-back titles. Although Morrison didn’t see much time on the floor while with the Lakers, the former Gonzaga superstar has many fond memories […]

Despite having only two championships in franchise history, the Houston Rockets have had some of the best players the league has ever seen. What’s even more impressive is that the Rockets have drafted a handful of Hall of Famers, proving their eye for talent over the years has been good. For this piece, we will […]

The NBA is more popular than ever. The NFL may still hold the top spot in this country as the most popular and profitable professional sports league, but the NBA is closing the gap with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers having global appeal, especially with superstar LeBron James being the face of the franchise. […]

With 16 championship banners hanging in the rafters at the Staples Center and some of the greatest players in NBA history coming through the organization during the team’s illustrious history, the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most popular and well-known sports franchise in the world. During an event to announce the partnership between […]

During the Showtime era, the Los Angeles Lakers were accustomed to physical play in the NBA on a nightly basis. The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons were extremely physical teams, and both squads led by Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas gave Magic Johnson and company a run for their money when they would go head-to-head. […]

ClutchPoints founder and CEO Nish Patel recently spoke with ESPN’s Jordan Schultz about his path into the sports media business, finding success in the industry, the most rewarding experiences of his career to date, growing a podcast alongside an NBA star, his aspirations moving forward, and the time that Ray Allen broke his nose in […]

LOS ANGELES – On Tuesday, March 24th, the LA Clippers announced that owner Steve Ballmer has reached a deal to purchase the Forum from the Madison Square Garden Company. The arena, formerly known as the Great Western Forum, was home to an enormous amount of memories for James Worthy, Magic Johnson, the Los Angeles Lakers, […]

Note: This article was written in March, 2020. LOS ANGELES – LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, 113-103. The game brought forth spectacular showings from two of the leading candidates for the season’s MVP award. James finished with 37 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, […]

LOS ANGELES – Dion Waiters was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, not too far from where Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant grew up. As Waiters grew up going to high school in South Philly and eventually playing basketball at Syracuse, the legend of Kobe Bryant grew with it. That’s why the passing of the Lakers […]

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to impose their will on the rest of the NBA. The storied franchise is atop the Western Conference with a 33-7 record as they approach the halfway point of the 2019-20 campaign. The LeBron James-Anthony Davis duo has exceeded expectations, and championship aspirations are a reality this season. Along with […]

The Los Angeles Lakers have returned to elite status in the NBA this season with superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way for the storied franchise. After six years without a playoff appearance, the Lakers fan base is anxious for another title. Former Laker and current Spectrum SportsNet analyst, Jordan Farmar, knows what […]

The Los Angeles Lakers are a historic NBA franchise with 16 championship banners hanging in the rafters at the Staples Center and with 11 numbers retired. History, success, and excellence are synonymous with the Lakers. So many iconic players have come through the Lakers organization like Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille […]

The Los Angeles Lakers made an unexpected move recently when the team decided to part ways with rookie guard Zach Norvell Jr., who inked a two-way deal with the team on July 1. The Gonzaga product made a name for himself during the NBA Summer League, putting his scoring ability and clutch shooting on display […]

Esports is without a doubt the wave of the future. Gaming has become incredibly popular over the past few years with sports game franchises like NBA2K, FIFA, and Madden as popular as ever. Along with these wildly popular games being apart of everyday life for many households around the world, a lot of other games […]

Social media can be a cruel and dark place, even for professional athletes. Although a lot of good can come from us all being connected through social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, a lot of harm can be done as well. NBA players like Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley have seen the […]

After 14 games, the Los Angeles Lakers have an NBA-best 12 wins. They are looking like a legitimate title contender in the Western Conference with superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way for the purple and gold. Even though there’s a lot of basketball left to be played and anything can happen from […]

Load management has become a common phrase in the NBA today. The phrase is usually used for star players like Kawhi Leonard of the L.A. Clippers or Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James to sit out of games during the regular season to keep them fresh for the playoffs. Former Lakers forward Metta World Peace […]

LOS ANGELES – On Tuesday night, Memphis Grizzlies rookie point guard Ja Morant got his first look at a superstar duo in the NBA. The Murray State product faced the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time in his career and had to deal with the likes of superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Even […]

LOS ANGELES – On Tuesday night, Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers begin their journey towards their first ever NBA Championship against the Los Angeles Lakers. Fans from both teams will show up rocking their respective L.A. team’s gear and will be on their feet for most of the night, regardless of who they’re cheering […]

The 2019-20 NBA season is right around the corner with teams and players around the league gearing up for another 82-game grind. Along with superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis preparing for the rigors of the season with the Los Angeles Lakers, some players are fighting to make an impression and prove their worth to […]