Los Angeles Lakers
Subject in Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers has come up in 9 episodes across 3 podcasts in TMT, including Pardon My Take, The Bill Simmons Podcast, Digital Social Hour. 5 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Dan KatzBarstool Sports personality known as Big Cat, co-host of Pardon My Take
Katz says the Lakers were never close to the Thunder's level, even with Luka Dončić.
“The Lakers were never even close to being as good as the Thunder”
Pardon My Take: Brooks Koepka, PGA Championship With Shane Bacon, Wemby's Revenge, Lebron's Last Game? Plus Guys On Chicks (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 39:55
Katz argued that even a healthy Luka Dončić would not let the Lakers beat the Thunder.
“No, it would matter a little bit, but I'm saying healthy Luka, the Lakers still do not win this series”
Pardon My Take: Tracy McGrady, Knicks Go Up 2-0, James Harden Is Still James Harden, Boat Pictures And Fyre Fest of The Week (May 8, 2026) · Listen from 10:05
- Came true
Katz predicted the Lakers would likely be beaten badly by Oklahoma City while praising their series win over Houston.
“I think they're probably going to get smashed by OKC, but it doesn't mean that that wasn't like an insanely impressive series”
Pardon My Take: Live From Max's Bachelor Party, Sixers Take Down Celtics, Jerry O'Connell And Dante The Don Join The Show, NBA/NHL Playoffs Plus Max's Brothers (May 4, 2026) · Listen from 41:09
Zach LoweRinger NBA analyst referenced repeatedly
Lowe argued that with Dončić and Reaves out, the Lakers become the team a top western seed would most want to face in the first round.
“i think the lakers clearly surpass the rockets as the team that you'd most want to play in the first round”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 17:03
- Partly true
Lowe said he would estimate roughly a month's absence for Dončić, which would keep him out of the first round of the playoffs.
“i'm going to just ballpark a month and okay so you're trusting the intel plus or minus a month and that takes him out of the first round of the playoffs”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 17:03
Jimmy TatroAmerican actor, comedian and writer
Tatro, a Kobe Bryant fan, says he did not love LeBron's vibe on the Lakers but respects him.
“I didn't love the vibe that he kind of – I don't love his vibe. But I respect him”
Pardon My Take: Jimmy Tatro, Open Champion Winner Ryan Fox, LeBron Will Never Make A Decision, Mt Rushmore Of Non Edible Things That Look Delicious + FAQ’s (Jul 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:22:19
Ryen RussilloSports broadcaster and host of The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Russillo says Deandre Ayton is talented but not reliable in tough playoff situations.
“He's an incredibly talented guy. But he's just not a foxhole guy at all”
Pardon My Take: Ryen Russillo In Studio, NFL Schedule Release, Zoo Trades, Playoffs And Fyre Fest (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 1:13:38
PFT CommenterBarstool Sports writer and co-host of Pardon My Take
- Prediction · due Oct 2026
PFT Commenter predicts LeBron James will play next season but not for the Lakers.
“now I think that he is going to not be a Laker next year, but he will play in the NBA”
Pardon My Take: Brooks Koepka, PGA Championship With Shane Bacon, Wemby's Revenge, Lebron's Last Game? Plus Guys On Chicks (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 48:49
Predictions
- Prediction · due Oct 2026PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter predicts LeBron James will play next season but not for the Lakers.
“now I think that he is going to not be a Laker next year, but he will play in the NBA”
Pardon My Take: Brooks Koepka, PGA Championship With Shane Bacon, Wemby's Revenge, Lebron's Last Game? Plus Guys On Chicks (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 48:49 · Los Angeles Lakers
- Came trueDan Katz
Katz predicted the Lakers would likely be beaten badly by Oklahoma City while praising their series win over Houston.
“I think they're probably going to get smashed by OKC, but it doesn't mean that that wasn't like an insanely impressive series”
Pardon My Take: Live From Max's Bachelor Party, Sixers Take Down Celtics, Jerry O'Connell And Dante The Don Join The Show, NBA/NHL Playoffs Plus Max's Brothers (May 4, 2026) · Listen from 41:09 · Los Angeles Lakers
Oklahoma City swept the Lakers 4-0 in the 2026 West semifinals. The Thunder won the first two games by an average of 18 points (including 125-107 in Game 2) and Game 3 by 131-108; only Game 4 was close, a 115-110 win on May 11, 2026.
Sources: Thunder 115-110 Lakers (May 11, 2026) Game Recap - ESPN · Thunder 131-108 Lakers (May 9, 2026) Game Recap - ESPN · Thunder 125-107 Lakers (May 7, 2026) Game Recap - ESPN · Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers - May 11, 2026 - CBS Sports
Checked Oct 6, 2026
- Partly trueZach Lowe
Lowe said he would estimate roughly a month's absence for Dončić, which would keep him out of the first round of the playoffs.
“i'm going to just ballpark a month and okay so you're trusting the intel plus or minus a month and that takes him out of the first round of the playoffs”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 17:03 · Los Angeles Lakers
Dončić, who strained his left hamstring (Grade 2) on April 2, 2026, did miss the whole first round, which the Lakers won over Houston in six games. But he was out far longer than the roughly one month Lowe estimated: he missed the entire postseason, which ended with the Thunder's sweep on May 11, and said afterward he 'wasn't close' to returning.
Sources: Luka Dončić says he wasn't close to returning from injury | NBA.com · Luka Doncic Updates Injury Status, Reacts to Lakers Getting Swept by Thunder in 2026 NBA Playoffs · Luka Dončić gives first update since injury, shares timeline for return | Silver Screen and Roll
Checked Sep 30, 2026
Coverage over time
Podcasts
- Pardon My Take · 6 episodes
- The Bill Simmons Podcast · 2 episodes
- Digital Social Hour · 1 episode
Episodes
Jimmy Tatro, Open Champion Winner Ryan Fox, LeBron Will Never Make A Decision, Mt Rushmore Of Non Edible Things That Look Delicious + FAQ’sPardon My Take · Jul 22, 2026 · 2 h 37 min
The Pardon My Take hosts discuss LeBron James's free agency and Bryson DeChambeau, then interview actor Jimmy Tatro about Hawk and golfer Ryan Fox about winning the Open.
Emergency Jaylen Brown Trade Reaction + Timm Woods And The Return Of Dungeons And DragonsPardon My Take · Jul 2, 2026 · 2 h 58 min
Pardon My Take hosts react live to Jaylen Brown's trade to the 76ers and the USMNT's World Cup win, then play Dungeons & Dragons with Timm Woods.
New York Wins the Title, Brunson Wins Immortality, and Knicks Fans Have a Zihuatanejo Moment With Zach LoweThe Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 14, 2026 · 1 h 41 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react live to the Knicks winning the 2026 NBA Finals in Game 5, Jalen Brunson's 45 points, the Spurs' fallout, and offseason storylines.
Ryen Russillo In Studio, NFL Schedule Release, Zoo Trades, Playoffs And Fyre FestPardon My Take · May 15, 2026 · 2 h 30 min
The Pardon My Take crew reacts to the NFL schedule, PGA Championship and a zoo gorilla trade, then Ryen Russillo discusses the NBA playoffs, the draft and solo travel.
Brooks Koepka, PGA Championship With Shane Bacon, Wemby's Revenge, Lebron's Last Game? Plus Guys On ChicksPardon My Take · May 13, 2026 · 2 h 54 min
The Pardon My Take crew covers the NBA playoffs, a Wizards bet and Giannis rumors, then interviews Brooks Koepka and Shane Bacon ahead of the 2026 PGA Championship.
He Took the NBA to the Supreme Court... & Won... | Spencer Haywood | DSH #1955Digital Social Hour · May 8, 2026 · 1 h 4 min
Basketball Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood tells Sean Kelly about his Supreme Court fight against the NBA, 1968 Olympic gold, racism, addiction, therapy and family.
Tracy McGrady, Knicks Go Up 2-0, James Harden Is Still James Harden, Boat Pictures And Fyre Fest of The WeekPardon My Take · May 8, 2026 · 2 h 19 min
Big Cat, PFT Commenter and crew break down the 2026 NBA second round, the Vrabel boat photos, and interview Tracy McGrady about his one-on-one league.
Live From Max's Bachelor Party, Sixers Take Down Celtics, Jerry O'Connell And Dante The Don Join The Show, NBA/NHL Playoffs Plus Max's BrothersPardon My Take · May 4, 2026 · 2 h 15 min
From Max Delente's Las Vegas bachelor party, the Pardon My Take crew recaps the 76ers' Game 7 win over the Celtics, the NBA and NHL playoffs, and weekend stories with Jerry O'Connell and Dante the Don.
- The 2026 Made-Up NBA Awards With Zach Lowe
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Apr 6, 2026 · 2 h 5 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react to a Nuggets-Spurs overtime thriller, the Lakers' injuries, and hand out their 2026 made-up NBA awards.