A hollywood ending, p.38
A Hollywood Ending, page 38
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“I know you got me”: Starting 5 (Netflix, 2024– ), Episode 1.
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“When I look around”: Dave McMenamin, “The Lakers’ Inconsistent, Injury-Filled Season Leaves Two Massive Questions,” ESPN, April 30, 2024.
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Paul called ESPN’s Brian Windhorst: Brian Windhorst, “LeBron James Won’t Ask for Trade or Be Traded by Lakers, Agent Says,” ESPN, February 2, 2024.
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two teams even called the Lakers: Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, “Sources: Dubs Made Bid for LeBron at Deadline,” ESPN, February 14, 2024.
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encouraged team owner Joe Lacob: Wojnarowski and Shelburne, “Dubs Made Bid for LeBron at Deadline.”
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Lacob reached out to Jeanie: Wojnarowski and Shelburne, “Dubs Made Bid for LeBron at Deadline.”
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14. Mind the Game
a list of candidates: Jovan Buha and Shams Charania, “JJ Redick, James Borrego, Sam Cassell Emerge as Early Top Targets for Lakers’ Coaching Job: Sources,” The Athletic, May 14, 2024.
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“JJ’s greatest strength”: Stephen Noh, “Former NBA Coach Says Lakers Expectations for JJ Redick Are ‘a Little Bit Crazy,’ Laments Los Angeles’ Roster,” Sporting News, October 18, 2024.
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“What I really miss”: Tyler Conway, “Lakers Rumors: JJ Redick Eyed by Insiders as HC Front-Runner, Job Is ‘His to Lose,’ ” Bleacher Report, 2024.
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coaching could be the solution: Josh Rosenberg, “JJ Redick Is Putting the NBA Through Therapy, One Podcast at a Time,” Esquire, December 22, 2022.
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in May 2023 with the Raptors: Adrian Wojnarowski, “JJ Redick Interviews for Raptors’ Coaching Job, Sources Say,” ESPN, May 10, 2023.
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chatted for about ninety minutes: Adrian Wojnarowski, “Sources: Lakers to Interview JJ Redick for Coaching Job,” ESPN, June 13, 2024.
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the same pair of red boxers: Kirsten Fleming, “UConn Coach Danny Hurley Won’t Change Any of His Clothes, Including His Lucky Dragon Underwear, Until Huskies Lose,” New York Post, March 29, 2023.
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the only way he’d ever leave UConn: Pete Thamel, “Hurley Plans to Stay at UConn, Chase a Dynasty,” ESPN, April 9, 2024.
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“If your whole life has been”: Matt Norlander, “Why Dan Hurley Stayed at UConn: Texts with LeBron James, Billy Joel Concert Lead to Decision to Spurn Lakers,” CBS Sports, 2024.
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“I explained this was”: Dan Hurley, interview by Graham Bensinger, In Depth with Graham Bensinger, September 2024.
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“I just couldn’t believe that my husband”: Hurley, interview by Bensinger.
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He looked for guidance: Michael Cohen, “ ‘One, Two, Three, Stay’: Inside Dan Hurley’s Choice to Pass on ‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Job,” Fox Sports, June 14, 2024.
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“I put the phone away”: Norlander, “Why Dan Hurley Stayed at UConn.”
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“If a decision is really hard”: Norlander, “Why Dan Hurley Stayed at UConn.”
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“It was a hard time period”: JJ Redick, interview by Zach Lowe, The Lowe Post, September 25, 2024.
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was visiting his alma mater: Dave McMenamin, “How Coach JJ Redick, LeBron James and the Lakers Got Here,” ESPN, September 30, 2024.
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he and LeBron were chatting: McMenamin, “How Coach JJ Redick, LeBron James and the Lakers Got Here.”
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15. Jr.
“You about ready?”: Tom Dierberger, “Mics Caught LeBron’s Message to Bronny James on Lakers’ Bench Before NBA Debut,” Sports Illustrated, October 23, 2024.
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he took her to an Outback Steakhouse: “LeBron and Savannah James Mourn the Closing of Their ‘First Date’ Spot—an Outback Steakhouse in Akron, Ohio,” People, 2024.
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“I didn’t have a dad”: “LeBron James of Los Angeles Lakers Says He Regrets Naming Son LeBron Jr. Due to Pressure,” ESPN, July 27, 2018.
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“I put it in the air because”: Chris Ballard, “LeBron James Wants to Play with His Sons, Bronny and Bryce. Got a Problem with That?,” Sports Illustrated, August 30, 2022.
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had full creative control: Ballard, “LeBron James Wants to Play with His Sons.”
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Bronny blacked out: Luca Evans, “ ‘Like He Was Trapped in a Box’: The Oral History of Bronny James’ Heart Scare,” Orange County Register, January 23, 2024.
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“He could play for us”: Erin Walsh, “LeBron James Reportedly Heard Saying Bronny Could Play for Lakers ‘Right Now. Easy.’,” Bleacher Report, 2025.
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“It was just one of those great moments”: Jeanie Buss, interview by Rich Eisen, The Rich Eisen Show, October 2023.
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If you take him: Ryan Glasspiegel, “Rich Paul Threatening Teams Bronny James Will Play in Australia If Picked in NBA Draft: Bob Myers,” New York Post, June 27, 2024.
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“Bronny, you got Rob Pelinka here”: Los Angeles Lakers, “Behind the Scenes: Lakers Make the Call to Draft Bronny James,” YouTube, June 28, 2024.
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16. The Luka Lakers
“We have to play close to perfect”: “Anthony Davis Says Lakers ‘Right There’ but Need to Add Center,” ESPN, January 24, 2025.
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a five-year, $40 million offer: Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon, “ ‘Unfathomable’: How This Stunning Luka Doncic–Anthony Davis Trade Came Together for Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks,” ESPN, February 3, 2025.
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Not by Harrison, though: Shelburne and MacMahon, “ ‘Unfathomable.’ ”
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The two met up at a café: Shelburne and MacMahon, “ ‘Unfathomable.’ ”
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Over coffee: Shelburne and MacMahon, “ ‘Unfathomable.’ ”
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“I thought my phone was hacked”: Joseph Zucker, “Shams Charania: ‘I Thought My Phone Was Hacked’ When I Got Luka-AD Trade Details,” Bleacher Report, February 3, 2025.
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Pelinka called to share the news: Dave McMenamin, X, February 2, 2025.
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took time to huddle with Dončić: Dave McMenamin, “Inside the Most Chaotic, Transformational NBA Trade Deadline in Lakers History,” ESPN, February 10, 2025.
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“I’ve never seen [LeBron] as happy”: Brigid Kennedy, “Carmelo Anthony Says LeBron James Looks Happier Than Ever After Luka Doncic Trade,” Sports Illustrated, March 6, 2025.
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Sources
The following is a list of the sources that I drew upon most.
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Abrams, Jonathan. Boys Among Men: How the Prep-to-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution. Three Rivers Press, 2017.
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Albom, Mitch. Fab Five: Basketball, Trash Talk, the American Dream. Grand Central Publishing, 1994.
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Amick, Sam. “Absent a ‘System,’ the Pressure and Angst Is Being Turned Up on These Lakers.” New York Times, November 3, 2018.
———. “Jeanie Buss Unplugged: On Lakers Power Structure, LeBron’s Future, Russell Westbrook and More.” The Athletic, August 30, 2022.
———. “Lakers Coach Luke Walton Adjusting to New Landscape in Los Angeles.” USA Today, March 5, 2017.
———. “Landing LeBron: How Jeanie Buss Became the ‘Mother of Dragons’ with an Assist from Kobe and Spawned a New Lakers Golden Era.” The Athletic, September 26, 2020.
———. “Magic Johnson Reveals Details About Meeting That Sealed LeBron James to the Lakers.” USA Today, July 13, 2018.
Arango, Tim. “LeBron Inc.” Fortune, December 10, 2007.
Associated Press. “Jeanie Buss, Fearing Brothers’ Takeover of Lakers, Briefly Takes to Court.” New York Times, March 4, 2017.
Ball, Lonzo. Interview by JJ Redick. The JJ Redick Podcast, April 2020.
Ballard, Chris. “LeBron James Wants to Play with His Sons, Bronny and Bryce. Got a Problem with That?” Sports Illustrated, August 30, 2022.
Benedict, Jeff. LeBron. Simon & Schuster, 2023.
Bergeron, Elena. “Kentucky’s Anthony Davis Is Next.” ESPN The Magazine, December 26, 2011.
Beverley, Patrick. The Pat Beverley Show. Episodes on January 10, 2023; October 18, 2020; and February 14, 2023.
Beverley, Patrick, and D’Angelo Russell. Interview by Patrick Beverley. The Pat Beverley Show, August 2, 2023.
Boyd, Flinder. “Luke Walton’s Road to Coaching: Hippies, Hoops…and Hazing?” Bleacher Report, 2017.
Bresnahan, Mike. “Bryant Not Working with a Secret Agent.” Los Angeles Times, July 14, 2004.
———. “How the Lakers Lost LaMarcus Aldridge.” Los Angeles Times, July 1, 2015.
Broussard, Chris. “The Chosen’s One.” ESPN The Magazine, December 25, 2012.
Bryant, Kobe. Interview by Rich Eisen. The Rich Eisen Show, August 2018.
Buha, Jovan. “Inside the Lakers’ Recent Draft Success and Their Preparation for the No. 22 Pick.” New York Times, July 28, 2021.
Buha, Jovan, and Sam Amick. “A Lakers Dream Turned to Nightmare: Inside the ‘Toxic’ End of the Russell Westbrook Era.” The Athletic, February 9, 2023.
Buss, Jeanie. Interview by Danny Green. Inside the Green Room, September 2020.
———. Interview by Graham Bensinger. In Depth with Graham Bensinger, October 2024.
———. Interview by Rich Eisen. The Rich Eisen Show, October 2023.
———. Interview by Rich Kleiman. The Boardroom Podcast, November 2021.
———. Interview by Zach Lowe. The Lowe Post, January 2019.
Buss, Jeanie, and Steve Springer. Laker Girl. Triumph Books, 2013.
Caruso, Alex. Interview by Danny Green. Inside the Green Room, December 2019.
———. Interview by JJ Redick. The JJ Redick Show, November 2020; November 2021.
———. Interview by Zach Lowe. The Lowe Post, May 2020.
Clarkson, Jordan. Interview by Zach Lowe. The Lowe Post, March 2021.
Chotiner, Isaac. “LeBron James’s Agent Is Transforming the Business of Basketball.” New Yorker, May 31, 2021.
Cohen, Ben. “Alex Caruso: The LeBron of Playing with LeBron.” Wall Street Journal, October 18, 2020.
———. “How LeBron, Magic and the Lakers Failed.” Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2019.
———. “LeBron James and the Golden Age of Geezer Athletes.” Wall Street Journal, December 22, 2019.
Connally, C. Ellen. “Book Review: Cleveland’s 21st-Century Horatio Alger by C. Ellen Connally.” CoolCleveland.com, October 16, 2023.
Cook, Quinn. Interview by Danny Green. Inside the Green Room, October 2019.
Davis, Anthony. Interview by D’Angelo Russell. The Backyard Podcast, February 2024.
Dawson, Brett. “The Summer When a Skinny Anthony Davis Had Chicago ‘Buzzing About Him.’ ” The Athletic, February 15, 2020.
Ding, Kevin. “A Family Divided: Unrest Growing in Buss Family as Lakers Struggle to Rebuild.” Bleacher Report, June 8, 2018.
Drape, Joe. “LeBron James’s Representative Completes His Own Journey.” New York Times, August 17, 2014.
Dudley, Jared. Interview by Adrian Wojnarowski. The Woj Pod, July 2019.
———. Interview by Bill Simmons. The Bill Simmons Podcast, October 2020.
———. Interview by Danny Green. Inside the Green Room, January 2021.
———. Interview by Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye. Road Trippin’, October 2019.
———. Interview by Ryen Russillo. The Ryen Russillo Show, November 2019.
———. Interview by Zach Lowe. The Lowe Post, February 2020.
Dudley, Jared, and Carvell Wallace. Inside the NBA Bubble. Amazon Original Stories, 2021.
Elliott, Helene. “Elliott: Lakers Made Right Choice in Hiring Frank Vogel.” Los Angeles Times, September 27, 2020.
Evans, Luca. “ ‘Like He Was Trapped in a Box’: The Oral History of Bronny James’ Heart Scare.” Orange County Register, January 23, 2024.
Fader, Mirin. “The Summer of Austin Reaves.” The Ringer, October 17, 2023.
———. “The Wait and Weight for Bronny James.” The Ringer, March 6, 2024.
Fenno, Nathan. “In Court Papers, Jeanie Buss Says Brother Was ‘Completely Unfit’ to Run Lakers’ Basketball Operations.” Los Angeles Times, March 5, 2017.
———. “It Was 16 Months Ago When Jeanie Buss Made a Daring Move to Seize Control of the Lakers.” Los Angeles Times, July 4, 2018.
Fischer, Jake. Built to Lose: How the NBA’s Tanking Era Changed the League Forever. Triumph Books, 2021.
Frydenlund, Zach. “Rich Paul and the Art of Building a Powerhouse Sports Agency from Scratch.” Complex, December 7, 2016.
Fuqua, Antoine. Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers. Hulu, 2022.
Ganguli, Tania. “Jeanie Buss Believes Luke Walton Can Be the Lakers Coach for 10–15 Years, ‘as Long as We Don’t Kill Him.’ ” Los Angeles Times, March 30, 2017.
———. “Johnny Buss Distances Himself from Siblings and the Lakers.” Los Angeles Times, June 18, 2017.
———. “Lakers Championship Was a Real Coup for Jeanie Buss.” Los Angeles Times, October 14, 2020.
———. “Lakers Coach Frank Vogel Is Positively Just Being Himself.” Los Angeles Times, December 22, 2019.
———. “Lakers in China: How the Team and NBA Navigated the Crisis amid Tumultuous Week.” Los Angeles Times, October 15, 2019.
———. “Lakers! What Winning the NBA Championship Meant to Each Laker.” Los Angeles Times, October 16, 2020.
———. “Lakers’ Frank Vogel Has Won Over His Players, Including LeBron.” Los Angeles Times, December 3, 2019.
———. “When an NBA Dad’s Love for His Family Comes Bubble-Wrapped.” Los Angeles Times, August 15, 2020.
———. “How LeBron James and NBA Players Decided to Resume Season.” Los Angeles Times, August 28, 2020.
———. “How Magic Johnson’s Late-Night Meeting Sealed the Lakers’ Deal for LeBron James.” Los Angeles Times, July 2, 2018.
Gold, Jon. “Jeanie Buss Is Laughing Through Her Pain.” New York Times, July 12, 2021.
Golianopoulos, Thomas. “Family Business.” Grantland, April 3, 2015.
Goon, Kyle. “In His Coaching Journey, Lakers’ Darvin Ham Has Learned to Weather the Storm.” Orange County Register, November 19, 2022.
Gregory, Sean. “LeBron James Is TIME’s 2020 Athlete of the Year.” Time, 2020.
Greif, Andrew. “The Inside Story Why Chris Paul’s Trade to Lakers Was Vetoed.” Los Angeles Times, December 13, 2021.
Golliver, Ben. Bubbleball: Inside the NBA’s Fight to Save a Season. Abrams, 2021.
Ham, Darvin. Interview by Marc Stein and Chris Haynes. The Stein and Haynes Podcast, July 2023.
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