HoopsHype.com Rumors

The coach’s son did receive support from Lakers’ family members — Kristen Blake, Steve’s wife, and Daniel Artest, the brother of Metta World Peace. Steve Blake and his family received death threats on Twitter during last season’s playoffs. Kristen Blake wrote on Twitter: “Leave Mike Brown’s son alone. What’s wrong with u people?! Stop attacking FAMILIES! How would you feel if YOUR family was treated like that?” Artest wrote: “Leave my homie @elijah_brown_4 alone tho. Says a lot about u attacking a kid online over a damn game” Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Steve Blake, Mike Brown, Metta World Peace 

What’s your version of what happened Friday night at the game?: Lance Jackson: “Well, first of all, I want to say I have the utmost respect for the game, the Lakers organization and most importantly the players. I have been going to games my entire life and we’re passionate fans, but I have never and would never ever use profanity towards any player, or anyone for that matter. With that being said, we’re really just trying to encourage Steve Blake and get him going. I told him to knock down a shot and it was just the heat of the moment type of thing. He’s a great guy and, like I said, just heat of the moment and he just got upset.” Sports Radio Interviews

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake, Lance Jackson 

Take us behind the scenes with the Steve Blake meeting you had. What did he say?: “We really talked about what happened and Steve Blake was really apologetic. That was really the gist of it. It was just a misunderstanding and he was frustrated and fans were frustrated. That was it. That’s all it really came down to. We’ve been fans forever and never had any issues, and Steve Blake knows we’ve been fans for a long time. We know Steve Blake is a great person and it was really just, like I said, heat of the moment and there’s nothing much else to it. It spiraled out of control from there.” Sports Radio Interviews

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake, Lance Jackson 

According to Jackson, he was shouting to Blake about "making your open shots." Another source says t Jackson was actually peppering his message with personal expletives. In the final minute of the game, Blake began firing back, shouting at Jackson from across the court, then actually approaching his courtside seat and cursing directly at him after fouling out with 29.2 seconds remaining. It was such a stunning scene, the personable Blake angrily confronting a member of one of the Lakers' first families, that the Lakers announcers gave a blow-by-blow on television. Said analyst Stu Lantz: "Are you kidding me?" Said play-by-play announcer Bill Macdonald: "That didn't look like a friendly conversation." Added Lantz: "Not at all, if you walk across the floor to talk to someone in the first row. But also you have to wonder what the fan was saying to him." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake 

Lance Jackson and his father reached out to Blake in hopes of clearing the air, and Blake reached back. They met Tuesday in an office at the Lakers practice facility, where Blake apologized, and the apology was accepted. Said Blake: "I didn't have to do it, but they didn't have to reach out as well, and it shows what kind of character they have." Said Lance Jackson: "Steve seems like a great person, it all happened at the heat of the moment." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake 

After getting fined $25,000 by the NBA for inappropriate language directed toward a fan, Steve Blake met with the fan and his father, longtime court-side ticket-holder Steve Jackson, at the team's practice facility on Tuesday. "We got a chance to speak and talk about the situation," said Blake. "I just let him know that I was sorry for the way I acted. I didn't handle myself the way I wanted to. We were able to talk and hopefully build a relationship off of that." FoxSportsWest.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake 

After getting fined $25,000 by the NBA for inappropriate language directed toward a fan, Steve Blake met with the fan and his father, longtime court-side ticket-holder Steve Jackson, at the team's practice facility on Tuesday. "We got a chance to speak and talk about the situation," said Blake. "I just let him know that I was sorry for the way I acted. I didn't handle myself the way I wanted to. We were able to talk and hopefully build a relationship off of that." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake 

Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Blake has been fined $25,000 for directing inappropriate language toward a fan, the NBA announced Tuesday. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake 

According to multiple sources (and included in my story on ESPNLA.comRead more at ESPN › ) all the fan said to Blake was, "You need to knock down those open shots," as Blake was going through a 2-for-6 night. The story I heard was that a fan sitting somewhere behind the fan sitting courtside who Blake ended up directing his inappropriate comments at yelled something to the effect of, "You suck" and Blake thought it was coming from the wrong guy. Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake 

Steve Blake: Thoughts and prayers for @Steve Nash and a speedy recovery from his injury! #LakerFamily Twitter @SteveBlake5

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Steve Blake 

Plenty of dominoes still have to fall before Fisher, who finished last season with Oklahoma City, actually winds up back at Staples Center in purple and gold. Fisher, for starters, will have to decide how long he’s willing to wait for the Lakers to open up a slot in their backcourt rotation for him. They currently have too many point guards and too high a payroll to sign him now, which account for two of the reasons that L.A. -- as ESPN.com reported Friday -- is shopping Steve Blake and Chris Duhon. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Derek Fisher, Chris Duhon, Steve Blake 

Brown said he can also see both Morris and Blake playing minutes at the shooting guard position this season. "Darius is a big guard so if he's out there, he can play the two sometimes," Brown said. "Same with Steve [Blake], he can play the two also. I look at them as guards, rather than just point guards." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake, Mike Brown, Darius Morris 

It's not feasible for the Lakers to bring back Fisher now, with a payroll approaching $100 million, but sources with knowledge of their thinking say that the team has made it clear to the rest of the league that Chris Duhon and/or Steve Blake are available via trade to any interested party willing to absorb their respective contracts. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Chris Duhon, Steve Blake 

Steve Blake: He said I am healing great and I'm cleared to use my heel now and start spot shooting. I'll be playing again in no time. Can't wait. Twitter @SteveBlake5

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake, Injuries 

Lakers guard Steve Blake suffered a puncture wound to his left foot after stepping on a spike strip in a parking lot, it was announced today. Blake will be prohibited from participating in any impact exercises for approximately three weeks. NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake, Injuries 

Jeff Zillgitt: Lakers G Steve Blake out three weeks; sustained a puncture wound to left foot after steppping on a spike strip in a parking lot, per LAL. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake, Injuries 

I’m not hearing any recent talk about trading (Steve) Blake, and the fact that Nash will need to play fewer minutes to be effective spells more time for Blake. If they do elect to trade him, there will be takers, especially as injuries occur over the course of the season, but right now I don’t believe they are actively shopping him. HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Steve Blake 

After writing to their sponsored child in Rwanda for the past three years, Lakers guard Steve Blake and his wife, Kristen, visited her in person. On their seven-day trip through Africa New Life Ministries, the Blakes saw everything. They witnessed poverty. They saw the traces of genocide inflicted on this land 18 years ago. They sensed hope amid the destruction. They noticed how the Blakes’ ties with sports, the Lakers, and their Christian faith cemented a bond with the community. The Rwandan people expressed gratitude over the Blakes’ mere presence. And the Blakes felt humbled by the Rwandans' overwhelming affection. The whole experience was simply Divine. Although it’s pronounced differently, that’s also the name of the 10-year-old girl the Blakes have sponsored. “When you’re sponsoring a child so far away, you hear about what it’s doing for them, but you can’t truly grasp it until you actually get over there,” Steve Blake said in a phone interview with The Times. “This is truly changing their lives.” Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake 

The Blakes, who traveled with about 30 people representing Grace Chapel Church in Portland, discovered they made a difference through those small gestures. After Divine stayed mostly quiet during the Blakes’ initial arrival, Kristen stayed with her. When they were alone, Divine and Kristen soon sang with each other and cited Bible verses. Divine couldn’t stop sobbing once they left. “To leave this poor little girl who has no mom and dad and not to go back to her for several years, it just seemed like a long time. It was heartbreaking for me when she’s crying,” Kristen recalled. “Every time I heard that, it broke my heart. I wanted to take her home with me.” Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake 

Luol Deng: I like people like @SteveBlake5 helping people and not making noise about it. #ThatsReal Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Luol Deng, Steve Blake