The Los Angeles Lakers have been awarded Kostas Antetokounmpo on a waiver claim, it was announced today by General Manager Rob Pelinka. Antetokounmpo, who is currently signed to a two-way contract, appeared in two games for the Dallas Mavericks last season and played 40 games (25 starts) for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League, where he averaged 10.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steal in 25.4 minutes. Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 60th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Antetokounmpo was acquired by the Mavericks in a draft-night trade.
At the unveiling of a Koreatown mural commissioned by the Lakers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said LeBron James should be the only one in control of his future after hinting at retirement following the Lakers’ elimination from the playoffs. “At the end of the year, after all that, LeBron and most of the guys looked like they’d been through two seasons, you know? But they still gave it an awesome effort,” Abdul-Jabbar said Monday. “I think it’s up to him. Certainly doesn’t have to prove anything. And it’s just what he wants to do at this point.”