Category: Los Angeles Lakers Blog

The Los Angeles Lakers recently named Yao Williams II Vice President and Head of Global Partnerships.

Williams will lead the Lakers global partnerships team, including partnership sales, business solutions and partnership activation, driving revenue-generating opportunities and creating innovative programming and platforms to maximize brand value. Williams has a proven track record of securing both domestic and international large-scale deals while leading high-performing sales teams.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have Yao Williams join the Lakers business and lead our global partnership team,” said Los Angeles Lakers President of Business Operations Lon Rosen. “Yao is an engaging leader with an appetite for innovation that will help drive performance and deliver best-in-class experiences for Lakers partners.”

Williams brings two decades of experience in global sales and brand partnerships across the sports and entertainment industries, including time at the National Basketball Association and Manchester City Football Club. Most recently, Williams co-led global partnerships at Elevate Sports Ventures.

The Los Angeles Lakers have named Elaine Shen Chief Financial Officer.

Shen will oversee all financial aspects of the Los Angeles Lakers, shaping strategic growth, driving profitability and creating continued value for the global franchise. In a related move, Joe McCormack will shift to an executive advisory role as Senior Vice President of Finance for the Lakers.

Shen joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016 and has held a variety of strategic roles across the organization in both business and basketball operations. Most recently, Shen served as the Lakers Associate Chief Financial Officer.

“Elaine Shen is an exceptional leader and catalyst for success,” said Los Angeles Lakers President of Business Operations Lon Rosen. “She brings an artful and considerate approach to every table, combined with the ability to build consensus and make tough decisions. Elaine is a trusted advisor and the perfect modern CFO to help lead the next stage of transformation for the Los Angeles Lakers.”

Prior to the Lakers, Shen worked at Aon and Wachovia Bank. Shen is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and earned her Master of Business Administration at UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Via ESPN.com:

The Los Angeles Lakers made their first significant move of the offseason by hiring Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager under president and GM Rob Pelinka, sources told ESPN on Monday.

Ramadas, who last worked as a vice president of strategy and operations for the New Orleans Pelicans, will be focused on similar responsibilities for the Lakers.

“More on the strategy side,” Pelinka said of the job description he was looking to fill during exit interviews with reporters last week. “Cap, analytics and data.”

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived guard Kobe Bufkin.

Bufkin was originally signed by the Lakers to a 10-day contract Jan. 13, 2026, before agreeing to a standard contract Feb. 8. He appeared in 16 regular season games (one start) for the Lakers, averaging 2.9 points in 7.4 minutes.

And per the OC Register, “with two games to go, and Lakers coach JJ Redick still figuring out what rotations look like without Austin Reaves (oblique strain) and Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain), the Lakers have now reopened the 15th spot on their roster ahead of the postseason. Candidates to take Bufkin’s spot on the team likely point inward.”

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Anton Watson and guard Nate Williams.

In corresponding moves, the team has waived guard Tevian Jones and forward Eric Dixon.

Watson (6’8”, 225) most recently appeared in nine games for the New York Knicks during the 2024-25 season. The 24-year-old also saw action in 37 games (34 starts) with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League last season, averaging 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 29.9 minutes. Originally selected by the Boston Celtics with the 54th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Watson played five seasons at Gonzaga University (2019-24). In his final collegiate campaign, he earned All-WCC First Team honors after averaging 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals in 31.3 minutes.

Williams (6’5”, 205) appeared in 20 games for the Houston Rockets in 2024-25, averaging 3.3 points in 7.4 minutes. Across three NBA seasons with Houston (2023-25) and the Portland Trail Blazers (2022-23), the 26-year-old has played in 47 games (four starts), averaging 3.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.6 minutes. In three NBA G League seasons with Rio Grande Valley (2023-25) and Salt Lake City (2022-23), Williams has appeared in 82 games (62 starts), averaging 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 28.5 minutes. A native of New York, he played four seasons at the University at Buffalo (2018-22) and earned All-MAC First Team honors as a senior after averaging 19.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 32.6 minutes.

The Los Angeles Lakers have announced four games they will host as part of the 2025-26 preseason schedule.

Fans will get a first look at the Lakers 2025-26 roster as the team hosts four opponents across three cities between Oct. 3-17.

The slate is highlighted with a matchup in Las Vegas, where the team will host the Dallas Mavericks Oct. 15 at T-Mobile Arena. The marquee contest builds on the tradition of bringing Lakers basketball to Las Vegas.

Preseason tips off for the Lakers Oct. 3 in Greater Palm Springs at Acrisure Arena when the team hosts the Phoenix Suns. The organization has history in Coachella Valley, the former home of Lakers training camp in the Showtime era. In 2023, the Lakers returned to Coachella Valley after a 26-year hiatus, bringing the Purple and Gold back to the desert with a sold-out preseason showing.

Los Angeles will host a pair of preseason games on its home court at Crypto.com Arena, featuring contests versus Golden State Oct. 12 and Sacramento Oct. 17.

The Los Angeles Lakers recently extended their agreement with Rob Pelinka, naming him President of Basketball Operations and General Manager.

“For eight seasons, I have relied on Rob’s vision and leadership to do what’s best for the Lakers organization,” said Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss. “I value his partnership and professionalism and believe in his ability to deliver championship-caliber basketball for Los Angeles and Lakers fans everywhere.”

Pelinka joined the Lakers in 2017 as General Manager and was named Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager in 2020.

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Jordan Goodwin. In a related move, the team has waived forward Cam Reddish.

Goodwin (6’5”, 220) most recently signed a two-way contract with the Lakers Feb. 7. In 19 appearances (five starts), the 26-year-old has averaged 6.4 points on 47.0% shooting from the floor, 41.3% from long distance and 81.8% from the foul line, while adding 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.5 minutes. He’s collected multiple steals in six games and registered at least one block in seven contests. Prior to signing the two-way contract, Goodwin appeared in 17 Tip-Off Tournament and regular season G League games (nine starts) for the South Bay Lakers, averaging 13.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals in 24.0 minutes.

In 140 career NBA games (24 starts) across four seasons with the Lakers (2024-25), Memphis Grizzlies (2023-24), Phoenix Suns (2023-24) and Washington Wizards (2021-23), Goodwin has averaged 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 18.3 minutes. The Illinois native went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft following four collegiate seasons at St. Louis University (2017-21).