New Owner, New Era: Ticket Hikes, Giannis Dreams & Lakers Pressure

Ryan Ward returns to the mic with a major personal update, officially announcing his departure from Lakers Nation and his new role as publisher and reporter for Lakers on SI. Ryan shares behind-the-scenes stories from his conversation with Horace Grant, including: Grant’s perspective as one of only three players to win titles with both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Why Grant believes Jordan is the undisputed GOAT, but says Kobe is the closest thing he’s seen to MJ. A hilarious gambling story involving Jordan paying baggage handlers to win airport luggage bets. An “epic” Shaq story involving Mark Madsen that nearly got out of hand. The Celtics dominated the Lakers in what was supposed to be a celebratory evening honoring Pat Riley’s statue unveiling. Instead of a statement win, the team delivered a flat performance that left fans and former players frustrated. Ryan reacts to: The embarrassing loss at home. James Worthy’s scathing postgame comments, calling the performance “weak” and saying there was “no respect for the uniform.” Defensive issues that continue to plague the Lakers, including concerns about Luka Dončić, LeBron James’ effort on that end, and the overall lack of defensive identity. Ryan dives into what the Lakers didn’t do at the trade deadline and the long-term implications: Missing out on defensive reinforcements like Jeremy Sochan and Jose Alvarado. The decision to use the final roster spot on Kobe Bufkin instead of a defensive upgrade. The growing belief that the Lakers are preserving assets for a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit this summer. He explains how pairing Luka and Giannis would instantly transform the team both defensively and offensively, while also discussing potential restricted free-agent targets such as Peyton Watson and Jalen Duren. One of the biggest talking points of the episode: season ticket prices are skyrocketing under new owner Mark Walter. Ron breaks down: Documented increases that nearly doubled some 300-level ticket prices year-over-year. Rising parking costs and overall in-game expenses. The growing frustration among fans being priced out of live games. While critical of the immediate impact, Ron explains why Walter’s deep pockets—proven by the Dodgers’ aggressive spending and championship success—could signal a “spare no expense” era for the Lakers. Ryan highlights Pat Riley’s public praise of JJ Redick, saying the Lakers “picked the right person.” He analyzes: Why the Riley comparison initially felt premature. The shared personality traits between Riley and Redick. The pressure JJ faces as expectations rise under new ownership. The realistic shelf life of NBA head coaches and whether Redick can become a long-term fixture. LAKERS on SI: https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/onsi SUBSCRIBE on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RyanWardLA FOLLOW on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/RyanWardLA FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RyanWardLA/ FOLLOW on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ryanwardla.bsky.social Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.