Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 223

Local books: A life in science, a legacy in storytelling

From his home in Pacific Grove, a former University of Utah dean emeritus is on a mission to make science simple and exciting for all. Retired particle physicist Pierre Vsevolod Sokolsky is now turning his focus to a new frontier — the sun.

Sokolsky says his journey from accelerator physics to solar science has been shaped by curiosity, a love of teaching and an openness to new intellectual pursuits. “I got really fascinated, particularly with the solar cycle, the appearance of sunspots on a regular basis,” Sokolsky said. That interest evolved into a popular course for the liberal arts students at the University of Utah and now his latest book, “The Clock in the Sun: How We Came to Understand Our Nearest Star.”

Post retirement, Sokolsky is sharing his knowledge of the Sun at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Cal State Monterey Bay which offers adults over 50, a community to explore curated courses and engage in flexible learning formats. “After I signed up for some courses (at Lifelong Learning ), I gave several lectures on cosmic rays and next month I’m giving lectures on the subject of my book,” said Skolsky.

A career among the stars

Sokolsky’s scientific journey began with a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, followed by research in accelerator-based physics at Columbia University. While there, he developed an interest in cosmic ray physics. Moving to the University of Utah, he spent 25 years leading research on ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. He also took on administrative roles, serving as chair of the Physics Department and later as dean of the College of Science, before returning to full-time research and teaching.

Local author and scientist Pierre Vsevolod. (Courtesy photo)

During a sabbatical at the University of Adelaide in Australia, Sokolsky encountered solar science in a way that would change his trajectory. “What were these spots, why were they there?” he recalled wondering. The questions led him to develop a course on solar science for non-science majors, blending history, physics and literature.

Sokolsky’s latest book, published by Columbia University Press, dives into the history and science of the sun, tracing humanity’s understanding of solar cycles from ancient civilizations to modern astrophysics.

“I’ve always been a reader of literature, and, you know, classic novels, and I have a Russian background. I learned and I spoke Russian and French when I was a child. I’ve always had an interest in art, literature, poetry and (the book) was an opportunity to see whether I had any talent in that direction.” His book explains how solar cycles affect weather patterns, climate change and even technology.  “Solar storms can disrupt power grids and GPS systems,” he said.

Why go anywhere else?

Retirement offered Sokolsky and his wife the opportunity to explore new places and they set out on a driving trip along the West Coast. “The plan was to go all the way up to Washington and look at all the little towns along the seashore,” he said.

But Pacific Grove had other plans. “We rented a little house downtown for a week, and on the second morning, we looked out and said, ‘We really like this. Why go further?’”
Since retiring, Sokolsky has embraced the artistic and natural beauty of Monterey. He has taken up landscape photography, capturing the region’s dramatic coastal scenery and its wildlife.

“Monterey coastline is so beautiful that it’s just, luckily I live three blocks from the bay, so I can go down every day and see the changing light and the waves and photograph. If you have a good zoom lens, you can get very nice pictures and birds.” He’s also an avid guitarist, growing his collection of instruments and enjoying music as a creative outlet.

Sokolsky’s book is available at local bookstores, libraries and online platforms, including Columbia University Press. For those interested in learning more, his upcoming lectures at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (https://olli.csumb.edu/) offer a chance to hear directly from a scientist who has spent a lifetime exploring the frontiers of knowledge.

 

 

Deniz looks to lower track and field marks at Western Colorado

Having spent the fall improving his endurance in cross country, Esteban Deniz will look for a breakout year this spring on the track at Western Colorado.

The former King City High and Hartnell College distance ace comes into his redshirt junior season with marks 4:16.10 in the mile and 14:09.45 in the 5,000 meter run.

Last year Deniz was fifth at the Rocky Mountain Conference Championships in the 5,000, and sixth in the mile at the RMCC indoor championships.

Deniz was an All-American in cross country and track and field at Hartnell, winning a state 1,500-meter title in track in 2022.

During his senior season at King City in 2019, Deniz helped the cross country program to a Central Coast Section Division IV title, leading them to a fifth place state team finish.

Looking back: When it was the Crosby Pro-Am

High School football: Central Coast all-star roster

Players selected to the Central Coast High School All-Star football game

Saturday, Feb. 1 at Salinas High, 7 p.m.

Teams will be divided once practice starts

Coaches: Juan Cuevas, North County; Francisco Estrada, Alisal

Players named in alphabetical order

Nathaniel Alvarez, Gonzales

Joshua Angel, Alisal

Carmelo Arias, Hollister

Brady Ballesteros, Salinas

Dmytro Bieliaiev, Monte Vista

Vaughn Bredy, Soquel

Jayden Brown, Monterey

Julio Camacho, Soledad

Dominic Chaidez, Palma

Kavon Collins, Monterey

Paul Colman, Marina

Masen Coso, Soquel

Nate Crandall, Salinas

Luca Dasilva, Soquel

Tommy Dayton, Stevenson

Jeremy Elledge, Alisal

Julius Escort, Seaside

Elijah Fisher, Monterey

Brian Flores, Pajaro Valley

Javier Fonseca Jr, St. Francis

Soakai Funaki, Monterey

Jagger Funk, King City

Caleb Gabriel, Alisal

Hector Garcia, Greenfield

Matthew Garcia, North Salinas

Antonio Garcia, Gonzales

Ben Garry, Pacific Grove

AJ Gomez, North County

Andre Gonzalez, Gonzales

Marcus Gonzalez, St. Francis

Jacob Hernandez, Gonzales

Gio Hernandez, Greenfield

Fabian Herrera, King City

JT Islas, North County

Arnulfo Jimenez, North County

Gideon Llantero, Pacific Grove

Robert Lopez, North Salinas

Tyreis Lundy, Soquel

Donovan Maben, Marina

Wyatt Maravilla, Salinas

Dayven Marquez, Salinas

Mario Martinez, North County

Rico Maturino, Salinas

Kenji Mellin, North County

Lucas Milburn, Palma

Christopher Morris, Greenfield

Jake Mungaray, Salinas

Abel Munoz, Alvarez

Joshua Na, Salinas

Izaak Ocampo, Pajaro Valley

Ben Palma, Soquel

Hector Pantoja North County

Nick Paz, St. Francis

Iker Ponce, Watsonville

Efren Posadas, Alisal

Christopher Rasmussen-Horan, North County

Xavier Reinhardt, Palma

Jess Ringel, Scotts Valley

Angel Rodriguez, Salinas

Melvin Romero, Soledad

Christopher Rua-Chico, Soledad

Xavier Salas, Salinas

Tomas Salvador, Hollister

Brody Sanchez, Salinas

Caden Scherer, Palma

Jackson Scott, Salinas

Brian Tapia, Rancho San Juan

Tanner Trowbridge, Soquel

Emarrcis Turner, Salinas

Hezekiah Turner, Seaside

Eric Valdez Alvarado, Monterey

Jason Valencia, North Salinas

Christian Vaughn, Monterey

Elijah Velez, Scotts Valley

Carlos Zamora, Alisal

For Southern California DACA recipients, the limbo of Trump 2.0 looks familiar

Last week, as President Donald Trump launched a promised crackdown on immigrants, a subset of the people who could be targeted by those moves are, once again, in limbo.

They are long-time American residents currently protected from deportation by the Obama-era program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

Actually, at least some DACA recipients would argue that their future isn’t again up for grabs, they say; it’s still that way.

“It’s not like anybody ever says, ‘Hey, you’re an American now, you can relax,’” said Maria Castillo, a Riverside nurse and DACA recipient who was 9 in 2001 when her parents brought her from Guatemala to the United States without legal documentation.

“But it’s been like that since the beginning – no certainty. Not under Obama and under Biden. And definitely not under Trump,” added Castillo, 33, who said she has been protected by DACA since 2014.

“We’ve never been allowed to feel at home in, you know, our home. So, what’s going to happen now is all super unclear.”

What is clear is that the future of DACA under Trump 2.0 – and the long-term fate of DACA recipients – is a critical question for Southern California.

About 540,000 U.S. residents currently are protected from deportation by DACA, and 1 in 6 of those people live in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to federal data. Those numbers make Southern California, by far, the most DACA-infused region of the country.

What’s less clear is how much of a threat DACA recipients face in a second Trump administration.

Last week, Trump took several steps targeting an estimated 14 million people he and his supporters view as candidates for removal from the country. Among other things, Trump moved to end asylum claims and revoke the legal status of recent arrivals, make it possible to detain immigrants at church and schools, and expand the use of active military at the southern border.

More broadly, Trump consistently has used negative terms, such as “vermin” and “animals,” to describe immigrants, and he’s routinely made untrue claims about immigrant crime. That helped him politically, and it has come during a time when more Americans are expressing negative views on immigration.

A Gallup poll from July found that a majority of Americans, 55% to 41%, favor reducing immigration, the first time since 2005 that most Americans felt that way.

An exception to Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric – and public views on immigrants – has been people protected by DACA.

The program, created in 2012 by an executive order signed by President Barack Obama, was aimed at securing the prospects of children brought into the country illegally by their parents. Those children hadn’t committed a crime (the age threshold to commit a crime under federal law is 11), and, to get DACA protection, they had to be in school or working or trying to find work – meaning the overwhelming majority of young immigrants qualified.

Polling shows that most Americans, including many Trump voters, still have sympathy for DACA recipients.

And Trump, as recently as November, told NBC News that he’d be willing to “work something out” to let DACA recipients stay in this country even in the face of broader deportation efforts.

But Trump’s actions, if not his words, often have been more overtly hostile to DACA.

In 2017, less than a year into his first term, Trump ordered the Justice Department to end DACA, a move later overturned by the Supreme Court.

Since then, Trump has supported legal challenges by Republican-led states to end DACA. Those cases, led by Texas, claimed that DACA wasn’t legal because, among other things, it was created without public comment. They also argued that DACA recipients have cost states hundreds of millions of dollars in health care costs, an argument disputed by lawyers supporting the program.

The latest ruling in these cases came earlier this month, when the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals declared DACA to be “unlawful.”

But even that ruling offered mixed signals. The same judges who said DACA isn’t legal also said the program’s recipients are contributors to the country and that DACA renewals – if not new applications – could continue.

Despite the 5th Circuit’s upbeat language, and suggestions that Trump might view DACA recipients favorably, many program participants say they’re more worried about their legal status today than at any time in the past decade.

“I could easily see us being swept up now that Trump is back in office,” said Castillo, who added that she re-upped her DACA status late last year, in advance of the court ruling, at a cost of about $550.

Others agree.

“Trump’s messaging about immigrants, during the campaign and before, has always been clear,” said Jose Barrera, a 29-year-old DACA recipient and political publicist in Long Beach who works with the civil rights group League of United Latin American Citizens.

“Since Trump’s victory, we definitely feel very uncertain,” he said.

Both Barrera and Castillo noted that most DACA recipients have parents or siblings who aren’t protected by the program. Those relatives, they said, have been described as subhuman by Trump and are already targets of Trump’s deportation plans.

“Any moves to deport millions of people will harm DACA recipients,” Barrera said.

Still, the stakes in the argument over DACA are big for reasons beyond helping or hurting families or individuals who have lived in this country most of their lives. Politics and economics also could be in play.

On the political side, the situation is clear. Though Latino voters still favor Democrats, the party’s edge over Republicans eroded in the 2024 election. And if lawmakers do create a path for citizenship for the people now protected by DACA, the party responsible for that move might win over a new group of voters.

“I don’t think DACA recipients care about partisan politics,” said Barrera, who was 2 when his parents brought him to the United States from Mexico. “We just want relief from the uncertainty. We’ve been a token for political gain rather than actual solutions, from both sides.”

But if DACA is dismantled, and its protections are removed, hundreds of thousands of people could be “sent back” to countries they barely know. That, in turn, could hurt the responsible political party, and damage the economies of the towns or states where those DACA recipients used to live.

The long-running court battle over DACA froze the program, causing it to shrink from a peak of about 900,000 people and dramatically changing its demographics. The high schoolers who in 2012 were widely seen as the initial recipients of DACA protection are, in 2025, young and middle-aged adults, in their early 20s through early 40s.

Those adults also are succeeding.

A 2023 survey published by the Center for American Progress found that most DACA recipients (9 of 10) were working or going to school, and that the average annual earnings for those who were working was $67,050. About 1 in 3 DACA recipients, according to the survey, own homes.

About 92,000 people who fit that economic description could be pulled from the four-county Los Angeles region in any immigration crackdown that includes DACA recipients. For car dealers, home sellers, tax collectors and school administrators, among others, the loss would hurt.

Some argue it also might raise questions about the actual point of the crackdown.

“Despite the fact that we obey the law, follow every rule, and pay taxes, there’s always the possibility that we might not get it renewed, and that we might be sent away,” said Barrera.

“That’s been true for years, not just under Trump,” he added. “And nobody would benefit from it.”

College baseball: Otters looking for that next step in their journey

SEASIDE – The sleepless nights have passed. A new season has once again created lofty ambitions. Yet, you can hear it in Walt White’s voice that it still eats at him.

To be one out from a trip to the NCAA College Division II World Series has been hard for the Cal State Monterey Bay baseball coach to erase from his mind completely.

“I don’t want to say it consumes me,” White said. “But there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about last season. We were as close as we possibly could be.”

Kicking at the door for the last two years is no longer good enough for the Otters – who open their season Friday hosting Western Oregon — having tied the single-season school record for wins in each of the last two years with 39.

“I feel it’s going to take 40 wins to bust through that door,” said White, who begins his 15th season at CSUMB. “Those that are back understand we’re good enough to win the whole thing.”

Versatile pitcher Aidan Lee returns this season for CSUMB. (Photo by Katie Tozier, courtesy of CSUMB)

The reigning two-time California Collegiate Athletic Association champions have put together nine straight winning seasons – piling up 35 or more wins the past four seasons.

Reaching the NCAA Super Regionals for the second straight year last year, the Otters won the first game and held a 7-5 lead in the ninth inning in the second game of a best-of-three series at Point Loma.

Top-seed Point Loma tied the game to force extra frames. CSUMB fell 10-8 in 13 innings.

Momentum zapped, CSUMB’s historic season ended three hours later after a 7-1 loss in the third and deciding game.

“The success of our program is based on perspective,” White said. “You can’t dwell on it. You have to face it head on. When you have adversity, how do you deal with it?”

Owner of 406 wins since arriving and taking an 8-41 team, White has captured five conference titles and made seven regional playoff appearances, including the past three.

“It’s not about talent,” White said. “We have that. Can we care about each other and understand that there will be ups and downs? How do you respond when you get your butts kicked?

That jubilant smile and fiery attitude that White brings to practice is contagious. Like a kid on Christmas morning, he can’t hide his excitement about the roster CSUMB has this season.

A potent lineup that hit .324 as a team and belted 74 homers last spring is cemented with five returning starters, including power-hitting first baseman Jaden Shepherd.

All the 6-foot-6, 234-pound slugger did last season was hit 15 homers and drive in 63 runs in 56 games, hitting .355.

Power-hitting first baseman Jaden Shepherd had 15 homers last season and drove in 63 runs. (Katie Tozier – Courtesy of CSUMB)

“If I’m being honest, I’m expecting more,” White said. “Of course, everyone has a book about him. But we have enough around him to where you’re going to have to pitch to him.”

Hitting either in front or behind him this spring will be Cole Murchison, who sprayed the ball around the field to a team-high .357 clip, while driving in 48 runs.

CSUMB baseball coach Walt White. (Monterey Herald archive)

“He can just hit,” said White, speaking about the 220-pound Murchison.

So can center fielder KW Quilici, who hit .349 with 11 homers and 53 runs batted in, finishing with a team-high 44 walks and a .472 on-base percentage.

Perhaps the feel-good story from last season was Max Farfan, who emerged in the second half of the season, filling a void at shortstop, while hitting five homers.

White was fearful that he was going to lose the Salinas High graduate before the two sat down in the office for a conversation.

“We talked about how he can enjoy baseball again,” White said. “The game beat him up at the start of the year. It was an intrasquad game where he discovered the love of the game again.”

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Farfan started the last 12 games for CSUMB, collecting four multiple-hit games, including a three-homer game.

“Sometimes it’s about controlling your emotions and self-esteem,” White said. “He got an opportunity and just went off.”

White is also welcoming back a pair of catchers that split time in former MPC slugger Dominic Felice and Sergio Solis. UC Riverside transfer Anthony McFarland is expected to shore up the hot spot at third base and hit No. 2 in the order.

Max Farfan emerged in the second half of the season, filling a void at shortstop for CSUMB. (Katie Tozier — Courtesy of CSUMB)

“I think I recruit differently,’ White said. “I’m relatable. My job is to live up to everything I talk about. It’s not about at-bats and playing. You’ll get an opportunity to earn it. There’s a reason our best players aren’t in the transfer portal.”

What feels different this spring for White is the return of an experienced pitching staff that features four starters and the core of the bullpen from last spring.

“The strength of our team will be our pitching,” insisted White. “That hasn’t been said in the past. Where we are better is with our overall depth. We have upgraded the talent pool. We have 13 guys that throw 90-plus mph.”

Among them is Monte Vista graduate Aiden Lee, who has hit 97 mph on the radar gun this spring, now two years removed from elbow surgery.

Last year Lee made 17 appearances with eight starts, finishing with a 3-1 record and three saves, striking out 64 hitters in 41 innings of work.

“He feels he can let it go and know where it’s going,” White said. “He could start or relieve for me. Early in the season, no one is throwing more than two or three innings.”

The return of Nate Rohlicek and all-conference selection Mitchell Torres give White his No. 1 and 2 starters back. Last spring the pair were a combined 11-4 with Rohlicek striking out a team-high 82 hitters and Torres compiling a 5-1 record with a 3.48 earned run average. Joining them in the rotation will be Arizona State transfer Dillon Gardner.

“I’m excited about our rotation,” White said. “It also gives me anxiety. When you have this type of depth, you have to find ways to keep them sharp. I don’t want anyone in the dugout reading a book.”

The bullpen will feature the return of Vicent Cilolello, who led the team in saves with five, while compiling a 2.44 ERA with a 94 mph heater.

“He’s shown he’s capable of pitching out of the bullpen in save situations every day,” White said. “He’s increased his fastball by 5 mph.”

Getting over a barrier that has blocked them the past two years does create a sense of urgency for White.

“You don’t know if you’re going to get back to that spot,” White said. “Staying relevant, on the forefront of people’s minds is important. The goal is to win the national championship. Our goals are realistic.”

With a roster hovering around 41 players, White believes he has 41 players who can help him win. But only nine can be on the field at once.

“Winning keeps everyone pulling in one direction,” White said. “We talk about it. I tell them ‘your job is to make it difficult on me.’ I will see it in practice. I’ve had guys that didn’t see a lot of action come through in clutch situations because they were mentally prepared. It takes every single guy to make this a success. Everyone has a role to play.”

Horoscopes Jan. 26, 2025: Lucinda Williams, stick to what you do best

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Colin O’Donoghue, 44; Sara Rue, 46; Ellen DeGeneres, 67; Lucinda Williams, 72.Happy Birthday: Stick to what you know and do best. Refrain from coloring situations to enhance your chance to advance or get others to buy into your plans. Truth matters, and facts — not persuasive tactics or promising the impossible — will dictate the outcome. Success comes from patience, hard work and honesty with those you want to work with. Personal growth and prosperity are favored if you handle matters with integrity. Your numbers are 9, 16, 23, 26, 31, 35, 43. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Be a good listener. Give yourself a chance to digest what you hear and rationalize the prospects of what others are going through before making a judgment. The better you understand a situation, the easier it will be to help. Choose compassion and offer solutions, not scolding and criticism. 2 stars TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put time and effort into making your space user-friendly and comfortable. Don’t hesitate to host an event that will encourage better relationships. Ask questions if something befuddles you. Make decisions only if you are aware of the facts. A progressive attitude will let others know your intentions are valid. 5 stars GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Dig deep; facts matter. You can help only those willing to share information and give their all to find and apply solutions. Know when to walk away from situations that are harmful to you. Learn from experience, ask experts and protect against users, abusers and grifters. 3 stars CANCER (June 21-July 22): Put your energy into getting ahead professionally and financially. Consider what’s marketable and how you can manipulate your skills to fit what’s trending. Pay attention to health and fitness to ensure you have the stamina to follow through with your plans. A strong persona and persistent attitude will pay off. 3 stars LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Unusual, unique and unpredictable people and prospects will draw your attention. Before you buy into what someone is selling, consider the logistics of the deal and if it’s something you need. When in doubt, put a hold on any changes that require cash, an emotional adjustment or risk. 3 stars VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take a minimalist approach and simplify your life. Focus on what matters, and enjoy doing something you can enjoy with loved ones. Sharing moments and memories will be precious and something that builds a strong bond between you and those who matter most. Make love a priority. 5 stars LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Broaden your awareness, get out and network, or go on an adventure. Experience is the spice of life and will encourage you to grow in ways that will help you get ahead. Refrain from wasting time and energy arguing or staying in a no-win situation. It’s time to blossom, not wilt. 2 stars SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Set the pace, choose the engagement and have fun. Put yourself out there and show everyone how talented you are. A reunion or event will bring you into contact with someone who brings purpose to your life. Change is favored, but joint ventures and overspending are not. 3 stars SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Be cautious before you fall for something or someone that can hurt you. Protect your reputation, possessions and heart, and make wise choices. Waffling and uncertainty are red flags that you mustn’t ignore. Your best opportunities will come from within and are attainable without help. 3 stars CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Explore the possibilities. Take advantage of community offers that can improve your life or help you gain momentum and stability physically and financially. Keep your emotions hidden to avoid having someone take advantage of your vulnerabilities. Someone will mislead you with an exaggerated gesture. Proceed with caution. 3 stars AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): It’s OK to be different if you are honest about your actions. Follow your heart and respect those around you enough to honor their actions. A problem at home will cost you more than anticipated. Keep an open mind and act swiftly to avoid further loss. 4 stars PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take the initiative, and get involved in activities that allow you to donate your skills and time to something that matters to you. Whether you sign on to coach kids or start a neighborhood group, the interaction will give you purpose and enjoyment. Romance and commitment are favored. 4 stars Birthday Baby: You are energetic, optimistic and trendy. You are passionate and generous. 1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

LeBron James leads Lakers past Warriors as Curry goes scoreless in second half

SAN FRANCISCO — In the dazzling matchup between the two greatest players of a generation, LeBron James got the better of Steph Curry.

Curry went scoreless in the second half and finished with 13 points on 4-for-17. James, playing off Anthony Davis, registered 25 points, 12 assists and five rebounds.

“I just got to play better,” Curry said. “Any game where I play like that, it’s going to be hard for us to win.”

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James share a hug after their game, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Saturday night’s nationally televised 118-108 loss pushes the Warriors (22-23) back under .500. Davis torched the shorthanded Warriors with 36 points and 13 rebounds as the Lakers held a comfortable lead for the entire second half. Seven Warriors scored in double figures, but it was an inopportune time for Curry to have an off night.

“Just hope that he missed,” James told reporters postgame when asked how the Lakers slowed Curry. “It’s Steph, man.”

The last time these two teams met, on Christmas Day, Austin Reaves’ late layup lifted the Lakers over Golden State. Curry dropped 38, James countered with 31 in one of the signature games of the year.

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry breaks free from Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James on reverse layup against Anthony Davis in the first quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry drives against Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James in the first quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James shoots against Golden State Warriors Gary Payton II while lying on his back as the shot clock expires in the third quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Austin Reaves shoots against Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins in the third quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis shoots against Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Quentin Post drives in the third quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. Davis was the game’s high scorer with 36 points in a 118-108 Laker victory. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The San Francisco Giants’ Willie Adames watches from a courtside seat as the Los Angeles Lakers play the Golden State Warriors, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins defends Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James in the first quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James shakes hands after the Lakers 118-108 victory, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

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Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry breaks free from Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James on reverse layup against Anthony Davis in the first quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

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They couldn’t quite deliver the same theatrics in the sequel despite a promisingly competitive forest half; neither team led by more than six in a first half with 14 lead changes.

The Lakers played through Anthony Davis, allowing James to pick his spots. It’s a luxury Curry doesn’t have, as the Warriors haven’t been able to put a second star next to him. Warriors bigs Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kevon Looney made things tough for Davis in the post and sealed him to negate his shot-blocking on the other end, but Davis still racked up a massive double-double. The Warriors certainly felt the absence of Draymond Green, who missed a fourth straight game with a calf strain.

“AD was amazing,” Steve Kerr said. “A lot of the shots that he took, we were actually OK with. I didn’t love him getting to the line 12 times, but he made a ton of midrange fadeaway shots, and you can’t do much about those.”

At 40, James is certainly not the defender he once was. It was striking to see Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II drive right at him and score. Late in the third quarter, Moses Moody blew by him along the baseline and finished a smooth reverse layup.

Los Angeles is one of the lowest-volume 3-point shooting teams in the league and also struggles on the glass. The Warriors tried to pick at both areas.

The Warriors launched 17 more 3s than the Lakers, tilting the math game in their favor. They started 4-for-8 but went through a 1-for-10 spell that prevented any chance of taking control in the first half.

The Lakers earned separation by attacking the rim and spraying to shooters in the corners. Max Christie hit a pair of 3s, one from each corner, and Gabe Vincent and Dalton Knecht added two. In the third, the Lakers went 4-for-6 from deep, going on an 8-0 run and leading by as much as 12.

Some of the 3s were defensive breakdowns, but most came off James putting pressure in the paint on drives, forcing help defenders to pinch in.

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Quinten Post — in the rotation for a third straight game — made a pair of 3s in the quarter. The second came off a Moody offensive board and drew the Warriors within eight. At the horn, Andrew Wiggins drained a step-back 3 over James to enter the fourth down six.

Brandin Podziemski (17 points, five assists), in his second game back from an abdominal strain he says he’s still not 100% recovered from, helped the Warriors stay in the game as Curry sat to begin the fourth quarter. When Curry returned for the final 5:33, the Warriors trailed by 13.

Curry found Podziemski for a corner 3 and dished to Buddy Hield for another triple to pull the Warriors back within single digits.

But coming back in games hasn’t been in the Warriors’ bag this year. They just don’t have the offensive dynamism to make teams pay, especially if their 3s aren’t falling. After Saturday’s loss, Golden State is 1-20 on the season when trailing after three quarters.

With 2:36 left, James cut for an alley-oop dunk on a baseline inbounds pass. Curry missed his eighth straight shot on the other end, a sequence that took the life out of Chase Center.

Golden State’s desperation full-court trap didn’t yield results, and Kerr emptied his bench with 1:43 left. The Warriors were only down 13, but trailing by that much for so long made it feel insurmountable.

LeBron James leads Lakers past Steph Curry, Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — In the dazzling matchup between the two greatest players of a generation, LeBron James got the better of Steph Curry.

Curry went scoreless in the second half and finished with 13 points on 4-for-17. James, playing off Anthony Davis, registered 25 points, 12 assists and five rebounds.

“I just got to play better,” Curry said. “Any game where I play like that, it’s going to be hard for us to win.”

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James share a hug after their game, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Saturday night’s nationally televised 118-108 loss pushes the Warriors (22-23) back under .500. Davis torched the shorthanded Warriors with 36 points and 13 rebounds as the Lakers held a comfortable lead for the entire second half. Seven Warriors scored in double figures, but it was an inopportune time for Curry to have an off night.

“Just hope that he missed,” James told reporters postgame when asked how the Lakers slowed Curry. “It’s Steph, man.”

The last time these two teams met, on Christmas Day, Austin Reaves’ late layup lifted the Lakers over Golden State. Curry dropped 38, James countered with 31 in one of the signature games of the year.

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry breaks free from Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James on reverse layup against Anthony Davis in the first quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry drives against Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James in the first quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James shoots against Golden State Warriors Gary Payton II while lying on his back as the shot clock expires in the third quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Austin Reaves shoots against Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins in the third quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis shoots against Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Quentin Post drives in the third quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. Davis was the game’s high scorer with 36 points in a 118-108 Laker victory. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The San Francisco Giants’ Willie Adames watches from a courtside seat as the Los Angeles Lakers play the Golden State Warriors, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins defends Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James in the first quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James shakes hands after the Lakers 118-108 victory, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

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Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry breaks free from Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James on reverse layup against Anthony Davis in the first quarter, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

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They couldn’t quite deliver the same theatrics in the sequel despite a promisingly competitive forest half; neither team led by more than six in a first half with 14 lead changes.

The Lakers played through Anthony Davis, allowing James to pick his spots. It’s a luxury Curry doesn’t have, as the Warriors haven’t been able to put a second star next to him. Warriors bigs Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kevon Looney made things tough for Davis in the post and sealed him to negate his shot-blocking on the other end, but Davis still racked up a massive double-double. The Warriors certainly felt Draymond Green’s absence.

“AD was amazing,” Steve Kerr said. “A lot of the shots that he took, we were actually okay with. I didn’t love him getting to the line 12 times, but he made a ton of midrange fadeaway shots, and you can’t do much about those.”

At 40, James is certainly not the defender he once was. It was striking to see Warriors, like Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II, drive right at him and score. Late in the third quarter, Moses Moody blew by him along the baseline and finished a smooth reverse layup.

Los Angeles is one of the lowest volume 3-point shooting teams in the league and also struggles on the glass. The Warriors tried to pick at both areas.

The Warriors launched 17 more 3s than the Lakers, tilting the math game in their favor. They started 4-for-8 but went through a 1-for-10 spell that prevented any chance of taking control in the first half.

Even though they generated clean looks, the Warriors struggled to convert. When Quinten Post drilled a corner 3 halfway through the third quarter, the Warriors were at 34.4% from deep.

The Lakers earned separation by attacking the rim and spraying to shooters in the corners. Max Christie hit a pair of 3s, one from each corner, and Gabe Vincent and Dalton Knecht added two. In the period, the Lakers went 4-for-6 from deep, going on an 8-0 run and leading by as much as 12.

Some of the 3s were defensive breakdowns, but most came off James putting pressure in the paint on drives, forcing help defenders to pinch in.

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Post — in the rotation for a third straight game — canned another 3 from above the break a few minutes later. That came off a Moody offensive board and drew the Warriors within eight. At the horn, Andrew Wiggins drained a step-back 3 over James to enter the fourth down six.

Brandin Podziemski (17 points, five assists), in his second game back from an abdominal strain he says he’s still not 100% recovered from, helped the Warriors stay in the game as Curry sat in the fourth quarter. When Curry returned for the final 5:33, the Warriors trailed by 13.

Curry found Podziemski for a corner 3 and dished to Buddy Hield for another triple to pull the Warriors back within single digits.

But coming back in games hasn’t been in the Warriors’ bag this year. They just don’t have the offensive dynamism to make teams pay, especially if their 3s aren’t falling. After Saturday’s loss, Golden State is 1-20 on the season when trailing after three quarters.

With 2:36 left, James cut for an alley oop dunk on a baseline out of bounds pass. Curry missed his eighth straight shot on the other end, a sequence that took the life out of Chase Center.

Golden State’s desperation full-court trap didn’t yield results, and Kerr emptied his bench with 1:43 left. The Warriors were only down 13, but trailing by that much for so long made it feel insurmountable.

As Curry and LeBron meet, NBA’s next face of the league is TBD

SAN FRANCISCO — Steph Curry and LeBron James, the two defining players of the past 20 years of basketball, met for the 53rd time Saturday night at Chase Center.

For decades, they’ve carried the league on their shoulders, squaring off in some of the most dramatic NBA Finals four years in a row and taking the game to new heights with their personalities and playing excellence.

They’ve got 32 combined All-Star selections, eight rings and four MVP awards. Even at 37 and 40, respectively, they rank first and second in jersey sales this year. Their matchups remain the most anticipated in the sport; the Warriors and Lakers’ Christmas Day game was the most-watched regular season game in five years.

So, what happens to the NBA whenever they’re done? There’s a myriad of talent throughout the NBA, but there has to be at least some concern at NBA headquarters in Manhattan about the topic.

“I think the league’s in a great place with the next generation of stars,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the Lakers defeated the Warriors 118-108 Saturday night. “I do think that there is a significant responsibility for those players, and it’s a burden. It requires a high level of ownership to be one of or the face of the league. Those guys have done it and carried it, and we’re all beneficiaries of that, to be honest with you.”

The “face of the league” concept is nebulous, but meaningful even if it’s hard to define.

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird saved the league in the 1980s and Michael Jordan and the Bulls dynasty made the game more mainstream than ever.

The same year Jordan retired (for good), James came into the league as a teenage phenom. Billed as The Chosen One, he delivered on all the hype and then some.

With that stroke of cosmic luck, the metaphorical baton was passed.

Even with that natural handoff, the league struggled through some lean years in the early 2000s. With as much hand-wringing as today’s style of play gets from the masses, games then were often low-scoring and dependent on isolation ball. Small markets like San Antonio, Detroit and New Jersey made Finals runs.

As Curry and James eventually fade in the next few years, a new superstar will have to emerge. Television ratings this season are slightly down — and that’s with the Warriors and Lakers still relevant.

Nikola Jokic is the best player in the game, but prefers to stay out of the spotlight. Victor Wembanyama is the most jaw-dropping, but he’s only 22 years old and may not truly contend for championships for years. Shai Gilgeous Alexander is vying for an MVP and Joel Embiid has won one. None of those players are American born, which, historically, is a prerequisite for the face of the league moniker.

Jayson Tatum is the best player on the defending champion Boston Celtics, and he ranks third — behind Curry and James — in jersey sales this year. He’s on a historically great career path, but anyone who watched the Netflix series “Starting 5” knows his low-key demeanor may not translate to cultural appeal.

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“The reality is you get to be the face of the league when you win, and win at the highest level,” Redick said. “That’s who becomes the face of the league. There are certain players who have won and could be the face of the league, and they don’t want it. And that’s okay. There are certain guys. Look at the history of the NBA, they didn’t want to be the face of the league. That’s okay. The people that want to carry that burden, that responsibility — someone will step up. I have no doubt.”

Until they’re done, Curry and James wear the mantle. It’s probably not even a burden for them — they’re used to it by now.

Notable

– Kyle Anderson was active after missing four games with gluteal bursitis but he did not play. Lakers wing Rui Hachimura missed the game with left calf soreness. Dorian Finney-Smith started in his place.

– Quinten Post, after two straight productive nights, remained in Golden State’s rotation. The Warriors expect teams to adjust to his floor-spacing skills by defending the two-way rookie with perimeter players.

– Jonathan Kuminga isn’t close to returning from the significant ankle sprain he suffered three weeks ago, Steve Kerr said. Kuminga is out of the walking boot, but still hasn’t done any meaningful on-court work. He has taken stationary shots, but his ankle is still heavily taped as he recovers.