Los Angeles Lakers and ESPN extend radio deal for two more years

The Los Angeles Lakers agreed to extend their radio play-by-play relationship with ESPNLA for two additional years, meaning that the team's games will be heard locally on 710 AM through the 2021-2022 season.

ESPNLA will carry all 82 regular-season games as well as the entire preseason and every playoff game.  The announcement was made earlier today by Jeanie Buss, part owner and president of the Lakers.

John Ireland will continue as the play-by-play commentator for the Lakers radio broadcasts, with Laker great Mychal Thompson remaining as the color analyst.

Ireland is also co-host of The Mason and Ireland Show which airs on ESPNLA 710 AM weekdays from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. PT.

While Ireland does a competent job calling games for the team, his secondary gig -- the talk radio show -- often suffers because of it.  This is due to his occasional unwillingness to criticize the Lakers, his employer, even in obvious situations such as the Kobe Bryant inflated contract fiasco.

ESPNLA has served as the official radio broadcast home of the Lakers for the last six seasons, since 2009.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services