Overview
- Powell, a 2026 All-Star who signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Bulls, said on streamer N3on's livestream on Saturday that the Los Angeles Lakers are the "most overrated" team in the NBA.
- The clip was quickly shared by sports outlets and across social media, drawing sharp fan backlash and widespread commentary that Powell could be heckled when the Bulls visit Los Angeles.
- The remark tapped into existing doubts about the Lakers after a major summer rebuild that centered the franchise on Luka Dončić, added Walker Kessler and Austin Reaves, and followed LeBron James' departure.
- Powell's view carries weight because of his All-Star nod, his 2019 championship with the Toronto Raptors, and his recent years with the Clippers, which frames the comment partly as a crosstown barb.
- No formal response has been reported from Powell or the Lakers, and attention will shift to how fan reaction and game performance in early matchups shape whether the line defines Powell or the team.