Traffic on the 405 is a nightmare. It’s 6:15 PM, the sun is dipping behind the Santa Monica mountains, and you’re stuck in a sea of brake lights. You reach for the dial. You don’t want a podcast right now. You don’t want a curated Spotify playlist. You want the pre-game energy. You want to hear John Ireland and Mychal Thompson breaking down whether Anthony Davis is going to drop 40 tonight. This is the reality for millions of Angelenos who rely on AM 710 Lakers radio, the flagship home of the purple and gold.
Radio feels old school to some, sure. But in Los Angeles, it’s basically a religion.
KSPN, better known as ESPN LA 710, has held the Lakers' broadcast rights since the 2009-2010 season. Think about that for a second. They took over right as Kobe Bryant was leading the team to a back-to-back championship against the Celtics. Since then, the station has survived the "LakeShow" doldrums of the mid-2010s, the arrival of LeBron James, a 2020 bubble ring, and the constant, churning drama that comes with being the most famous basketball franchise on the planet.
The Voices That Actually Matter
When you tune into AM 710 Lakers radio, you aren't just getting a play-by-play. You’re getting a vibe. John Ireland is the voice of the fan. He’s been around the block, won Emmys, and he knows how to build tension. Then you have Mychal Thompson. He’s a two-time Laker champion, the father of Klay Thompson, and honestly, one of the most eccentric personalities in sports broadcasting.
Mychal doesn't just talk basketball. He talks about "Splat" (his word for outside shooting), he mentions his love for the Bahamas, and he provides a layer of championship perspective that you just can't fake. If you’re listening to a game on a Tuesday night against the Charlotte Hornets, their chemistry is what keeps you from switching to an audiobook.
They’ve got this shorthand. It’s fast.
The broadcast team usually includes Allen Sliwa for the pre-game and post-game shows. "Lakers Talk" is the staple here. If the Lakers lose three in a row, the phone lines on 710 light up like a Christmas tree. It’s where fans go to vent. It’s a collective therapy session for the city of Los Angeles. People call in from Riverside, the Valley, and Long Beach, all united by the same frustration over floor spacing or a lack of perimeter defense.
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Why 710 KSPN Beats the National Broadcasts
National TV broadcasts on TNT or ESPN are fine, I guess. But they’re neutral. They have to be.
On AM 710 Lakers radio, the bias is the point. You want the announcers to be disappointed when a layup rolls off the rim. You want them to lose their minds when Austin Reaves hits a clutch three. It’s a local experience.
The signal strength of 710 AM is also a factor. While FM radio is great for music, AM signals travel differently, bouncing off the ionosphere. This is why you can sometimes catch the Lakers game clear as a bell while driving through the high desert or deep into Orange County where other stations start to crackle and fade.
- Pre-game Coverage: Starts usually two hours before tip-off.
- Post-game "Lakers Post-game Show": This is where the real analysis happens. They get live locker room audio, coach interviews, and the "Player of the Game" segment.
- Availability: You can listen on the traditional dial, but the ESPN LA app and the Lakers' official app have made the stream accessible globally—though blackouts sometimes apply if you’re outside the designated market area.
The 2026 Landscape: Digital vs. Analog
We’re living in a world where everyone has a smartphone glued to their hand. So, is a 50,000-watt AM transmitter still relevant?
The answer is a weird, resounding yes.
Lakers games on the radio provide a service that streaming video often fails at: low latency. If you’re watching a game on a streaming app, you might be 30 to 60 seconds behind the live action. Your phone might buzz with a "Final Score" notification from a sports app while you're still watching the third quarter. Radio is nearly instantaneous. It’s the closest you can get to sitting courtside at Crypto.com Arena without paying $4,000 for a ticket.
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Also, there’s the "Travis and Sliwa" show. They’ve become the anchor of the station’s identity. They spend hours dissecting trade rumors that may or may not ever happen. It’s the "hot take" culture but with a local flavor that actually understands Lakers history. They aren't just reading stats; they’re talking about the ghost of Jerry West and the legacy of Magic Johnson.
Technical Details You Should Know
The station operates on a clear channel. It’s owned by Good Karma Brands, which took over the management from ESPN/Disney a few years back. This shift was actually pretty big in the industry. It meant a more focused approach on local sales and community events.
If you're trying to find the game and 710 is fuzzy, it’s rare, but sometimes local interference happens. Most modern cars have "HD Radio" which clears up the AM static significantly. If you’re at the game in person, a lot of fans bring pocket radios to hear Ireland and Thompson while they watch. The delay is minimal, so it acts like a live commentary track for your life.
- Frequency: 710 kHz AM.
- Affiliates: Sometimes games are syndicated to other stations in the Inland Empire or San Diego if the signal doesn't reach.
- Language: While 710 is the English home, the Lakers also have a massive Spanish radio following on Tu Liga Radio 1330 AM.
Navigating the Off-Season
What happens when the season ends?
That’s when AM 710 Lakers radio turns into the Draft and Free Agency station. The NBA doesn't really have an off-season anymore. Between the Summer League in Vegas and the constant "will they, won't they" regarding superstar trades, the conversation never stops.
Mason and Ireland (the afternoon drive show) have been together for over 20 years. Think about the longevity there. They’ve outlasted coaches, GMs, and even whole eras of Lakers basketball. Their show isn't just about the Lakers; it's about the culture of being a fan in LA. They talk movies, food, and the Dodgers, but the Lakers are always the "north star" of the station.
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The expertise they bring isn't just "I watched the game." It's "I was on the team plane." John Ireland travels with the team. He sees the body language. He knows who’s hitting the gym early and who’s frustrated with their minutes. That’s the "E-E-A-T" (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) that Google loves, and it's why fans stick around.
Practical Steps for the Best Listening Experience
If you want to make the most of the Lakers radio broadcasts, don't just hope you're in the car at the right time.
First, download the ESPN LA app. It’s the most stable way to listen if you’re in a building with thick walls where AM signals die. However, be aware that during the playoffs, digital rights can get wonky. Sometimes the national radio broadcast (like SiriusXM or ESPN National) takes over the digital stream, and you lose the local guys. If that happens, go back to the literal AM dial.
Second, follow the producers on social media. People like Greg Bergman or Laura Romo often post behind-the-scenes clips of the guys in the booth. It adds a whole different layer to the experience when you can see the chaos happening behind the mic.
Third, if you’re a die-hard, get a dedicated AM/FM radio for your home. It sounds crazy in 2026, but during power outages or internet dips, that radio signal is going to be the only thing that stays up. Plus, there’s no "buffering" during a game-winning shot.
The Lakers are more than a team; they’re a massive, complicated, often frustrating family. And for better or worse, the 710 AM frequency is the dinner table where everyone gathers to talk about it. Whether it's a championship parade or a disappointing lottery season, the radio stays on.
To get the most out of your Laker fandom this season, start by syncing your routine with the broadcast schedule. Check the "Lakers Talk" podcast feed if you miss a live show—it usually hits the apps within an hour of the broadcast ending. If you’re heading to the stadium, bring those wired headphones. Using a radio at the game is a veteran move that changes the way you see the floor. Tune in, turn it up, and get used to the sounds of the city.