Ryan Ward is a Senior NBA analyst at EssentiallySports, bringing over 15 years of experience covering American sports. He is widely recognized for his credentialed reporting on the Los Angeles Lakers, where he gained all-access locker room and courtside coverage during Kobe Bryant’s final six seasons, including Bryant’s iconic 60-point farewell game. Ryan has also been a leading voice in Raiders coverage, having served as Editor-in-Chief at RaidersTribune.com and Managing Editor at RaidersNewswire.com, conducting interviews with NFL legends like Jerry Rice and Ty Law. In addition to his role at EssentiallySports, Ryan is the Deputy Basketball Editor at RotoWire and hosts the podcast Jello Jigglin: A Lakers Podcast on the Bleav Network. His editorial experience spans writing, editing, and social media management, with senior roles at ClutchPoints and contributions to outlets such as The Sporting Tribune. He provides coverage and analysis for Lakers fans everywhere through his Lakers Nation reporting. Ryan’s interviews include NBA greats such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pau Gasol, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, and Julius Erving, as well as NFL icons like Tom Flores and rap legend Ice Cube. Originally from the UK and now based in Colorado, Ryan balances breaking news speed with deep analysis to deliver authoritative coverage for NBA and NFL fans alike.