Clippers 116, Lakers 109: Lakers get their rings, fall to city rivals.
The Los Angeles Lakers received their NBA championship rings Tuesday night in an empty arena that still felt filled with warmth from their families, friends and millions of fans worldwide.
Even a 116109 loss to the crosstown Clippers afterward didn’t take away any of the luster.
And while they put the blindingly brilliant jewelry on their fingers, the Lakers promised to hold a real party for their 17th championship as soon as everyone can attend.
“I’m going to take a second to speak directly to Lakers fans: We miss you so much,” Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said. “The team misses you, but someday soon, we’ll be together. And when we are together, we have something special to celebrate.”
Just 72 days after LeBron James, Anthony Davis and their teammates finished off the Miami Heat in the NBA bubble, the Lakers returned from the shortest offseason in league history to get their reward. The coaches, executives and 11 returning players from last season’s championship team received their rings at Staples Center in a brief, warm ceremony before their regularseason opener.
The raising of the banner honoring their 17th championship is going to wait until fans are in Staples Center to enjoy it with them. The spot where it will hang eventually on the arena walls is currently occupied by a black banner reading: “STAY TUNED, LAKERS FAMILY.”
The ring presentations observed social-distancing measures that seemed totally appropriate for 2020. The families of the Lakers’ players and coaches appeared in short, heartfelt videos of introduction before the players walked up to an individual podium to grab the rings by themselves.
Davis was cheered by his parents, who expressed their pride in all of his basketball accomplishments. James’ mother, uncles and children virtually congratulated him before he claimed his ring and joyously held up four fingers in honor of his four NBA titles with three franchises.
When general manager Rob Pelinka put his ring on his right hand, he put up a 2 and 4 with his fingers in honor of Kobe Bryant.
“You showed last year what a talented group of individuals can accomplish if they buy into being a team,” Lakers head coach Frank Vogel told his players. “To our fans, we cannot wait until it is safe enough for you guys to be back at Staples Center so we can perform in front of you and celebrate all this stuff with you guys. We thank you and we love you.”
Jason of Beverly Hills, the Lakers’ traditional jeweler, created the rings, just as he did for the 2009 and 2010 championship teams led by Bryant, Pau Gasol and head coach Phil Jackson.
James and Davis led the Lakers to the title in the NBA’s Florida bubble during the first season of their West Coast partnership, making a 165 postseason run to James’ fourth championship and Davis’ first.
Top candidates: Boston Celtics swingman Paul Pierce and longtime player, coach and broadcaster Doug Collins lead the firsttime nominees for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Also making their debut as candidates are Michael Cooper, Howard Garfinkel, Lou Henson, Val Ackerman, Yolanda Griffith and Lauren Jackson. Finalists are scheduled to be announced in early March — in the time frame of NBA AllStar weekend, the Hall of Fame said.