Los Angeles Lakers honored by President Barack Obama in Washington
Second consecutive NBA championship
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles Lakers were honored by President Barack Obama today at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington for winning their second consecutive NBA championship.
Laker players, coaches and trainer Gary Vitti took part in a service project at the club, continuing the Obama administration's practice of conducting a service project in conjunction with honoring a championship team.
The Lakers presented Obama with a personalized No. 1 jersey with his last name on the back in January when the Lakers visited the White House to be honored for winning the 2008-2009 NBA championship.
Obama joked about today's event, which was held at a location other than the White House.
"Kobe (Bryant) and Derek (Fisher) have been there so many times now they could lead tours themselves,'' Obama said.
The event came one day before the Lakers play the Washington Wizards in the third of six games away from Staples Center in a 10-day span.
The Lakers lost to Obama's hometown Chicago Bulls on Friday, a team Lakers coach Phil Jackson used to coach.
"It has been a long drought since Phil left Chicago, although I have to say they witnessed in person on Friday that my Bulls are showing some signs of life,'' the president quipped.
I try to be objective in my commentary. OK, I’m lying. I’m very subjective in my commentary.
That’s what editorialists do, they editorialize. There’s only one way to see it—their way.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—In a game decried by TV commentators as an embarrassment to NBA basketball, to the Los Angeles Lakers and to coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers were blown out of the Western Conference semifinals by the Dallas Mavericks, 122-86.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum and forward Lamar Odom were ejected for deliberate fouls in the fourth quarter of the game at Dallas' American Airlines Center. Bynum bludgeoned Mavericks guard J.J. Barea with his elbow, then quickly stripped off his jersey at midcourt as he headed to the locker room.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles Lakers will receive their rings for winning the 2009-2010 NBA championship at Staples Center tonight and raise a banner emblematic of their 16th title, then begin their quest for a third consecutive championship by facing the Houston Rockets.
"This is the crowning moment of winning the championship,'' Laker forward Lamar Odom said.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Denver Nuggets Saturday night in their first game at Staples Center since winning their second consecutive NBA championship in June.
The exhibition game will mark the Staples Center debuts of three players the team signed as free agents during the off-season—forward Matt Barnes, guard Steve Blake and center Theo Ratliff—and their two second-round draft choices, forwards Derrick Caracter and Devin Ebanks.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles Lakers have hired Mike D’Antoni to succeed Mike Brown as coach of the team.
D’Antoni, who coached the New York Knicks for the last four seasons and the Phoenix Suns for five seasons before that, agreed to a three-year deal with a team option for a fourth season. The Los Angeles Times put the value of the deal at $12 million.
