The Los Angeles Lakers have fans across the nation and this day gives them an opportunity to reflect on how fortunate they have been with their sports team. The Lakers have been very dominant since the turn of the century and fans may not realize just how lucky they are.
In the spirit of Halloween, we put together the Top 10 things Lakers fans are thankful for.
10. Lakers Nation
We here at Lakers Nation aim to provide fans with up-to-date news, game reports and rumors on the Los Angeles Lakers. If there is something going on in Laker Land, our motivated staff aims to give you that information as quickly as possible.
After a busy summer covering the additions of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, Lakers Nation prepared itself for a hectic opening to the 2012-13 season. Just weeks into the season, coach Mike Brown got fired and after much speculation that the Lakers would hire Phil Jackson, former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni got the final call.
The Lakers are poised to make a deep playoff run and Lakers Nation is here to cover ever step of the way.
Next Page: Numbers 9 and 8
9. Bernie Bickerstaff
Before the Los Angeles Lakers gave Mike D’Antoni the head coaching position, the team named Bernie Bickerstaff the interim head coach. The long-time coaching veteran was more than capable of leading the Lakers and he finished his tenure with a 4-1 record.
The Lakers immediately improved with Bickerstaff on the bench and there was a much greater sense of freedom on the court than when Mike Brown was on the sidelines. Instead of a predictable offense, Bickerstaff let his stars play and there weren’t restrictions on what they could and couldn’t do.
The Lakers have begun their tenure with Mike D’Antoni, but enough praise isn’t being given to Bickerstaff for the job he did as interim head coach.
8. Mike D’Antoni
The offensive mastermind Mike D’Antoni is now the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and there is a lot riding on his shoulders. Lakers fans want nothing short of titles from D’Antoni, but there is no reason he cannot succeed. His offensive system will allow a great deal of freedom for the stars and with Steve Nash running the point, there will no stopping this roster.
D’Antoni understands what he needs to do in order to get this team on the right track and offense will come very easy for them. Although many Lakers fans were upset when the team gave D’Antoni the coaching job, he is no doubt a “perfect” fit for this roster.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wycHE4MBYtY&feature=plcp
Next Page: Numbers 7 and 6
7. Gary Vitti
Behind every championship roster and coaching staff is an athletic trainer who takes care of all the bumps and bruises along the way. Luck is a major part in winning a title, and a wrong turn or hop can ruin a team’s chances for success. Los Angeles has title aspirations in 2012-13; however, injuries can bring those goals to a stop.
Gary Vitti has been the taking care of Lakers players for a very long time and he makes sure they are in the best medical condition before hitting the court. Vitti was there for Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant; he knows a little bit about assisting some of the league’s elite players.
6. Steve Nash
For the first time since the Magic Johnson-era, the Los Angeles Lakers have a Hall of Fame point guard on their roster. Nash came to the Lakers this summer in hopes of joining forces with Kobe Bryant to win his first NBA championship. Even though Nash has not played a lot for the team due to a leg injury, he should be back on the court in about a week.
Once Nash returns to the lineup he will add another dimension to the Lakers and make them even more dangerous. D’Antoni will have his full roster and Nash will have no problem adjusting to the system. Lakers fans need to be patient with Nash since he will make them that much better once he gets back.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1xKNXjgLN8&feature=plcp
Next Page: Numbers 5 and 4
5. Dwight Howard
After the Lakers acquired Nash they became serious Western Conference contenders, but the trade that got them Dwight Howard made them into legit title contenders. Prior to Howard, the Lakers had Andrew Bynum anchoring the paint, a player who had the potential to be great but was not at a desirable maturity level.
Howard, on the other hand, is the best center in the league and someone who gives it his all every single game. Howard has been playing exceptionally well so far this season as he is averaging 20.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. As for Bynum, well, he hasn’t even hit the court yet for the Sixers.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsVazMQWQXw&feature=plcp
4. Pau Gasol
The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Pau Gasol in 2008 and he changed the franchise around overnight. At the time, the Lakers were a mediocre team and there was a good chance that they would be knocked out in the first or second round. Kobe Bryant was the only star on the team and he could only lead the Lakers so far.
However, when Gasol came to the team everything changed and there was excitement in Los Angeles that had not been there since the Kobe-Shaq era. That very season, the Lakers ended up making the 2008 NBA Finals, and even though they lost, the franchise won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 with Bryant and Gasol leading the way.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-PO7g6VRcI&feature=plcp
Next Page: Numbers 3 and 2
3. Mitch Kupchak
The Lakers had one of the most successful off-seasons in NBA history in 2012 as they put together a starting five of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard. Not to mention, the team also added Jodie Meeks and Antawn Jamison to the bench.
The man behind all the impressive moves was Mitch Kupchak, one of the best general managers in the game today. Not only was Kupchak the mastermind behind the additions of Nash and Howard, but he also was the one who brought Gasol to the team. The Lakers never accept mediocrity and with such a demanding fan base, an elite roster is imperative to keeping the sanity in the city.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wycHE4MBYtY&feature=plcp
2. Jerry Buss
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most recognizable and successful franchises in all of sports. Their logo is a world-wide icon and the franchise has fans from all over the world. The 16 championship banners hanging from Staples Center are symbols for the greatness of the franchise and the rich history associated with the team.
The Lakers have become a model franchise in the NBA and a lot of that is due to the efforts of Jerry Buss. Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 and has won 10 championships in that time. Buss was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, something that was long overdue for his amazing feats with the Lakers.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zXYqWuRwKQ
Next Page: Number 1
1. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant has done so much for this Lakers franchise that it is hard to put it into words.
In 1996, the Lakers traded for the young guard out of high school and from that point on, the only team Bryant has known is the Lakers. He is currently in his 17th season with the Lakers and in that time he has won five championships, two Finals MVPs and one regular season MVP.
Bryant has been the leader of the team ever since Shaquille O’Neal left and even though he had some turbulent times, there is no doubt Kobe has had a positive impact on the franchise.
There is no way the Lakers would be where they are today if it weren’t for Kobe Bryant. He has worked hard every day to make sure he puts the Lakers in a position to succeed and with him leading the charge, there is a good chance the Lakers raise banner number 17 this season.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v27Hk5OIe-k
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsaL_BDAeqA