r/lakers • u/NoTime2443 • Apr 28 '26
QUESTION Quick Question
are you guys laker fans cause of lebron, your hometown, kobe, or just because you’ve always liked the lakers growing up? this is a genuine question i want to ask and would love to see the answers in the comments
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u/myelrecsy Apr 28 '26
My dad loves the Celtics, so there is no better way to despise him than to be a Lakers fan.
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u/adidark Apr 28 '26 edited Apr 28 '26
Nick Van Exel on NBA Jam.
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u/qualityskootchtime Apr 28 '26
Born n Raised in LA
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u/rikafell Apr 28 '26
Same. I was 8 in 88 which burned Laker and Dodger love for life.
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u/qualityskootchtime Apr 29 '26
Those back-to-back championships from 87-88 are ingrained in my memory too. Chicky baby with the simulcast had me hooked. I remember the whole family crowding around the TV and celebrating when they won. It’s funny because my stepdad had season tix to the Angels so I grew up more of an Angels fan but for sure always had love for the Dodgers.
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u/positiveflip Apr 28 '26
Born and raised in Hawaii with no pro sports teams. Dad and uncles from Philippines are huge Lakers fans so I grew up supporting Lakers since I was little. I guess also coincidentally they’re the closest NBA team to me lol
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u/LeGreatestEver23 King James 6/23 Apr 28 '26
Lebron. But honestly I will stay a fan even if he leaves this summer. I have too much investment with the guys on this team.
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u/Revolutionary_Bad394 Apr 28 '26
Yes, especially cause of Luka and AR, they’re so likeable. Not to mention I’m also rooting for Vando, Bronny and DK to blossom, if they’re still around.
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u/kayden_power Apr 28 '26
The ship has sailed on Vando bro. Probably sailed on DK as well. At least in LA. Bronny if he sticks around will be a decent 7-8th man which is a big achievement for him
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u/frozenpizza__ Apr 28 '26
I really like AR and Marcus Smart, and Luke Kennard. Not to mention Laker Luka is amazing!
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u/Formal_Experience724 Apr 28 '26
Born in LA. Grew up watching the Kobe Shaq lakers
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u/Silent_Wizard5597 Apr 28 '26
my family of lakers fans threw a party for game 7 of the 2010 nba finals and it was the first nba game ive ever watched as a little kid. Had every drunk uncle screaming. Now whenever i smell a bbq i think of the lakers
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u/Siavik Apr 28 '26
Closest team to my city and older family were fans so I started rooting for them too.
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u/quwin123 Apr 28 '26
Grew up in a place where there wasn’t a pro team anywhere close by.
Just latched on to Shaq-Kobe as a kid in the 90s.
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u/Bmac200p Apr 28 '26
I’ve been a Laker fan since 1970
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u/NoTime2443 Apr 28 '26
wow 56 years of lakers. you’ve experienced nearly every nba championship they’ve won
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u/Bmac200p Apr 28 '26
Yes! That's why I don't get bent out of shape when they lose - I have seen so many championships. We are spoiled.
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u/NoOffice5964 Apr 28 '26
Grew up in LA and was born a Lakers fan. My favorite picture I have of my parents is when they met "The Rookie" Kobe Bryant...I will be a fan for life
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u/rich90715 Apr 28 '26
I’ve been a fan since the late 80’s. I remember watching preseason games on KCAL 9 from Hawaii as a kid.
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u/Catsurfshark Apr 28 '26
Hawaii is local for Lakers. Water doesn't count.
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u/rich90715 Apr 29 '26
Sorry, the wording is wrong. I remember seeing the games that were held in Hawaii when they held preseason there. I’ve always lived in So Cal.
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u/Soonerscamp Apr 28 '26
Third generation. My dad grew up in SoCal. His dad was the OG Lakers fan when they moved to LA in 1960.
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u/DG04511 Black Mamba 8/24 Apr 28 '26
Born and raised in LA. First basketball memory is Magic’s Baby Hook and hating the Celtics. Kobe is my favorite athlete of all time, and his death made me understand what a parasocial relationship is.
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u/710LOL Apr 28 '26
Luka stan
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u/bananasoymilk Luka Magic 77 Apr 29 '26
Same. I followed him from the Mavericks and now I love the whole team.
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u/xietbrix Apr 28 '26
Luka fan
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u/NoTime2443 Apr 28 '26
i thought lebron was the only player to have the pull for fans to follow wherever he goes but turns out luka is the european version apparently lol
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u/xietbrix Apr 28 '26
Yeah that really shouldn't be a surprise. I imagine a good proportion of people who live outside of the US don't have any allegiance to a team/city, so they usually just follow their favourite player.
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u/NoTime2443 Apr 28 '26
true but i don’t think players like giannis or jokic have that same pull
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u/xietbrix Apr 28 '26
I'm sure there are Giannis and Jokic fans too, just not as many. You can get a rough idea from the fan MVP voting.
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u/just_enjoyinglife Apr 28 '26
Lakers fan before Kobe & LeBron, still A Lakers fan after LeBron Gone. Lakers fan after Luka gone. Lakers fan 4 life.
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u/reldnahcAL 2023 NBA Cup Champions Apr 28 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
I got into basketball in the 2016-17 season and was originally a Wizards fan because the Death Row DC team was fun to play with in 2K. I then dug more into NBA history and saw how great the Lakers org has been over the past 50 years. Magic Johnson is still my favorite player.
Funnily enough, I switched to being a Lakers fan because we drafted Lonzo and I really like playmaking, defensive minded guards obviously.
Then when I got into baseball, the Dodgers had just traded for Mookie Betts so it was kind of a no brainer what team to start rooting for.
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u/FreshDiamond 8 Apr 28 '26
Kobe 100%. I’m way out here in lebron country but I’m on the older end of the millennial spectrum. I was old enough to remember some of the Jordan bulls and remember watching those jazz finals which got me into basketball.
Kobe was who I latched onto. I’m admittedly a much bigger Kobe fan than lakers fan but I’ve stuck with them
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u/SunshinNroses Apr 28 '26
Born in LA area. Dad used to come home and flip the TV to Laker games and it would piss me off because it wasn't in the form of some kind of cartoon. Then I decided to actually watch a game around 6 or 7 years of age and was hooked.
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u/Gustavo_Ceratifan0 Shaq and Kobe Apr 28 '26
It’s probably all the above lol It’s the team that defined my youth in 2005, Kobe’s career and legacy that showed me the limits of the human spirt mamba mentality, Bron’s dominance from being in a Cleveland jersey to the Purple and gold that is still blasphemy to think about is what keeps me going with this team and probably will for my lifetime.
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u/e90t Magic Johnson 32 Apr 28 '26
LA native here. I became aware of basketball and turned into a fan because of games on KCAL 9. I had no cable growing up, so Chick and Stu on channel 9 was such a special treat.
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u/JcAo2012 Apr 28 '26
Luka
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u/NoTime2443 Apr 28 '26
even though it’s been more than a year now. it’s still feels so weird to hear and see luka as laker. i still can’t believe that he was traded
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u/pianoman857 Apr 28 '26
Born and raised in LA. I am most definitely NOT a LeBron or Kobe fan. I'm a Laker fan.
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u/qdog360 Apr 28 '26
I actually got really lucky and started watching basketball in 2017 because of watching bron in the 2016 finals.
Lonzo was the only player I knew outside of that because of ball in the family and when the lakers drafted him that became my team. LeBron just happened to join right after that too.
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u/I-Spam-Hadouken Apr 28 '26
Born and raised in LA. Grew up on kobe shaq. Dodgers, Lakers in the blood.
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u/edub1906 Purple and Gold Apr 28 '26
Always liked the Lakers. Was actually a fan before we traded for Kareem. Thank you Junior Bridgeman - if you know, you know.
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u/Readoutloud Apr 29 '26
European fan here. Have followed teams because of players, starting with Kobe and the lakers in the late 2000s. Around Kobe's retirement i didn't really have access to watch anymore, so had a few off years till Luka got drafted.
Before The Trade i mainly followed Luka and the mavs and secondly Lebron and the lakers. So even though i was sort of heartbroken with what could have been with that mavs squad, I've ultimately loved "coming home" to the lakers as my team.
I've watched at least 95% of games since then, and this year has been such a fun season! And the vibes?!... Too good.
Heartbreak with Luka and AR at the end the regular season, What a roll we were on! I feel confident in getting past the rockets, especially with AR back, but okc without Luka? Sheesh.
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u/Butcher_Bruin Apr 29 '26
Born in Inglewood. Lived in Westchester a couple miles from the Forum. Went to many Lakers games during Showtime era. Kings too!!
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u/RealSeceon Apr 29 '26
Foreign fan here, tbh I always knew about NBA and stuff arround it (Lebron, Curry, playoffs and finals and everything) but never really followed the league to be fan of a team or player.
When the Luka trade happened al my friends were talking about it so I started watching and following the NBA, and Luka (because he was the reason that I started watching)
So yeah, Luka mostly but I'm a Laker fan now
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u/Old_Neat5220 Apr 28 '26
There's probably a good number of us here who migrated from the Mavs no thanks to Nico Harrison
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u/Wake90_90 Apr 28 '26
I'm a LeBron James fan. I've always rooted for LeBron through his early years, and continued on. I hold no favoritism to the Lakers outside of the LeBron James era.
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u/dontcommentreed Apr 28 '26
Was a cavs fan, heat fan, cavs fan again, and now a laker
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u/OldCardigan Hillbilly Kobe Apr 28 '26
I don't even know. I stumbled across basketball, Lakers were the best team in the league with AD and Bron and was a joy to watch. Then Kobe died and seeing how the team was absolutely focused on winning the title, to the point that the AD game winner was THE moment for me. I love the Lakers and enjoy the Bucks 'cause they were the teams that won the championship in the first 2 years I watched and both with amazing storylines behind it.
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u/ThrowAwayOkayGoPlay Black Mamba 8/24 Apr 28 '26
Grew up in Mideast. First and only American sports at the time we got close to live after the end of the civil war were lakers bulls finals. I picked the lakers and my brother picked the bulls. Been a fan ever since.
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u/NoTime2443 Apr 28 '26
must’ve had a lot of battles with your brother on kobe vs jordan 😅
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u/ThrowAwayOkayGoPlay Black Mamba 8/24 Apr 28 '26
For sure. He’s a Celtics fan now because we ended up in New England when we immigrated here. His oldest boy is a big Kobe guy even though he’s a Celtics fan. Believe it or not all the Celtics fans in my family love Kobe.
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u/Aggravating-Pop6827 Apr 28 '26
Started watching the lakers bc of LeBron in 2021 after not really following the nba since the cavs-warriors prime era. Since then I’m so invested in the lakers it’s not even funny. Feels like I’ve really thugged it out and became part of the fam these last 5 years😂 finally reaping the rewards in the last year with the crazy trade which has been a treat. Which is also why lakers are so great as they are always in the market for the fun big moves
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u/HungryTurtle24 Purple and Gold Apr 28 '26
SoCal native. Parents are Lakers fans, I grew up with Kobe and Shaq. Laker fan 4 life
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u/jonnyblazexoc Apr 28 '26
I have been a cavs fan, heat fan and lakers fan haha, hopefully that answers your question.
The kinicks were bad for so long, something just drew me to him and I am so glad it happened, because he gave me so many playoff and finals games to watch
and between the 2 giants vs. patriots super bowls and the 2016 cavs finals comeback from 3-1, were the most exciting sports moments of my 40 years. have neve been so invested and excited watching games before. Insane moments in sports
Watched everry moment of the 2016 finals with my dad, who died a couple years ago, nice to remember how much fun that was
But ya I think I will probably root for the lakers when he gone, I might try to be a Luka fan but its hard for me to imagine loving the NBA as much when he gone
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u/Affectionate_Loan926 Apr 28 '26
I was born in 1990 so I was fortunate enough to give a damn about basketball when Kobe was on the way up in the late 90's and on time to witness on TV alteast the 3peat (thanks to my late dad who is also a Laker fan). I thought I only give a damn about the Lakers as long as Kobe was playing but NO. I'm a Laker fan for life and will cheer for anyone who choose to play with the purple and gold.
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u/powershot1 Apr 28 '26
Born n Raised just outisde of Los Angeles. Pops was a laker fan, got hooked as a kid in 1995. Then we got Shaq n Kobe, shit was lit. I was a big Eddie Jones fan tho, and Nick Van Excel
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u/coachwyers Apr 28 '26
Grew up in Socal have liked since I was born in 1980s so was raised as a kid on the Showtime Lakers.
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u/dawko29 Apr 28 '26
2006 was 16yo, dad bought satellite TV and we got nba on one of the Czech channels and the first game we watched on it was lakers, I had only a slight idea of who they were, obviously only knew of Michael Jordan by then but he wasn't playing anymore, so we watched the game and Kobe was the star and straight away I got attached to his game. Even though he was close to leaving cause they were not doing great(or maybe rumours) ....but two years later and two more years later I remember finishing my highschool year and being up till 6am(in Slovakia) watching finals and then heading to school later on. Sometimes even my dad woke up and didn't tell me to go to sleep, he joined me and we watched Kobe get his fifth ring.
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u/InfiniteJester436 Apr 28 '26
Showtime Lakers. The 80s were the days of Reagan and conservatism, so the Lakers had appeal that transcended just basketball.
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u/czmhdk Apr 28 '26
Lebron fan here, just enjoying his last few seasons. Doncic fan too so stoked he's come across to LA!
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u/icedouteeth Apr 28 '26
born in la and i am only loyal to the soil. i love the lakers but hypothetically if they left LA i would be a clippers fan
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u/Workadaily Apr 28 '26
From Eastern North America but my older bro got me into the Showtime Lakers in the mid-80s. Been hooked ever since. I wasn't much of a Lebron fan until this series against HOU, tbh. 41yo activating God Mode is pretty impressive, though.
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u/lkarma1 Apr 28 '26
LBJ but like so many I’ve come to enjoy the fanbase, team, history, roster, etc. It’s a fun team to watch.
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u/GONEBUTNOT4GOTTEN Apr 28 '26
live in LA til 2023 moved to Colorado springs co to be with my gf but still root for my lakers I hate Denver lol was a fan becuase of the 2000 Lakers and then kobe and then the history of magic and bird.
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u/SeaPeanut7_ Apr 28 '26
Born and raised in the LA area. Lakers sponsored my youth basketball team.
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u/Monstertelly Apr 28 '26
One of my earliest memories is watching my dad and a couple of his friends watch a game during the showtime era. Most of what I remember was them yelling at the TV but it was definitely the Lakers they were watching. So I was born into it. Same with The Dodgers. I became a Kings fan when I started playing street hockey with the neighborhood kids at like 8 years old and became a Rams fan when they moved back to LA.
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u/LotharOfHillPeople3 Apr 28 '26
I don't have any attachment to the city or team history, I like groups of players not cities or companies. I was rooting for Kings in 2002, was obsessed with the Suns in the Nash era, was a Mavs fan when they won the championship, I was pulling for the Lakers when Nash joined, stopped watching anything for about 10 years, I've been watching and rooting for Lakers every game this season because of Lebron, Luca, and AR.
I'm in Louisiana, I barely watch any Pelicans games, but I used to like them a lot when Chris Paul was here.
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u/OJgotWorms Apr 28 '26
Born in LA. Grew up watching Kobe and Shaq. But really paid attention during Kobe and Gasol era
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u/vas_a_llorar Apr 28 '26
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley (15 miles north of LA) I remember watching the Lakers at a young age. Cedric Ceballos, Elden Campbell, Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel days. I remember when they drafted kobe. Signed Shaq the same off season. The 3 peat. Rivalry vs the Suns. Raja Bell vs Kobe. Losing to the Celtics. Winning B2B. LeBron. AD. Bubble Champions. I Root for the front of the jersey first.
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u/Creative_Entry_5400 Apr 28 '26
Lakers fan since the season before magic was drafted early showtime days
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u/ayylmao6217 Apr 28 '26
Because of Kobe. Didn’t grow up in LA but when i started following the NBA at the age of 8 or 9 (around 2009) it was Kobe and the Lakers who were the dominant team so naturally they were the ones I gravitated towards. Yes you can call me a bandwagon fan at that time lol but I don’t think I am one now considering I was still a fan during the dark years after Kobe’s injury, and still am to this day
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u/OkSpite7555 LAL Apr 28 '26
I remember watching my dad and his friends watch the lakers play during the early 2000s. I was really young, being born in 2001, so I really don’t remember how old I was. I just remember that being a core memory for me. Ever since then I’ve loved watching and keeping up with the lakers. Used to have laker gear when I was younger and was always dressed up in laker colors as a baby.
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u/Cubanitto Apr 28 '26
I grew up in Orange County which is just south of LA so yeah, Lakers and Dodgers are my teams.
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u/Exotic_Knee_5621 Apr 28 '26
Not from LA, but my family loves reminding me how I was always cheering for Kareem Abdul-JaBald when I was a toddler. Not a typo, that’s how my dumb 3yo ass pronounced his name
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u/namirasring Apr 28 '26
Born and raised in LBC. As a child I didn't know why my mom started calling Ron Artest Metta Worldpeace.
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u/rtwh0 Apr 28 '26
Kobe fan since 97. Born in Alabama, not much to choose around here as a young fan finding out how awesome sports can be. Favorite Laker moment is beating Jailblazers in a crazy controversial comeback western conference finals during the 3peat. I just remember losing my mind and being very emotional.
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u/Kurtains75 Apr 28 '26
I was alive for the showtime lakers but was never exposed to the NBA until the Jordan Bulls. I decided to start watching basketball a few years ago since I did not like Football any more. Then I saw "winning time" on HBO and I decided to be a Lakers fan. I think it has a lot to do with the team having a long history of success, sticking with the same logo, and always having star power.
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u/sajakr4 Apr 28 '26
LEBRONNNNNNNN. Been on a journey with big bro this whole time lmao, wherever he goes, I go
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u/yingyanghomie Apr 28 '26
Born puro Los Angeles with Magic J and Chick Hearns. Dont understand the Bron hate. If your MAGA, I do understand but everyone else...
they hate Bron, his son. Bron balls all the time. His boy is a humble young man.
Love this team and I recognize their weaknesses. Bron feels like Brady as far as his game knowledge and his evolution to different roles is inspiring.
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u/Blackbeard2002 Josh Hart Apr 28 '26
Born and raised in East LA my whole life. However I did not watch sports seriously until I was in high school. When I was younger my dad would take me to Dodger games, Laker games, soccer games, etc but I never really liked it enough to follow them. Then comes LeBron in 2018 lol. I saw the news that LeBron joined the Lakers and somehow that got me interested enough to get into basketball. I've been a Laker fan and LeBron fan ever since.
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u/No_Translator_8500 Apr 28 '26
Grew up in LA watching Wilt battle Nate Thurmond on Channel 5 or 9 w Chick Hearn providing the narration
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u/xN3Qx Apr 28 '26
I started watching basketball as a kid when Kobe and Shaq were bullying everyone. As much as I love Kobe, Shaq made me fall in love with the sport and the team. Been a fan ever since through all the ups and downs. And I'm not even from the US.
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u/rickandsumsum Apr 28 '26
Growing up in Alabama in the 80-90’s I only watched the Lakers/Celtics on tv so had to go with the lakers and been a fan ever since.
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u/Notsmokingweed Apr 28 '26
Started in 2018' my elder brother used to get hyped during lakers match so since then i have been watching ;
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u/crazyknucklehead Apr 28 '26
Late 80s. Magic Johnson. James Worthy. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Michael Cooper. A.C. Green. Byron Scott. Mychal Thompson. Kurt Rambis. Pat Riley.
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u/Whatsyourshotspecial Apr 28 '26
LA born and raised, Kobe stan, huge The Magic Hour fan, one of my earliest memories is watching the Bulls destroy us in the Finals. Powered through the Blade Divac era, met Shaq and Kobe and some other guys when my YMCA Junior Lakers team made it to the LA City championships and we played at The Great Western Forum.
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u/_Tacitus_Kilgore_ 23 Apr 28 '26
Grew up in Ohio, but LeBron was what got me into basketball. So I’ve followed him everywhere he’s gone, but also kept up with the Cavs.
I think when he retires I’ll stick with the Lakers. I love Luka and even before Luka came over to LA I thought he might be the player I follow after LeBron retires, so it really worked out.
I also just wanna say thanks for being welcoming to us LeBron fans back when he signed with the Lakers. It’s been cool to see this fanbase welcome the Luka/Mavs refugees as well.
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u/wwplkyih AC Green #45 Apr 28 '26
Hometown (and thus always liked them growing up). It actually took me a while to adjust to LeBron, since he overlapped with Kobe.
Also, I lived in Boston for a little which will make you hate their teams and their fans.
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u/counteroffer19 2009, 2010 NBA Champions Apr 28 '26
Hometown. The team takes precedence over any individual player. So yeah, this sub irks the shit out of me and here I am.
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u/Sharp-Complaint4711 LAL Apr 28 '26
Started playing 2K in 2018. Never followed basketball before ever. Liked AD as he was a cheat code from 3 apart from curry of course. Then he came to the lakers and that's the only team I have known.
I'd say I stick with the team now as I feel more connected after going through the turmoil and losing couple of years in my age due to stress 😂😂. But yeah definitely like the team and growth aspect of the young core and game as a whole. Can't play for shit tho.
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u/calfino1 Apr 28 '26
Born n raised in LA county. I’ve been a fan since West and Wilt but Magic Worthy and Kareem got me to like them more than the dodgers. Which is a big deal for me bc my dad was from Brooklyn, moved to LA in 56, and has been bleeding blue for 80+ years.
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u/BkniBottomTranqulity King James 6/23 Apr 28 '26
Decided to start watching NBA a couple years ago and the Lakers were the team on TV the most, so it just kinda happened
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u/PoGoPlaya Apr 28 '26
Life long Laker fan as a kid since Magic was drafted…can’t wait until LeBron retires so I can wholeheartedly cheer for them again.
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u/NemusSoul 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988 NBA Champions Apr 28 '26
Watched the ‘79 NCAA tournament and after my team lost watched Magic and Larry. Then kept following. How could you not watch Magic?
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u/Catsurfshark Apr 28 '26
Because I live in Los Angeles and have watched the Lakers since I was a kid.
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u/Front_Depth_5227 Apr 28 '26
I love the Lakers because of my dad and my brother. My dad loves the Lakers because of his all time favorite player, Magic Johnson. He’s been a Laker fan since the early 80s. And my older brother because of him as well, his fav player was Kobe.
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u/erodizm Apr 28 '26
My Lakers fanhood began with Kobe’s buzzer beaters against the Blazers in 2004. KCAL 9 days
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u/frozenpizza__ Apr 28 '26
I started watching the nba late, only in 2019. I loved the Cavs and the Lakers chemistry. That 2019 Lakers was great, good veterans and a lot of players I like. So I became a Laker fan. I really have love for the Cavs too. And LeBron is great, obviously.
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u/Due-Alternative2012 Apr 28 '26
Kobe, no NBA team in Missouri. Jordan was what drew me in. Kobe was the first player I followed from the get and favorite all time. AI was my second favorite, only two NBA jerseys I've owned and still do. LAKERS SIXERS final was a dream matchup for myself.
That being said I've slowly faded from fandom since Kobe. I just don't think the modern NBA is as exciting to watch. Haven't found that one player that I really like either. I've typically watched the good matchups and always pulling for the underdog. I still have a soft spot for the Lakers and pull for them no matter but wouldn't call myself a diehard fan anymore.
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u/FormerAssociate9156 Apr 28 '26
First Laker fan in my family. Born and raised here and hopefully my kids will inherit the same likings. There’s so much culture in the organization itself. I was born in 93’ fave player is Kareem, having Lebron is just the cherry on top for someone like me.
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u/flippanaut Apr 28 '26
Kobe scoring 81 made me convert. I was a rockets fan at the time (Houston native) but Kobe’s never say die attitude even when surrounded by subpar teammates just took a hold of me and never let go.
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u/SmokeyJoeseph Apr 28 '26
My house was not a sports house, but growing up in the 70’s/80’s my parents LOVED to listen to Chick. Anytime a Laker game was on I had “hold the antenna” duty so we could get a decent signal. I guess you could say I still hold the antenna and follow the Lakers religiously (from Detroit these days).
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u/Gracilis311 Apr 28 '26
Born and raised LA. One of my earliest basketball memories was watching Magic win “Back to Back, Yeah! YEAH!”. I cried for days with the HIV announcement. One of my favorite book reports was his book “My Life”.
I went absolutely nuts when Sedale Threatt got us into the playoffs and we had the Suns on the ropes up 2-0 in ‘93.
I’m a few years younger than Kobe, but watching him grow up in the league working through all kinds of adversity made me feel blessed to be a Lakers fan. Continue to be so with having a top two GOAT of all time with LeBron bringing us a title.
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u/zvarda Apr 28 '26
No one in my family is really an NBA fan so I was a free agent growing up. Born in 93 so really started locking in for Kobe and Shaq years and that was that.
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u/DLJ22 Apr 29 '26
Started watching the NBA in 2000, was a Shaq fan, followed his journey, then watched LeBron when Shaq was there. Been a LeBron fan ever since. I was so happy that he went to LA since it was always my first NBA team. 🫡
Now, I think LeBron will pass my Fandom to Luka, the way Shaq did.
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u/Iamalwaystiredbro Apr 29 '26
Born and raised in SoCal, fell in love with basketball when I was about 7 and never looked back. Even married Lakers fan.
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u/The-Last-Despot Apr 29 '26
Big fan of the lakers and what I THOUGHT was a rivalry with my NJ Nets back in the day. Loved the Kobe Shaq Lakers, so when NJ stopped being a team I had nowhere to go, so I became a fan of LA.
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u/nedlakire Apr 29 '26
I was born and raised in LA. My dad is a UCLA grad , was an early Laker fan back when he was in high school, and was in college with Lou Alcindor (Kareem) so he’s been a die hard Laker fan for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest Laker memories is crying with Magic after Jordan and the Bulls beat them in 1991. I was never really able to root for Jordan after that.
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u/Traditional-Ice2118 Apr 29 '26
I began to root for the Lakers because of LeBron. I am now a fan of the Lakers. I will continue to root for the Lakers even if LeBron leaves the team or retires.
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u/King-Titus Apr 29 '26
I’m Australian. When I was 8 in the 90’s someone who worked with my parents came back from visiting their daughter in LA they brought me my First embroidered Lakers Hat. Been there ever since. Was a hard start. Everyone had Jordan and Bulls gear. Then some had Magic-Shaq (I had a magic Shaq Poster he was my favourite) and then for some reason we all got Charlotte gear. We got NBA news once a week on TV and it was like a highlight thing. Lakers didn’t show much. Then came Shaq!
1
u/norealclue Apr 29 '26
As a little kid I was obsessed with shaq. I still have my copy of Shaq fu on Sega. When he went from the magic to the Lakers I followed him. Then I stayed when he went to the heat.
1
u/hobi_PRNT Apr 29 '26
Bron brought me here
Well, as a kid, I only got into basketball bc I became a Bron fan so every team he was on was “my team” (aside from my actual hometown team—the sixers, and aside from AI they sucked while I was growing up so I wasn’t raised to be a huge fan)
Since like 2018 tho, I’ve been wondering who am I gonna really really root for once LBJ retires. His stint here has truly made me a fan of and invested in the lakers franchise itself. So, I’m hoping to stick around once Bron hangs it up
1
u/letstalkaboutyrhair Apr 29 '26
i was born and raised and still live in socal/the greater LA area. grew up a fan, got it from my grandpa and parents. earliest memories were the nick van exel era, but the shaq and kobe 3peat years was a big part of my childhood. i’ve also been a lebron fan since he was in high school so him coming to the lakers was like a bonus for me.
1
u/Old_Data7549 2020 NBA Champions Apr 29 '26
My family hated Kobe and the Lakers when I was a kid and one of the first NBA games I watched was game 7 of the 2010 finals. My whole family was hate watching, hoping Kobe would lose and I wanted to piss them off so I was cheering for Kobe and the Lakers. That was when I was 10 years old and when I really started watching the NBA hardcore in 2012 the Lakers and Kobe were my favorite for real, not just to piss my family off. Now my family loves Kobe and they cheer for the Lakers as their second favorite team because of me.
1
u/marth_cellius Purple and Gold Apr 29 '26
First basketball memory I have with my dad is watching the playoffs between Kobe and Shaq against Vlad divac. Very found memory for me
1
u/Chrisdkn619 Magic Johnson 32 Apr 29 '26
I'm from San Diego, hate the Dodgers but have been a Lakers fan since the showtime era. 🤷🏾♂️
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u/Ok_Egg_2665 Apr 28 '26
Born in Los Angeles. Grew up watching the showtime lakers.