Quotes About Lakers

Growing up in L.A., every kid wants to play for the Lakers. As a kid I went to their championship parades, bought a Kobe jersey - I went to the gym and made everybody call me Kobe - loved Shaq, loved the three-peat.

I don't think the Lakers really knew me when they first drafted me. They just saw my name and my size and my stats. They just picked somebody because they had to.

Everyone 'watches Kobe when the Lakers play.

Everyone watches the Lakers, let's be honest.

Amos clapped his hands. "Khufu!" I thought he'd sneezed, because Khufu is a weird name, but then a little dude about three feet tall with gold fur and a purple shirt came clambering down the stairs. It took me a second to realize it was a baboon wearing an L.A. Lakers jersey.

Agh-uhh!" the baboon grunted. He turned and waddled up the stairs. Unfortunately, the Lakers jersey didn't completely cover his multicolored rear.

Regardless, the growing chorus of Laker fans who wanted more Kobe and less Eddie was confounding, because the third-year guard was playing the best ball of his lifetime. But Bryant was on the verge of legitimate greatness—a greatness that Jones (talent be damned) would never touch.

I have nothing but respect for the Lakers. So many of their legends shaped who I am as a person and player.

Part of the reason why Kobe Bryant is such a big inspiration to me is because he was shipped off to the Lakers right out of high school. He went from English class to the Great Western Forum.

People want to be Lakers. There's just so much pressure, and some guys handle it and some guys can't.

I had to earn the respect from everybody, from referees to opponents, but my teammates, they saw some European guy coming here and I had to prove myself. Luckily, I proved myself, but with big help from the entire Lakers organization.

My teammates are incredible. Just to be a part of this organization and this group, it's amazing with all the history behind the Lakers; I'm just glad to be a part of it.

Every kid who just played basketball knew about the Boston Celtics. They're one of the few teams who were always on national TV along with the Lakers.

I was going to fight for what I wanted first, and that was being in L.A. and being a Laker. L.A. was the first place that came to my mind. That's where my heart was at.

My favorite piece of clothing as a boy was a purple Magic Johnson jersey from the Los Angeles Lakers.

No one ever bugged Jack Nicholson. When we made 'Witches,' and people were standing around to see him, he'd just come out and say, 'Hi everybody!' I was lucky enough to go with him to a Lakers game, too, and he was always friendly. No one bothers Jack, because he makes himself so accessible.

I met wonderful people playing in the NBA. Whether it is the officials, the scorekeepers, all the people who work for the NBA, not just for the Lakers, but I'm talking about just for the league itself.

The Laker brand and name itself is fantastic. When you have a guy like Kobe Bryant in that brand also, it takes it out of this world. I think the fact that everybody sees the work ethic this guy has makes them work harder.

My biggest concern for the Lakers - and they're going have to figure out a way to rectify this - is Lonzo Ball.

There was a time period where I was obsessed with the rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics in the 1980s.

I loved the Lakers in '09 and 2010. I used to get up early with my brother Janis, and we watched them win the titles.

The Lakers have been nothing but great to me, and I want to keep the relationship great.

I don't think the Lakers could control Tony Parker's ability to get into the paint, so his health is the key for San Antonio.

I'm a Lakers fan. Kevin Garnett is my favorite player of all time because of his passion for the game.