No franchise in sports has the amount of celebrity fans that the Los Angeles Lakers can boast. Jack Nicholson is the longest-tenured and tends to get the most attention, but actor Denzel Washington is right there among the most esteemed Lakers fans.
At every big game and moment, be it at the Great Western Forum or Staples Center, you can pretty much guarantee Washington will be there. Particularly if the Lakers are playing a marquee game against the Boston Celtics.
Washington has been a season ticket holder for more than 30 years now and during an appearance on “Inside the NBA”, he revealed Kevin McHale’s clothesline of Kurt Rambis in Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals was the minute he decided to become a season-ticket holder:
“Me and Robert Townsend were at the game when McHale clotheslined Rambis. And we bought season tickets that night. So I’ve had season tickets since [’84]. We had seats before that. We were buying seats here and there, but that night I bought season tickets and I’ve had them ever since.”
The passion and anger of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry in the 1980s was likely a reason plenty of people got hooked during that time and Washington was no different. He has seen the Lakers through all of the good times and now some of the tougher ones.
Washington admitted that the Lakers are still rebuilding, but sees reason for optimism with the team:
“It’s a rebuilding year. I think there’s some promise, though. They have a lot of good, young talent, and some surprises. Need a couple of pieces, big pieces, but I think we’re getting there.”
The Lakers certainly showed a lot of promise this season and there is a lot of hope that a return to the playoffs is in the cards next season. This summer could see the addition of at least one big free agent, but regardless of what happens in free agency, Washington and the rest of the fanbase is excited for the future of the Lakers.
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