NBA All-Star Weekend is quickly approaching and with the festivities taking place in Los Angeles, both the Lakers and Clippers will have influences even though neither has a representative in the game itself.
The Lakers will be well-represented in the Mountain Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Challenge, however. Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Lonzo Ball (if healthy), were all selected to be a part of the USA Team.
The young trio making the game is something that Lakers head coach Luke Walton believes is proof of the organization’s promising future.
If or when Ball, Ingram and Kuzma suit up, they should all feel right at home both in terms of the court and jerseys.
The NBA announced that the Lakers’ Minneapolis roots are the inspiration for the USA jersey designs, while the World team jerseys pay homage to the Clippers’ beginnings as the Buffalo Braves:
Inspired by the histories of the @Lakers & @LAClippers… the #KickstartRisingStars #NIKExNBA unis!
The WORLD design pays tribute to Clippers’ 1970s-era Buffalo Braves uniforms, while the USA was designed as nod to the Minneapolis Lakers uniforms of the 1940s/ 50s. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/mmVVuMPnho
— 2018 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 6, 2018
This idea makes complete sense and is a smart move by the NBA. With two L.A. teams they have the obvious opportunity to pay respects to the history of both teams.
The 2018 Mountain Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Challenge takes place on Friday, Feb. 16, and is the kickoff to the All-Star festivities. The Lakers will also be represented in the Slam Dunk Contest as Larry Nance Jr. will participate for the first time in his career.
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