What Lakers have you met or seen up close?

[troy]

1. Norm Nixon, years ago, at the Lakewood Mall. Was signing photos. Seemed serious, not too nice.
2. Mark Landsberger. Same event at the Mall. Was personable.
3. Jamal Wilkes. Same event as above. Seemed quiet, but polite.
4. Magic Johnson. Inglewood. At an event (I forgot what). Shook his hand - he had a really soft hand. Was very nice, spoke warmly with my mom.
5. Adrian Dantly. Didn't know who he was. Was told afterwards. Didn't speak to him, but he spoke to my older brother.
6. Michael Cooper. At a sports bar across from the Staple Center. He was there with some Sparks players and other WNBA players. I actually had a conversation with him. He told me always look out for the first 10 games of a season to determine how good a team will be. He was just there, hanging out, nobody really coming up or speaking to him. Note- A young Candace Parker was there, was really snobby and sorta rude.
7. Shaq O'Neill. Las Vegas, years ago, during All Star games. I didn't say anything too him, but I stood next to him briefly. He is HUGE!
8. Jerry West/Mitch Kupchak, LB Pyramid, during Summer League years ago. Shook their hands. Talked very briefly. Both seemed really nice.
9. Derek Fisher. Same thing, LB Pyramid. Was rude, I couldn't approach him, but some females were allowed. Seemed more interested in flirting with girls there.
10. Andrew Bynum, his rookie year, was when I used to hang out during the Summer at the Summer League in Long Beach . Saw him at a nearby Ralphs Supermarket, buying a bottle of orange juice and some snacks, right in front of me.
11. Not Lakers , but I also saw so Riley and Steve van Gundy at the Pyramid also (LB Pyramid used to be the best place to see NBA players and coaches up close). They didn't sit next to each other and Van Gundy didn't seem to happy to see Riley. It was when Van Gundy was coaching the Heat.

[Four Decade Bandwagon]

Early 1970s I met the entire team roster a couple seasons in a row. Our middle school PE teacher had some connection to the team and did small field trips to meet the team. Interacted with many but my standout memories are shaking Wilt’s massive hand and shooting around with Goodrich and West. Goodrich being my player idol at the time.

In later years I met Kobe, Chick and his wife Marge at a couple charity events. I was involved with the speakers backstage before they went out to speak and present scholarships to teens. Kobe was amazing to talk with. He was much more interested in how we worked with the kids than talking about basketball.

Chick and Marge were incredibly caring and gracious to everyone. Kept talking about us not making a fuss over him. Still hear his voice in my head when I watch games today.

Good memories. Thanks for asking.

[ksmgf]

I will never forget the night I walked into Barona Casino in the early 2000s and saw Dr Jerry Buss playing blackjack. He was really nice and I said hi and the pleasure of giving him a hand shake.

I also seen Luke Walton and Richard Jefferson at a mall in San Diego around the same time.

Met Magic at the premier seating in my first time at Staples, too bad that was before the smart phone era and couldnt get a pic with the him.

[venturalakersfan]

I ran into Horace Grant multiple times at a Starbucks in Monticeto. He was very personable and we talked about the 2000’s Lakers.
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RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.

[Runway8]

Magic Johnson, Nick Van Exel, and Eddie Jones. Also, Cooper and Bryon in Laker summer camp... does that count? LOL!
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[CandyCanes]

I saw Stu Lantz up close after a Lakers game once. I didn’t realize how tall he was until then.
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Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:

[1995Lakers]

Big Ben Benoit Benjamin....the great legendary Laker!!!!

Yes seriously same flight to Charlotte. Dude rode commercial.

[Runway8]

[dont_be_a_wuss]

I saw James Worthy at Erewhon Santa Monica a while back. He said “excuse me”.

[32]

Wilt Chamberlain. Got his autograph at the Balboa Park tennis courts in Encino.
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Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold.

[Runway8]

[32]

[C M B]

said "that was a nice move" while I was playing NBA run & Gun which used unnamed player likenesses at the Luxor arcade in 1995. I was using the seattle team:
Gary Payton

autographs and photos at the 1996 pre-season kickoff for season ticketholders at the forum:

Shaq
Jerome Kersey
Eddie Jones
Nick Van Exel
Kobe
Cedric Ceballos
Byron Scott
Elden Campbell
Kurt Rambis

signed a napkin for my dad at a versatel in Inglewood in 1986:
Michael Cooper

i stalked him and stole a moment to grovel at Disneyland while he was on a VIP tour with his family in 2008:
Kobe

walked up to him pre-game at Staples Center in 08:
Mychal Thompson

signed a bunch of things like media guides and promo posters, pre-game 1993-1999, my most treasured encounters:
Chick Hearn

bought a round for my friends group at Caesars and then again at XS at the encore in Vegas, June 2009:
Jordan Farmar
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http://chickhearn.ytmnd.com/

[JamaalWilkes]

Kobe Byrant, Magic Johnson, Norm Nixon, John Salley, Mark Madsen, and more, in public places, mostly getting food or at charity events.

Magic is pretty public. Seen him a few times out and about, picking up food. He's friendly.

Salley shows up at movie premieres and Hollywood industry events.

Back in the day, there were certain clubs and restaurants where you were likely to see players, like The Century Club. Also, charity events.

During the summer league in Vegas, tons of NBA players and coaches post up at the Four Seasons. My favorite was Doc Rivers trying to hit on a lady I was meeting at the Four Seasons for a business lunch.

[PICKnPOP]

Took my dad to his first Laker game last year and our seats were right underneath magics suit. So, we ended up walking into crypto at the same time as him and his wife. They were so cool. She was very nice and even took a bunch of pictures for my whole family. I had it printed and hung it up on my wall.

I ran into Anthony Davis a few times around SoCal. Once him and his wife sat right next to me and my date at seaworld. That’s kind of when I knew he was never going to be the next Superstar of LA even when Bron retired. Bro was walking around seaworld in those dope ass yellow laker shorts and nobody really cared lol 😂.

Finally, I got preseason tickets to a Laker game earlier this season and sat right behind the Laker bench. This is the second time I’ve had the opportunity to sit that close. Anyway, Rob pelinka’s seat is to the right of the bench, just outside of camera site next to the tunnel. So he took a picture with me before the game. Good guy.


Ooh and how can I forget brook Lopez in Disneyland. We both stayed at the Californian At the same time and were using the hotel entrance into California adventure. He’s the tallest person I’ve ever stood next to. Not really sure how he gets on any rides to be honest.
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“Cuban would never”

2/1/2025

[PLATNUM]

Pat Riley patted me on my back and signed a basketball program sometime in the mid 80s after a game.

Saw Andrew Bynum walking alone at the Coliseum for a Rams game. He was walking in front of us through one of the tunnels.

Walking into Staples Dr Buss was just strolling through one of the main entry doors and I recognized him and let him cut in front of me and my Dad.

Saw Kobe and Vanessa in a Range Rover next to us as I was driving thru the Laguna Beach area with my kids.

My Dad got to take a pic, and sit next to and chat with Kobe at an event many years back. Still have the photo. Was such a cool moment for him.
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