Fansided

Every NBA team’s biggest celebrity fan

By Brendon Kleen

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 22: Beyonce and Jay Z laugh during the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on January 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 22: Beyonce and Jay Z laugh during the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on January 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 30
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 6: Jack Nicholson (R) and his son Raymond Nicholson attend the Los Angeles lakers and Golden State Warriors basketball game at Staples Center March 6, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 6: Jack Nicholson (R) and his son Raymond Nicholson attend the Los Angeles lakers and Golden State Warriors basketball game at Staples Center March 6, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Lakers: Jack Nicholson

Nicholson has been one of the most famous people on the planet for most of his life. The award-winning actor has been celebrated for his work for three decades, and even in his 80s is still kicking. While his presence has largely left the big screen over the past several years, he has not stopped going to Lakers games.

From the Showtime era on, Nicholson’s name has been synonymous with the Lakers. He is the forefather of all of the others on this list, having been a fan of the league when it was much smaller and less popular than it is today. Seeing Nicholson on the sideline for years and years of important basketball games has been awesome for a couple generations of NBA fans.

This slideshow by the Los Angeles Times does a great job illustrating the memories Nicholson has been a part of over the years. It’s remarkable that more Hollywood stars have not gotten involved with the Lakers as heavily as Nicholson through the years. Perhaps it’s an unspoken agreement for actors to not step on the turf of the big guy. Of course celebrities file into the Staples Center every night, but rarely do they become fans as wholly as Nicholson has.

To choose one instance that stands out most in the Nicholson-Lakers chronology is easy. In 2013, after Dwight Howard’s one season in L.A., the team was faced with an opportunity to re-sign him. Having given up quite a bit to get him, there was a lot of pressure from fans to retain him. As the team fought, the city piled on.

Howard was courted from all angles. He was promised a reality television deal with Time Warner Cable, saw banners hanging throughout the city, and even received a phone call from Nicholson himself.

Imagine the actor delivering this memorable performance to Howard over the phone:

I have no idea why someone so talented and well-regarded would like the Lakers.

Home/NBA