On the night they received their championship rings from last season, the Los Angeles Lakers fell 116-109 on Tuesday to their neighboring Clippers, who enjoyed a stellar performance from winger Paul George, with 33 points.
Kawhi Leonard, the other Clippers figure, also shone with 26 points while LeBron James added 22 points and Anthony Davis another 18 for the Lakers, in the first NBA game since March at the Staples Center in Los Angeles .
Veteran Catalan center-back Marc Gasol made his Lakers uniform debut from the start, although he was left with 0 points without a basket in just 12 minutes.
On the Clippers side, the Spanish-Congolese pivot Serge Ibaka made his debut, who also started in the starting five and added 15 points and 6 rebounds in 21 minutes.
Prior to the game, the award ceremony for the Lakers’ roster and coaching staff was held, defeating the Miami Heat in the finals at Disney World (Orlando) in October.
In front of the empty stands of the Staples Center, before picking up their diamond ring each player was introduced by a video in which their relatives sent them a congratulatory message.
One of the first to be honored was the young Kostas Antetokounmpo, in the tribute video appeared his brother Giannis, the most valuable player (MVP) in the NBA. “We get more rings, come on!” The Milwaukee Bucks superstar cheered.
In turn, Lebron James raised his fist to the sky wearing the fourth ring of his career, in which was recorded his number 23 and the motto of the victim Kobe Bryant: “Leave a legacy” ).