The 2024 World Series trophy sparkled like a diamond under the bright lights of Crypto.com Arena on Friday night.
Yes, that’s right. The World Series trophy is inside the house that Shaq and Kobe built and is currently occupied by LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
At the end of the first quarter when the Lakers faced the visiting Philadelphia 76ers, the sold-out crowd was treated to a sensational surprise as members of the Los Angeles Dodgers were recognized on center court with a video tribute and a standing ovation. Ta.
As the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter and players from both teams huddled around the bench, the Lakers’ new video scoreboard, more than 7 meters tall, began playing highlights of the Dodgers’ road to a 2024 championship. .
As the video plays, team members including Chris Taylor, Brusdar Graterol, Mookie Betts, World Series MVP Freddie Freeman, and starting pitcher Jack Flaherty hold up the Commissioner’s Trophy as everyone watches. walked toward the Lakers logo. .
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Fans cheered as they relived the thrill of each home run, including Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in Game 1, and the clutch plays and diving catches that led to the team’s first title in a season not shortened since 1988. raised.
Hoisting the coveted trophy aloft, the team received all the cheers and applause that echoed throughout the arena. LeBron James, a legend in his own right, walked up to greet the players and gave Mookie Betts a big hug.
James has been rooting for the Dodgers on social media throughout the postseason, and he couldn’t contain his excitement when he met players outside the Lakers’ locker room before the game.
Having the World Series champions at home must have helped the Lakers, who defeated the Sixers 116-106 to end their losing streak at two.
All in all, it was a good night that shows how much these two teams mean to the city of Los Angeles in particular.
The Lakers also won the title weeks before the Dodgers in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and are 17-time champions themselves. The fact that they were able to pay homage to the Dodgers was a moment that captured the hearts of the city and its fans.
When the players left the court, it wasn’t just a Lakers game or a Dodgers celebration. It was a huge tribute to a city where a championship is more than just a trophy, it’s a shared memory, bond and sense of belonging that goes beyond the fields and courts.
And if there’s one thing we know about Los Angeles, it’s that this night was just one chapter in a story that just keeps getting better. The Dodgers’ road to the World Series may be over, but what about their legacy?
That’s just the beginning.
