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The Los Angeles Lakers are set to face off against the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night. Prior to tip-off, the organization played a tribute video for everyone in attendance at Staples Center.
Lakers made a tribute video for their last time in Staples Center 💜
(via @Lakers)pic.twitter.com/7NBIiOnW8s
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 24, 2021
Bleacher Report shared the tribute video on social media.
This is the final game that will be played in the building called “Staples Center.” After tonight's game against the Spurs, the building will be known as Crypto.com Arena. The name change is part of a deal worth reportedly $700 million, one of the largest in history.
Staples Center – the iconic home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers among others since 1999 – will have a new name beginning Dec. 25: https://t.co/lur8Hbuv0r Arena. It’s believed to be the largest U.S. venue naming rights deal to date.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 17, 2021
The video features footage of the historic arena, as well as some of the biggest moments in recent sports history. The video opens with the breaking of ground for the stadium, proceeded by shots of many of Hollywood's stars that have frequented the stadium.
The Los Angeles Lakers have won six NBA Championships while they called the Staples Center home.
They initially ruled the NBA with a 3-peat from 2000 through 2002. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant anchored that Lakers team. The iconic moment when Kobe lobbed it up for Shaq during the Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Kobe Bryant then led the Lakers to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. Finally, LeBron James helped the Lakers once again reach the sport's peak, winning the NBA Championship in 2020. That championship helped the organization tie the Boston Celtics for the most in NBA history with 17 titles.
The Los Angeles Kings also won two Stanley Cups playing at the Staples Center. This being a basketball game though, you don't get a reference to that.
