The dynamic between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers has been interesting to watch. For years, the Clips were called the âlittle brotherâ, as the Lakers cruised to titles and glory. However, in the last few years, the tides have started to turn in favor of the more recently created LA team.
Reggie Jackson, one of the faces of the new Clippers, summarized the differences between them and the Lakers in an interview. Jackson essentially said that while the Lakers were the âlightsâ of Los Angeles, his team was trying to be the âheartâ of the city. (via Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints)
âI understand what it is in this city, it definitely is overwhelmed by Lakers fans. But I feel like Clippers Nation is like the heart. It truly is L.A. Itâs more so. No shot to them over there, but theyâre the lights. Theyâre bright lights. Theyâre Hollywood. Thatâs the Lakers. We kinda understood that. Theyâre the show. Thatâs what people called them for so long. But I feel like weâre definitely the heart of the city â or thatâs something we want to embody.â
"Clippers Nation the heart, it truly LA. No shots at them over there, but they're the lights. They're the bright lights, they're Hollywood. They're the show, but I feel like we're definitely the heart of the city. We're here for the people."
Reggie Jackson on Clippers fans pic.twitter.com/tzgDheUbFW
â Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 10, 2022




Could this be a subtle dig at LeBron James and the current Lakers? It can certainly be interpreted that way. True to their history, the Lakers made major splashes in the offseason by signing Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Trevor Ariza, as well as trading for Russell Westbrook. The Clippers, on the other hand, had a relatively quiet offseason, with Serge Ibaka being their major acquisition.
The two LA team's seasons started off similarly, as both team's stars got injured early in the year. However, while the Lakers struggled without their stars, the Clippers thrived. Reggie Jackson and co. have done an admirable job holding down the fort in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard's absence. They may just sit one game above the Lakers, but their drastically different records shows the disparity between the two.
Jackson's statement about the Lakers and Clippers have rang true today. The Clippers have fought hard every game despite having their two stars out. The Lakers, on the other hand, have struggled even when their stars are playing. Dysfunction and drama followed the Lakerland this season, while the Clips have been the underdog story of the season.
Could this season be the start of a shift in perspectives? Will the Clippers finally be the dominant NBA team in Los Angeles? Time will tell, but by the looks of it, they're doing a great job converting fans on the court.