National Basketball Association

Lakers Victory Parade Scheduled For Monday

​The Los Angeles Lakers will get a parade downtown Monday to celebrate the team's championship win Thursday night against the Boston Celtics. The 11 a.m. parade will run down Figueroa Street from Staples Center to Jefferson Boulevard. The team will ride on a special float. Between 500,000 and ... More >>

Will Patrons Of Other Downtown Events Get Through The Lakers' Lockdown Tonight?

cliff1066 via Flickr​It sounded logical enough. Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck warned ruffians to stay away from Staples Center for Thursday night's final game of the NBA championship series between the Lakers and the Celtics. So he implied that people without tickets to the game wouldn ... More >>

LAPD Prepares For Deciding Game In Lakers Championship Series; Some Fans Predict Mischief

​It looks like the Los Angeles Police Department is already gearing up for Thursday's deciding game in the NBA championship series between the Lakers and Celtics at Staples Center, with CBS2 reporting that police are staffing up for the evening in a bid to avoid last year's embarrassing "Laker ... More >>

Tagging Crew Suspected Of Vandalizing Metro Bus After Last Year's Lakers Championship Targeted One Year Later

puregraffiti.com​A tagging crew suspected of vandalizing a Metro bus and Blue Line train following last year's Lakers championship was targeted by authorities in Los Angeles and Riverside counties this week. Thirty-one warrants were served and 15 arrests were made, although sheriff's Lt. Erik ... More >>

Mayor Villaraigosa Urges Lakers Fans To Behave

​Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gave his "can't-we-call-just-get-along" speech to the media Wednesday, one day before the Lakers and Celtics face off for the NBA championship at Staples Center downtown. Mayor V. wants to avoid the kind of mini-riot -- including a bonfire and looting - ... More >>

Will The Lakers-Celtics Game Block Your Shot At Voting?

Janice Hahn.​Some officials have expressed concern that the Lakers' televised, 6 p.m. NBA Finals game against the Boston Celtics Tuesday could discourage fans from getting to the polls after work and further impact low voter turnout for the statewide primary. At least one campaign, that of Lt. ... More >>

Jack Nicholson Could Be Wearing Green If Lakers Lose Series

​Jack Nicholson must wear an all-green outfit and tape an advertisement touting the virtues of Boston if the Los Angeles Lakers lose the NBA championship to the Boston Celtics, according to a wager between Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. Should the Lakers win, Bosto ... More >>

Mayor Villaraigosa Heading To Lakers Game Despite Controversy Over Accepting Valuable Tickets

Fox 11 News​Despite a brewing controversy over his acceptance of high-priced sporting-event tickets, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa plans to be front-and-center at the Lakers NBA finals game against the Boston Celtics Thursday night, his office confirmed. The mayor is "attending with ... More >>

Some Of Mayor Villaraigosa's Prime Lakers Tickets Are Gifts From Staples Center Owner

Fox 11 NewsMayor Villaraigosa and KTLA reporter Lu Parker.​In a follow up on its report about how Mayor Antonio Villaragosa has been scoring some seriously valuable Lakers playoff tickets without disclosing the source of the gifts, Fox 11 News reported that the giver is indeed Anschutz Enterta ... More >>

Lakers Win: Thanks to Ron Artest & Artichoke Dip

The Lakers won at the buzzer last night on a Ron Artest put-back off of a Kobe Bryant air ball. But that, it turns out, is not what made Suns coach Alvin Gentry sick to his stomach. In fact, Gentry threw up in the first half, and claimed to feel much better afterward. So what was the cause of his il ... More >>

Short Attention Span Dinner Theater: Your Week in Food, 5/24-5/28

In which we highlight the past week in food, either at home or abroad. "Someday soon, we are promised, LAX will be a magical fairyland of cuisine, where the terminals will fairly bristle with the best that Los Angeles dining has to offer, where the enchiladas, pizzas, and exquisite regiona ... More >>

Mayor Scores Free Lakers Tickets Without Having To Tell You Who Gave Them To Him

Fox 11/YouTube​Last month we told you about Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's "statement of economic interests," essentially an annual list of valuable gifts he has to file with the state Fair Political Practices Commission. The idea is that the people should know who is showering their ... More >>

NBA To Put Logos on Food: The Phoenix Suns Can Be Toast, Literally

USA TodayToast the Phoenix Suns​Imagine watching last night's Western Conference playoff game between the Lakers and the Suns, getting up to make something to eat and being able to have your toaster brand the Suns logo onto that slice of toast. Not only would your hunger have been abated, but ... More >>

Kobe Bryant's Maid Walks Away With Six Figures

​Kobe and Vanessa "Do I Look Illegal?" Bryant have settled a "wrongful discharge" lawsuit that was brought by a former maid who alleged she was forced to perform demeaning tasks and was verbally abused by the Lakers star's wife. TMZ reported that Maria Jimenez got a $200,000 settlement, with ... More >>

Does Vanessa Bryant 'Look Illegal,' Or Just A Little Insincere?

​It's a question our friends over at OC Weekly ask after spotting the wife-of-Kobe sporting a "Do I Look Illegal?" t-shirt at Monday night's Lakers game in apparent solidarity with those upset over Arizona's controversial new immigration law (and/or perhaps in-line with protesters outside Stap ... More >>

Picketing Planed For Lakers Game Against Arizona Team

Activists opposed to Arizona's controversial immigration law plan to picket the Lakers Western Conference finals game against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center Monday. They've expressed particular ire for Lakers' coach Phil Jackson because he hasn't voiced opposition to the law. "We are not happy ... More >>

Phil Jackson Wants To Be Seen As Neutral On Arizona

​Following tons of press Monday about his statements earlier this month expressing some understanding of Arizona's controversial immigration law, Lakers coach Phil Jackson stated that he wants to remain neutral on the topic. " ... It is my wish that this statement not be used by either side t ... More >>

Mayor Villaraigosa: If Suns Win, We'll Take Sheriff Joe

​Now that Los Angeles is boycotting the state of Arizona, it seems odd for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to be offering a wager with the mayor of Phoenix over the NBA Western Conference Finals.Apparently the embargo doesn't cover that. But this year's bet is no mere exchange of Laker jerseys for Ariz ... More >>

For Cinco De Mayo Lakers Game, 'Los Suns' Make Statement Against Arizona Immigration Law

Lakers.​When the Lakers face the Suns in game two of their playoff series in Arizona on Wednesday, L.A.'s hearts and minds will be with the purple and gold. But some in this half-Latino county will at least give the Phoenix team extra credit for changing its name temporarily to Los Suns in opp ... More >>

Suns Not Playing Lakers! Arizona Law Still Being Protested

​Breaking news: In our zealous pursuit of getting lots of news to you quickly we erred in stating that the Phoenix Suns were playing the Lakers Wednesday (the post, up for about a half an hour, has been deleted). In a game with San Antonio the Arizona team plans to protest its home state's imm ... More >>

Our Favorite Happy Hours

50 deal-driven places to get you and your wallet feeling a whole lot better

Lakers' Jerry Buss Headed To Basketball Hall Of Fame

nba.com​The Basketball Hall of Fame was widely expected to announce the induction of Lakers co-owner Jerry Buss Monday morning. The 77-year-old was one of 19 finalists for the honor. In the largest sports deal at the time, Buss purchased the Lakers, the Forum, the Los Angeles Kings hockey tea ... More >>

L.A. Could Get NFL Team By Next Year

An artist's rendering of a stadium proposed in Industry.​Los Angeles could see the return of an NFL football team by next year if the developer of a proposed stadium in Industry has his way. "I strongly believe an NFL franchise will play in Los Angeles for the 2011 season," John Semcken of Ma ... More >>

What Would Pau Do? LA Paella Brings Spain to L.A.

Ask Mr. Gold: Spain in L.A., or What Would Pau Do?

Photo credit: Anne FishbeinMr. Gold, with dim sum menu​Dear Mr. Gold: I love this big giant melting pot we live in, but why do we have such little representation of Spanish food? Am I missing something? --Matt Armendariz Dear Mr. Armendariz: Probably because L.A.'s best maker of charcuterie, ... More >>

Nightranger Looks Back at '09 Fashion and Music

Meet Your NBA Champion Foodie: Pau Gasol Talks El Bulli, Bazaar, Kobe and More

You probably already know him as the second best player on the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. But what you probably don't know (unless you read our September interview with Lakers trainer Gary Vitti) is that he's also the team's resident foodie. He is, after all, from Spain. Squid Ink ca ... More >>

Lakers Are The Sports Franchise Of The Decade

Da Lakers.​Yes, another year-end, top-of-the-decade list, this time from Sports Illustrated. The magazine says the Los Angeles Lakers are the sports franchise of the decade. The Staples Center-based ballers beat out the NFL's New England Patriots (number two), the University of Connecticut's w ... More >>

Lakers Proclaimed Most Valuable NBA Team

NBA​The Lakers can add ad another crown to their collection as Forbes magazine on Thursday proclaimed the squad the most valuable team in the NBA. Hot off last season's championship, the magazine valued the franchise at $607 million, which topped the New York Nicks (#2; $586 million), the Chi ... More >>

Morning Sixpack: A News Roundup

Third Time's the Charm? After being convicted in two federal racketeering trials, former private eye Anthony Pellicano and an associate are to be arraigned this morning in Superior Court on state charges. Pellicano and Alexander Frederick Proctor allegedly conspired to intimidate then-L.A. Times ent ... More >>

Morning Sixpack: A News Roundup

E.L.A. Gold Line Fears City and MTA officials worry for the safety of jaywalkers and beat-the-train drivers once the new Gold Line extension's trains begin running through East Los Angeles. L.A. TimesLakers Parade Wednesday morning the championship L.A. Lakers team will parade from Staples Center to ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Gay Pride, Kung Fu Femmes, Jay Reatard, Plus Lakers Win but Downtown L.A. Loses

Sunday night was a winning night for L.A. Weekly at the Los Angeles Press Club Awards ceremony at the Universal City Sheraton hotel. Writers Christine Pelisek, Daniel Heimpel, Gendy Alimurung and Nancy Rommelmann all took home first place awards, while Darrick Rainey, Steven Leigh Morris, Patrick Ra ... More >>

Morning Sixpack: A News Roundup

Lakers Triumph, Micro-Riot Quelled The L.A. Lakers won their 10th NBA championship as a Los Angeles team, in Orlando, Florida last night, while at home jubilant fans set fires and vandalized cars. Police arrested at least 25 people near Staples Center downtown and, in a smaller action, in the Crensh ... More >>

A Little Something for the Lakers Fans: Great Songs About Our Team

It might be a hellish commute tonight with a host of Lakers flag-sporting vehicles anxiously crawling across the freeways in the hopes that their drivers can get home in time to catch the first game of the NBA Finals, where the Lakers square off against Orlando's Magic at 6 p.m. Instead of stressin ... More >>

Esteban Nunez Case: Bad Little Suburban Boys

The son of Fabian Nunez, and his friends, face the music in Lu Santos’ killing

Rivera, John Sedlar’s return to the kitchen

Tequila sunrise

The New Cocktailians

The farmers market–loving, sleeve garter–wearing ladies and gentlemen of the bar taking over L.A.'s restaurants one glass at a time

L.A.'s Original Fusion Dude Opens the Mexican Rivera

New downtown spot is just a block from Staples Center and Nokia Theater

Last Night: Underground Lit’s Best Kept Secrets Dan Fante and Tony O’Neill Impress at Skylight Books

By RYAN RITCHIE An interesting poetry reading happens about as often as a Clippers winning season, but that hasn’t stopped thousands of hack wordsmiths from getting in front of audiences to espouse beliefs that no one but the poet’s mother cares about (and even she doesn’t care all that much) ... More >>

LA Live! Opening

Downtown and out — L.A.'s urban renaissance

Best Hot Dog: L.A. Street Dog at Fab's

US Air Guitar Tour, Troubadour, 6/27

Photos and text by Timothy Norris Or as it's known among some in the know: The 2008 Cuervo Black US Air Guitar Tour, Presented By TouchTunes. Fans are lined up early. It only happens once a year in Los Angeles and US Air Guitar is back at the Troubadour. Contestants get the run down and t ... More >>

Laker Fans Brawl at the Staples Center

Laker fans, embarrassed by their team's drubbing at the hands of the Boston Celtics, got a small, violent, modicum of revenge last night at the Staples Center as they stomped the bejesus out of some Celtics fans who had gathered to watch Game 2 of the NBA finals. Hey, if you can't beat 'em, make ... More >>

Laker Mania Sweeps Hollywood

Five hundred Los Angeles Laker fans swarmed the Hollywood Billiards Sports Bar & Grill on Thursday night to watch Kobe Bryant and the boys take on Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics in game 1 of a best-of-seven series. The famous rivals were squaring off in the NBA finals for the 11th time and fir ... More >>

Pau Gasol

King Pau

Lakers Beat: Team Dinner

Crowd at Mozza saw the Lakers squad gather in a private dining room to study the Jazz-Rockets game over pizza. Guess who paid?

To Get to the Other Side

Response to articles on Southwest Museum, Obama and more

The Big Idea

Osteria Mozza

Mood Indigo

Blue Velvet’s Kris Morningstar cooks for the night