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While the NBAPA and owners are in the midst of yet another crucial weekend meeting, Turkish basketball club Besiktas (which had been linked to Lakers guard, Kobe Bryant in the past few months) has reportedly acquired another Lakers star.

According to ESPN Los Angeles , the Turkish club has agreed to terms on a contract with Lakers forward Lamar Odom. The contract would reportedly be worth $2 million if Odom were to spend the entire season with the team, however there is an out clause in the contract that would allow Odom to return to the NBA if and when the lockout is lifted. Odom could reportedly fly to Instanbul and join the team as early as next week.

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In lieu of the regular season, Laker Nation has decided to take you back through Laker history to recap important games, record-breaking performances and memorable news from the past 64 years of the franchise. We understand that it’s not the basketball you may have been hoping for, but for the time being, it’s the closest we’ll get to reading about the Lakers on a basketball court.

NOVEMBER 25, 2001
DENVER NUGGETS 98 – LA LAKERS 105
FISHER RETURNS TO LEAD FOURTH-QUARTER RALLY

With Kobe Bryant playing through a head cold and Shaquille O’Neal slowed by a stomach ailment, the Lakers sat in the Staples Center during the fourth quarter trailing 92-90 to the Denver Nuggets. Despite the condition of the Lakers’ roster, and with Derek Fisher returning in his first action since having a second surgery on his foot, the Lakers were not interested in losing to the Nuggets. After all, this game was slightly personal; former Laker guard Nick Van Exel, the guard that Fisher had replaced on the roster years before, had now become the star point guard for the Denver Nuggets and had everything to prove.

Coming into the game in the second quarter, Fisher would receive a standing ovation from the crowd at Staples Center. As the fourth quarter began to turn in the Nuggets’ favor, Fisher would score 11 fourth-quarter points and take a crucial charge that would fuel the Lakers to a 105-98 victory, as the Lakers would score 27 in the final period to secure the win.

Screw in foot and all, Fisher would go on to score 14 points in the game, going 4-for-4 from behind the arc, playing the entire fourth quarter and 20 minutes overall subbing in for starter Lindsey Hunter. O’Neal and Bryant would chip in 22 and 25, respectively, and the Lakers would roll to 12-1 on the season, matching their best start to a regular season in franchise history (1997).  Former Laker guard Nick van Exel who had torched the Lakers for 34 points that night, would be chased down by Fisher and given a hug to show no hard feelings…for taking both Van Exel’s job and the victory.

Quote of the Night: “I had no plans or expectations. I just went out there and played. I’m just glad to come back.” – Laker guard Derek Fisher on his performance in a 105-98 victory over the Denver Nuggets – From the LA Times, Nov. 26, 2001

ALSO ON THIS DATE – NOVEMBER 25, 1972 – WEST THROWN OUT FOR FIRST TIME

Jerry “The Logo” West was ejected from a game for the first time in his pro career 39 years ago today after 13  NBA seasons of good behavior; the Lakers would still go on that night to beat the Phoenix Suns 116-109.

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In lieu of the regular season, Laker Nation has decided to take you back through Laker history to recap important games, record-breaking performances and memorable news from the past 64 years of the franchise. We understand that it’s not the basketball you may have been hoping for, but for the time being, it’s the closest we’ll get to reading about the Lakers on a basketball court.

NOVEMBER 24, 1984
LA CLIPPERS 103 – LA LAKERS 108
AN LA RIVALRY BEGINS

For the first time since the franchise moved from San Diego at the end of the 1983-84 season, the Clippers were playing the Los Angeles Lakers in a home game – except this home game was different from their usual matches, whether they be in Buffalo or San Diego. Half of the arena was coated in Laker fans, not from fair-weather fans, but because the game was played at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. In front of a packed crowd of 14,991 in Los Angeles on November 24th, the Clippers played their first cross-town rivalry game against the Lakers as the Clippers had begun to settle in the season after moving the franchise.

Despite committing 26 turnovers, the Lakers would outrebound and outshoot the Clippers, finishing the game 108-103 with a win. James Worthy would score a game-high 27 points, with teammates Magic Johnson and Byron Scott chipping in 17 points each.  In a closer game than expected, the Lakers would lead by only four with 57 seconds remaining, but dunks by both Johnson and Worthy would seal the victory.

While the LA rivalry had a great start in terms of fan support, the results on the court have been more than lopsided. In their 27 years sharing the city, the Lakers hold a 141-48 head-to-head advantage over the Clippers. The Lakers have made the postseason 25 times since 1984, winning eight NBA championships and missing only two years. The Clippers, by contrast, have made the postseason four times since 1984, only making it to the second round once in 2006. While the past has not been indicative of what fans could call a “rivalry”, LA basketball fans can hope that the emergence of Clippers star Blake Griffin will lead to some much closer contests in the future.

Quote of the Night: “This was a game that reeked of intensity. You could feel it everywhere. That’s the way the game is meant to be played. I wish we could have more regular-season games with this much intensity.” – Former Lakers coach Pat Riley on the playing atmosphere during a 108-103 win against the newly-settled Los Angeles Clippers. – From the LA Times, Nov. 25, 1985

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Basketball Wives star Gloria Goven and Lakers star Matt Barnes officially broke up in late October.

Matt and his former fiancee have two kids together — 2-year-old twins Carter Kelly and Isiah Michael.

In order to clear up some rumors, and claims by Gloria, Matt Barnes released the following statement on Wednesday:

In May, Gloria and I decided to separate and in the best interest of her career, I foolishly agreed to portray that we were still together for the upcoming season of her show on VH1.

“As recently as August we decided to revisit a joint statement of our separation, but Gloria asked to delay making our separation public for the interest of her show. It is ironic now how Gloria is trying to manipulate the professional relationship between Eva Longoria and myself as the sole reason for our separation, when she knows we split up in May.

“The reason I broke my silence and released the separation statement a month ago, was due to her on going affair with a former friend of mine. Again, I wish her nothing but the best and I will continue to keep our children as my first priority.”

Unconfirmed sources have the “former friend” being possibly the rap artist Game.

The only thing we can confirm is The Game has been referred to as a friend in the past.

“I’m good friends with Snoop (Dogg) and Game”. Barnes told LakerNation.com last season.

Barnes along with Ron Artest, and Shannon Brown recorded a Lakers music video entitled “Purp & Yellow” with The Game and Snoop Dogg last season.

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Kobe Bryant is set to make $28 million in off the court endorsements this year.

He may lose out on $400K of that, according to SportingNews.com:

Lakers star Kobe Bryant is among the largest creditors of Power Balance, the maker of what the company claims to be performance-enhancing wristbands that recently filed for bankruptcy protection in federal court, as he is owed $400,000 for his endorsement.

Other athletes on the list of creditors include Clippers forward Blake Griffin ($20,000) and skateboarder Ryan Sheckler ($25,000). The L.A. Kings and Sacramento Kings are owed $250,000 and $100,000, respectively.

Lakers Lamar Odom was also named as an investor/creditor, and was used on the companys website for marketing purposes.

If and when the season starts reports suggest that the Sacramento Kings arena will still be called “Power Balance Arena”.

Photo by Patrick McDermott | Getty Images

Attorneys from the NBA and the Players are now talking.

According to Howard Beck of the New York Times, the talks include the primary lawyers on both sides, because of the pending litigation.

The talks began in earnest on Tuesday and are expected to continue on Friday, after a break for Thanksgiving, according to two people informed of the talks. If a resolution is reached this weekend, it would give the league the approximate four-week window needed to prepare for the season.

The Dec. 25 target is enticing to everyone involved, allowing the league to take advantage of the holiday setting and a captive television audience that, they hope, might be in a forgiving mood. Christmas is also the traditional kickoff for the N.B.A.’s national television schedule.

A handshake deal in the next few days would allow a 66 game season starting on Christmas day.

It seems like the sense of urgency to get a deal done is now at an all time high. Christmas is the day when the NBA shines on its own. (Much like the NFL does on Thanksgiving Day).

Many people have said in the past that the NBA season doesn’t “start” or is not noticed by the casual fan until Christmas Day.

With the above being said, in order to try and clean up the bad P.R. the NBA has gained in the last few months, having the season start on Christmas Day would be the leagues best bet to get out of this ugly lockout with any kind of positive.

However, it is obvious that logic has not been used throughout these negotiations.

Vince Bucci | AFP | Getty Images

In lieu of the regular season, Laker Nation has decided to take you back through Laker history to recap important games, record-breaking performances and memorable news from the past 64 years of the franchise. We understand that it’s not the basketball you may have been hoping for, but for the time being, it’s the closest we’ll get to reading about the Lakers on a basketball court.

NOVEMBER 23, 1997
LA CLIPPERS 102 – LA LAKERS 119
DEL HARRIS GETS 500th CAREER COACHING WIN IN LAKERS VICTORY

On a less than thrilling game night in The Forum, a double-digit victory over the hapless Clippers would be met with champagne bathes, yelping and cake in the locker room. No NBA records were broken and no Laker players were retiring, but one man had reached a special milestone in NBA coaching history, as Lakers coach Del Harris would record his 500th career win, placing him as one of the top 25 winningest coaches in NBA history.

Harris began his NBA head coaching career with the Houston Rockets, where his first two career games in 1979 were losses against the Boston Celtics (who were starting a rookie named Larry Bird) and the Philadelphia 76ers (whose Julius Erving would set an NBA career mark in scoring that season). Spending nine years as head coach for the Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks, Harris would be hired in 1994 to turn around a young Lakers team that featured rookie Eddie Jones and sophomore point guard Nick Van Exel.

Jones would score a game-high 28 points, with Van Exel providing a season-high 11 assists in the 119-102 victory. Also of note would be the 24 points scored in 28 minutes off the bench from a 19-year-old Kobe Bryant, who would also post a game-high four steals in limited action. The win would move the Lakers to 11-0 on the season, equaling their sixth best winning streak in franchise history and sending to the Clippers into the cellar at 1-12.

Quote of the Night: “It means I’m old.” – Former Lakers coach Del Harris on the significance of his 500th career coaching victory. – From the LA Times, Nov. 24, 1997.

Patrick McDermott | Getty Images

The NBA lockout is nearing its 5 month anniversary, a milestone that’s almost as silly as it is disappointing. To this point, much of the fan uproar has been limited to social media and the blogosphere, but a group of disgruntled New Yorkers are about to change that. According to a press release we received earlier this afternoon:

New York Senator Malcolm A. Smith will join Knicks and Nets fans and season ticketholders tomorrow, Wednesday November 22, 2011, as they request a full refund for the whole season due to the NBA Walkout. They will be also unveiling a 6 foot petition for over 1 million fans to sign in front of Madison Square Garden. An upcoming National Basketball Solidarity Day will be announced for Sunday December 12, 2011 that will take place in arenas and stadiums across the nation.

While it seemed like it was only a matter of time before a group of dispirited NBA fans got into the protesting spirit, we ask you, Laker Nation…

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