Best Lakers opening night moment No. 4: Lakers’ first night in Los Angeles
The Lakers were already one of the most prestigious franchises in the NBA before they moved towards the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles in 1960. Yet when they moved to Los Angeles it seemed like it changed the franchise and the NBA’s popularity in general.
Their move set the stage for Showtime two decades later to take the league to new heights with Hollywood movie stars packing the seats to see the Lakers play. This opening night lands on the list as more of symbolic gesture because of what the move meant to the franchise.
As for the actual game that happened on opening night in 1960 it was more of a disappointment for the newly minted Los Angeles Lakers. Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, and Slick Leonard combined for a crazy 76 points, but that still was not enough to match the Cincinnati Royals who had one of the best young point guards in the league Oscar Robertson.
The Royals ended up blowing out the Lakers 140 to 123, but this night set the stage for the Lakers to become the premiere sports franchise in one of the biggest cities in America.