Lakers Archives - The Bank

Five Best Kobe Bryant Rookie Cards and Investment Lookout

October 11, 2020 By Jeff Trudeau Leave a Comment

Kobe Bryant is undoubtedly one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Bryant spent his whole career in LA with the Lakers, and with them the self-nicknamed ‘Black Mamba’ is a 5-time NBA champion, 2-time NBA Finals MVP and 2008 NBA MVP. The LA Lakers legend was also selected for a stunning 18 NBA all-star games.

Bryant was a first-round pick straight out of high school way back in 1996 and primarily played Shooting Guard for the Lakers. He became the first Shooting Guard and just the second player overall to be drafted straight out of high school.

It was announced that Bryant would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in April 2020 just after his tragic death. Bryant sadly lost his life alongside his daughter in a helicopter crash at the start of 2020.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Business, Lakers, NBA

Los Angeles Lakers are NBA’s Best Team on no Rest

July 23, 2020 By Joseph-Connolly Leave a Comment

It’s no secret Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the best NBA picks the 2019-20 season. Even though it remains to be seen if the prolonged layoff of nearly four months will take some of their momentum away as The Association prepares to resume its season in late July, the Lakers have done more than enough to cement their place as a bonafide NBA contender.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Lakers, NBA

The Team with the Most to Lose in the 2020 NBA Playoffs

July 9, 2020 By Joseph-Connolly Leave a Comment

The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the top squads in the NBA all season, as well they should be with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and a good array of support. But if they cannot win it all in this crazy COVID-ravaged year, they may lose in more ways than one. No matter the night and no matter the matchup the Lakers are consistently one of the best NBA picks for tonight, because this team has the talent to outshine any opponent. The ball is obviously in their court as they sit in the driver seat for the new reformatted NBA playoffs.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Lakers, NBA

Four Basketball Players Certain to Make Every All-Time Best List

June 16, 2020 By Bill Burke Leave a Comment

Basketball is a game made up of fierce matchups and tough competition. Therefore it’s no surprise that the prospect of an all-time great list is a hotly debated topic. From fans and analysts to the players themselves — everyone has an opinion.

So that got me thinking, amidst all the arguing: which players are guaranteed a spot? And after research, there are names that continue to crop up in spite of wild takes and team allegiance, either because they are too important to the game, or the stats don’t lie. [Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Chicago Bulls, Lakers, NBA, NBA Draft

When Might the NBA Potentially Return to Action?

May 24, 2020 By Dolorous Price Leave a Comment

The Covid-19 pandemic sabotaged all sporting activities across the globe with major leagues and tournaments halting on its account. The NBA is no exception; the 2019-20 season had to be called off for the safety of players, fans, and other stakeholders. Two months later, it is not yet clear when the league will resume. [Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Chicago Bulls, Lakers, NBA, NBA Draft

Rip Hamilton (Exclusive) on Kobe, Jordan, NBA All-Star Weekend

February 15, 2020 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

Detroit Pistons legend and former Chicago Bull Rip Hamilton is back in town for NBA All-Star weekend, and we caught up with him Thursday night at the Rookie USA fashion show. The event benefits the James R. Jordan foundation, managed by Michael Jordan’s mother, and named for his late father.

Hamilton is close to Jordan and he talks to him all the time, so coming out and supporting the cause was a natural course of action and easy decision for him.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Chicago Bulls, Lakers, NBA

Kobe Bryant News Hit Chris Collins Very Hard (Emotional Video)

January 27, 2020 By paulmbanks 2 Comments

We’re all in different stages of grief right now, but we’re alike in that the Kobe Bryant news is hitting us very hard. Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other souls, perished in a southern California helicopter crash yesterday morning.

On one hand, we all hurt for the obvious, natural reasons- seeing someone so young, with so much left to live for taken away in an instant. It makes us realize how fleeting life truly is. On the other hand, we all hurt on our own individual level for what happened in the Los Angeles metropolitan area yesterday as we see commonalities to our own lives and experiences.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: College Basketball, college sports, Duke Blue Devils, Lakers, NBA

Neymar, Rashford, Arsenal among Football World Paying Kobe Bryant Tribute

January 27, 2020 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

The basketball world lost one of its most titanic figures today as Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and seven other souls, perished in a southern California helicopter crash this morning. Bryant was huge in not just the basketball world, but in the sporting universe as well. Not to mention he transcended sports to become a cultural and entertainment icon.

One sport in which he had a huge impact was football/soccer, and that originated with his father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, who played professionally in Italy. Kobe lived in Italy from ages 6-13, and it was there and then that he developed his love for AC Milan.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Arsenal, Football/Soccer, Lakers, Manchester United, NBA

RIP Kobe Bryant; NBA Superstar and Lakers Legend Dies in Helicopter Crash

January 26, 2020 By paulmbanks 1 Comment

It all seems just so surreal, and nearly impossible to believe, but we have to accept it- Kobe Bryant is dead the age of 41; perishing Sunday morning in a southern California helicopter clash.

The retired NBA superstar, who was second all-time in scoring until just last night when he was surpassed by Lebron James, died, along with eight others (the pilot and seven other passengers, including his 13-year-old Gigi) when the aircraft crashed into a Calabasas area hill.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Lakers, NBA

L.A. Lakers Have NBA Title Potential, but Too Many Questions to be Favorites

October 25, 2019 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

Like Randy Newman, the NBA title handicappers love L.A. The top two favorites to win it all in the National Basketball Association this season both reside in Los Angeles and they squared off in the season opener.

The L.A. Clippers, who have the most favorable title odds of anyone in the league, beat the L.A. Lakers 112-102 Tuesday night, on the strength of their fourth quarter defense, which held the Lakers to just 17 points in the final 12 minutes. The Lakers have the second most favorable NBA title odds with the Milwaukee Bucks coming in third.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Lakers, NBA

Christian Pulisic Welcomes Pelicans Josh Hart to Chelsea Home Opener

August 18, 2019 By paulmbanks 1 Comment

Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic welcomed New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard Josh Hart to Stamford Bridge today for the Blues home opener against Leicester City. Hart is a Chelsea super supporter who played college basketball at Villanova, which is not far from Pulisic’s home town of Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Hart, a two time All-American in college, helped lead Villanova to a national title in 2016. However, he certainly has not been a “star” (as the tweet below indicates) in the NBA thus far. The former Los Angeles Laker, traded to New Orleans as part of the Anthony Davis trade, is actually more a “role player.”

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Chelsea, Football/Soccer, Lakers, NBA