NBA-Championship or bust: Lakers fans brimming with belief at season opener

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Mar 17, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at midcourt at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

REUTERS

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Lakers fans voiced strong confidence that their team will capture the NBA championship as they gathered outside Crypto.com Arena ahead of Tuesdays season opener against the visiting Golden State Warriors.

Its always championship or bust here, said Yoni Villagran, 22.

Weve got two of the top five NBA players on our team so weve got to be competing for a championship, he said referring to Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

Season ticket holder Sardis Rodriguez, raised in a Lakers household, said she was eager for the long wait to end.

Ive been at pre-season games waiting for the real show to start and see what our team has to offer, she said.

Rodriguez said she has high expectations for Skinny Luka, her nickname for Doncic after his summer weight loss.

It was really exciting what he was doing in pre-season, she said. He looks good, Im really excited.

Rodriguez also marveled at the longevity of James, who turns 41 on Dec. 30. James missed the season opener due to sciatica in his right side and is not expected to return until mid-November.

Im 41 and hes got sciatica, so Im feeling his aches and pains, she said.

What hes doing is amazing because I would be laid out for months. But hes still out there putting on a good show.

She too had high expectations for the