PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 10, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Lakers 143-120. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Lakers fans are upset, and they are going to let management know via a protest set for Friday.
The dumpster fire that was the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2018-19 season is gaining more heat, this time from its frustrated fanbase.
Protests are reportedly planned to be held outside Staples Center, the Lakers’ home arena, so fans can voice their displeasure with the team’s abysmal 37-45 record and embarrassing failure to make the post season, among other things. The organized demonstrations will take place at 12 p.m. PT on Friday, May 10.
The efforts to organize the protests were originally posted on reddit and eventually its way to the local media.
The reddit post encourages Lakers fans to show up in full purple and gold attire. They even have chants they want the crowd to deliver, according to the post.
“Sell the team!”
“Fire Rambis!”
“Fire Linda!”
“Kevin McHale” (Ironic, I know)
“No Jason Kidd!”
“Shadow Owner!”
News of the protests comes off the heels of Lakers brass failing to close a deal that would see Tyronn Lue, the former Lakers guard and Cleveland Cavaliers coach of LeBron James’ 2016 championship team, become the next coach in L.A. The Lakers currently have no one in the position after parting ways with Luke Walton.
After signing James last summer to a four-year deal to become the next franchise cornerstone, Lakers fans had a brief ray of light shine down on them after missing the playoffs for consecutive years. But after team chemistry issues, a James injury and the debacle of trying to trade for New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis, the season ended up just as bad — if not worse — than the previous campaigns.
As of the time of this writing, Lakers officials have yet to make a statement about the demonstrations.