By Madhuri Dey
Oct.28 (THAINDIAN NEWS)The Los Angels Lakers welcomed a new bunch of champions into their franchise on Tuesday night. Jeannie Buss, the executive vice president of the company, presented the new Los Angeles Lakers with the ring. David Stern, the commissioner of the National Basketball Academy was also present there to award the Lakers their rings. Nine of the former Lakers showed up in honor of the formal initiation of the new Los Angeles Lakers.

The event took place at the Staples Center. The new Lakers received their rings. The ceremony also marked the unveiling of the banner of the fifteenth annual Los Angeles Lakers championship. After the presentation of the ring, the crowd was led to a countdown by Derek Fisher. The new banner was then unveiled. It was golden in color and was unveiled at the top of the arena, in the midst of cheers from the crowd. “I Love L.A.” by Randy Newman was playing in the background. The last Laker to receive the ring was Kobe Bryant.

Coach Phil Jackson again joined the team. This is his tenth year of training the team. Kareem Abdul Jabbar was appointed the special assistant coach for the current batch of Lakers. Amongst the former Lakers, Jerry West and Magic Johnson were present to commemorate the ceremony. The others present were Norm Nixon, A.C. Green, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Rick Fox, Jamaal Wilkes and Robert Horry. Twelve members from last year have rejoined. Jerry Buss, Jeanie Buss’s father and Lakers’ owner, was tagged the best owner. He was watching the ceremony from a spectators’ box high up in the arena. After the presentation of the ring, the Lakers faced the Clippers in the opening match that set off the season.