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- Longtime Lakers trainer Gary Vitti expresses difficulty in rooting for the team due to recent decisions.
- Vitti maintains a strong dislike for the Celtics, in line with Lakers tradition.
- The strained relationship between the Lakers and the late Jerry West is highlighted.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar pays heartfelt tribute to Jerry West.
Lakers’ Internal Struggles and Tributes to Jerry West
Despite not reaching the 2024 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers’ community, including former trainer Gary Vitti, is united in their opposition to the Boston Celtics. Vitti, who served the Lakers for over three decades, recently voiced his conflicted feelings about supporting the Lakers due to their distancing from iconic figures like the late Jerry West.
Vitti’s relationship with West was close, and he shares the sentiment that despite the challenges, rooting for the Celtics is out of the question for anyone with Lakers loyalty. West’s legacy as a player and executive is deeply ingrained in the Lakers’ history, having been instrumental in building the ’Showtime’ dynasty and acquiring legends like Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
The disconnect between West and the Lakers organization before his passing is a source of regret for many, including Vitti, who stands firmly as “team Jerry West.” Meanwhile, Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has also paid tribute to West, acknowledging his exemplary qualities on and off the court and expressing personal loss.
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