The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics unquestionably have one of the biggest rivalries in the NBA. However, being the fiercest of rivals does not mean that there is no mutual respect between these two storied franchises. It’s quite the contrary, actually.
Recently, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss shared just how much admiration she has for the Celtics and the organization’s history.
“I love… I respect the Celtics’ legacy,” Buss said, via Quenton S. Albertie of Celtics Wire. “And really if you look at it, the Lakers are — and what Dr. Jerry Buss built with the Lakers — was really to balance the Celtics dynasty.”
The rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics dates back to nearly half a century ago, and for her part, Buss admitted that her team would not be where it is now had it now been for the Celtics.
“You know he bought the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979 and with the goal of making Los Angeles proud of their NBA team and he felt that there was an East Coast bias,” added Buss. “That the media covered, you know, the [New York] Knicks and the [Philadelphia] 76ers and the Celtics… the Lakers and the West Coast teams didn’t get the respect they deserved and really, what would the Lakers be without the Celtics.”
Admittedly, the rivalry between these two teams today is no longer as decorated as it was decades ago. However, a new narrative — that of LeBron James vs. Kyrie Irving — is taking shape. With these two teams on their way up again, we could very well see a revival of this intense rivalry sooner rather than later.
Source: “Los Angeles” – Google News