The L.A. Lakers: Jack Nicholson explains why L.A. needs the Lakers

Interview, Nov, 2002 by Scott Lyle Cohen

The three-time reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers captivate their hometown like nothing, and no one, else. (Not even plum roles and buzzed movie treatments get Hollywood as excited as the men in purple and gold.) Forget Fred Segal, CAA's lobby or even the Ivy--the real place to see the movers and shakers in the entertainment industry is at the Staples Center (courtside, of course), whooping it up for Shaq, Kobe and the guys. Here, the biggest Lakers fan of them all sums up the coolest game in town.

SCOTT LYLE COHEN: When did your love affair with the Lakers begin?

JACK NICHOLSON: I've always liked basketball. I wasn't a Lakers fan for a long time, but eventually I got tired of rooting against the home team, so I switched over, and then after that, it became a passion. It's my main entertainment. It gets me out of the house. You know, they've had quite a run since 1972--for that period of time, there hasn't been a better sports team to watch than the Lakers. It's always entertaining. It's like wine; every season's different.

SLC: Why do you think the city is suddenly so smitten with the Lakers? Is it just because they're winning, or is it something more special?

JN: Well, they've always had good fans here in L.A., because they had UCLA basketball in the [John] Wooden era. There are smart basketball fans here. You know, people seem to think Lakers fans are not ardent enough, but part of it is about being cool. And the fans, they'll leave early, but when they leave, that game's over.

SLC: Well, the team's so damned good, you can leave whenever you want and know they're not going to get beat.

JN: That's it--the fact that they've been fortunate to have great teams is an excuse for the civic pride that comes with a winning sports team. The Lakers unify the town. I'll tell you, it's a great evening out there.

Scott Lyle Cohen is Interview's Senior Editor.