Lakers News: How Tuesday's Play-In Game Will Represent An LA First For LeBron James

It will be a special moment for Lakers fans.

Your Los Angeles Lakers will return to the postseason after a one-year, Russell Westbrook-induced reprieve. 

On Tuesday, LA will strive to fend off the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the matchup will represent the first time LA All-Star small forward LeBron James has played a postseason game with his Los Angeles home court at full capacity.

Beyond of course the Lakers' Orlando Disney World "bubble" title run in 2020, McMenamin notes that only 8,550 fans were permitted into the arena (then still called Staples Center) for LA's 2021 play-in win (103-100) against the Golden State Warriors, plus its home games during its first round series against the Phoenix Suns. This was a result of LA County's COVID-19 restrictions at the time.

To yours truly anyway, Lakers fans have always felt somewhat removed from LeBron James as being a "true" LA player, even though he's been here longer than he was ever with the Miami Heat. For one thing, he is no longer quite in his prime, though he's certainly still a top talent and was the best player on the club's last title team in 2020. 

The attendance restrictions during that championship season have also of course adversely impacted just how connected the Los Angeles faithful feel to the 19-time All-Star. The fact that James was a direct rival of 20-year Laker great Kobe Bryant, during Bryant's prime, certainly doesn't help matters.

If Los Angeles can at least enjoy a good postseason run this year (which, for a scrappy 43-39 team, I would define as, at minimum, pushing its first round opponents to seven games), that would go a long way towards endearing James to LA fans.

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