Friday’s scheduled anti-Lakers protest in front of Staples Center did manage to attract a small, but enthusiastic crowd. At various points, they chanted “fire Rambis” and “no Jason Kidd.”
The rally’s stated intent was to get ESPN coverage and bring bad PR to owner Jeanie Buss. It did get some coverage, but the crowd numbered perhaps two dozen, though they weren’t lacking in enthusiasm.
That protest by Lakers fans that’s supposed to take place at noon today? We are at it pic.twitter.com/FIUR4V1XIr
— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) May 10, 2019
Signs at the Lakers fans protests include a crying LeBron James and a mugshot of Jason Kidd pic.twitter.com/fhJcZYI3Kt
— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) May 10, 2019
It’s really starting now. pic.twitter.com/Px8O6WRMu6
— Dave Schilling (@dave_schilling) May 10, 2019
Some attendees brought signs calling for some less serious solutions.
Problem solved. pic.twitter.com/FF6yw2QgWc
— Dave Schilling (@dave_schilling) May 10, 2019
The last straw for these fans were the failed negotiations to make Ty Lue the next head coach, which reportedly fell apart in part because the Lakers insisted on adding Jason Kidd to his staff and because Kurt Rambis didn’t want it to happen.
The protest is unlikely to change much. It was widely derided online and even by some of those covering it at the scene. For better or worse, it’s highly unlikely that team executives even acknowledge it.
