The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers has always been a source of excitement for basketball fans. The two teams, sharing the iconic Crypto.com Arena, have created numerous memorable moments over the past 25 years.
From the era of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s dominance to the recent successes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers have solidified their place in NBA history with 17 Finals banners and 14 retired jerseys. On the other hand, the Clippers, once considered one of the league’s worst franchises, have risen to relevance with the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
However, the upcoming move of the Clippers to the Intuit Dome marks the end of an era for the Battle of L.A. as co-tenants. As the designated home team in their final regular-season clash, the Clippers will strive to create a home-game atmosphere, but the presence of a majority of Lakers fans is expected, reflecting the one-sided nature of these matchups.
As the Clippers prepare to transition to their new arena, ESPN’s NBA insiders have taken the opportunity to reminisce about their favorite moments from the Battle of L.A. One such moment dates back to March 6, 2000, when Shaquille O’Neal delivered an unforgettable performance on his birthday, scoring a career-high 61 points with 23 rebounds, setting a record for the most points by a player on his birthday in NBA history.
With the Clippers attempting to contain O’Neal using multiple players, the Lakers secured a resounding victory, leaving a lasting memory in the history of the rivalry.
