National Basketball Association

Lakers to Wear Throwback Jerseys to Honor '86-87 Championship Run

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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To honor the 30th anniversary of the 1986-87 Lakers’ championship run, the franchise will wear Hardwood Classic throwback jerseys on three occasions this season

For many Lakers fans, Friday night against the Golden State Warriors represents an occurrence which they have been waiting to see for nearly five seasons.

The last time — at least the last time I can remember — the Lakers wore their throwback jerseys was in 2011 on their long Grammy Road Trip. Starting off strong with wins against their rival Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks, the trip took fans on a nostalgic journey down memory lane.

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Ever since then, the franchise has instead opted to look towards the future, sporting new, black, often sleeved, “Hollywood Knight” jerseys in lieu of the fan favorite throwbacks. Sadly, the Purple and Gold missed a golden opportunity to sport them during Kobe Bryant’s farewell season, for reasons we may never known.

However, this season, though the team already looks completely different than the past few years, the front office decided that the 30 year anniversary of the 1986-87 team’s epic championship run was enough to warrant bringing back the Hardwood Classics.

For three special nights, starting Friday against the Warriors, Los Angeles will dawn their original forum blue and gold threads.

The Lakers will honor the 86-87 championship squad by wearing Hardwood Classics unis 3 times this season: https://t.co/2uoNVT99jf #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/jj52KZvNhQ

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 3, 2016

According to Lakers.com, the reason behind the games they wear them is actually fantastic.

The Lakers will wear these uniforms against three of the teams that stood in the way of the organization’s playoff run to a 10th championship.

The Lakers will debut the threads on Nov. 4 against the Golden State Warriors, whom Coach of the Year Pat Riley led L.A. past in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Two months later, the jerseys will be worn again on Jan. 17 against Denver, which the Lakers swept in the opening round thanks in part to All-Stars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy, as well as Defensive Player of the Year Michael Cooper.

Finally on March 3, the Lakers will suit up in their Hardwood Classics for their bitter rivals — the Boston Celtics — 30 years after regular-season and NBA Finals MVP Magic Johnson hit his legendary junior skyhook and fueled Los Angeles’ triumph.

I’m not normally a sucker for gimmicks, but I do love me some throwback jerseys!

Here’s to hoping that LA has better luck than the Oklahoma City Thunder did against the Dubs on Thursday night… but if not, at least fans will have something nice to look at to divert the pain.

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