Staples Center

The Lakers rivalry with the Celtics is arguably the best rivalry in the NBA as well as the fiercest cross-country rivalry in sports. These are the two most successful franchises in the NBA, and as a result, the two teams have met in the NBA Finals a record 12 times. The rivalry was particularly fierce in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1980s. However, the two have recently met in the 2008 and 2010 NBA Finals. The chance to see these two square off is a can’t miss, so if you can only go to one Lakers home game a year, this is the one to see.

The Clippers-Lakers rivalry is a fierce one like most intercity rivalries and is unique among US sports rivalries in that the two teams share the same building, which has led to the rivalry being nicknamed “The Hallway Series.” For years the Clippers had been the laughingstock of the NBA while the Lakers dominated winning 11 NBA Titles since moving to LA. However, the two teams fortunes have changed in recent years. Those of you looking to attend the hottest NBA game in LA will without a doubt want to check this one out.

The Lakers-Suns rivalry has been raging since 1970 when Phoenix blew a 3-1 playoff lead against the Lakers. The two teams have also both played in the Pacific Division for much of their history meaning they have squared off many times in the regular and postseason over the years. In the mid-2000s the rivalry was particularly intense thanks to the two teams being among the best in the Western Conference. There’s always bad blood when these two get together, so don’t miss the Suns when they come to town.

The Lakers-Kings rivalry was at its zenith in the early 2000s when the two met in the playoffs three years from 2000 to 2002. The 2002 Western Conference Finals series is particularly memorable thanks to some questionable officiating that took place in the series. The Kings have been down for a number of years since then, but there is still plenty of animosity between these two California teams.