‘Bigger than basketball’: Hornets react to postponement of game vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Just as things became official, the Charlotte Hornets were working up a lather, running through team drills not far from where smoke billowed into the Southern California sky.
Fast-moving fires across Los Angeles County led to the postponement of Thursday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena — the Hornets’ initial outing of a five-game road trip that also has stops in Arizona, Utah and Chicago.
Instead, the game will be rescheduled.
“I just think the most important thing is that we are being mindful of the situation that we are in, the state of L.A.,” coach Charles Lee told The Observer after the team wrapped up practice at UCLA’s Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center. “Obviously, we’re feeling very remorseful for everything that their team has had to go through, what the city has gone through and we are just trying to do everything that we can to be sensitive to the situation.
“I think that’s first and foremost and the NBA had to make a really tough decision today, but I think they made the right decision with everything going on and we support that. And now we are just trying to do everything we can to keep our players in a safe place around here as well.”
Charlotte is also slated to play the LA Clippers at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Saturday night. There’s currently no word on whether that game will face a similar fate as first responders and firefighters try to get a handle on the blazes, which have destroyed thousands of structures all over the area, including some nostalgic places along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway.
“We’re heartbroken for Los Angeles,” the Lakers said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this unimaginable situation. And our gratitude is with the first responders and all of you who came together when we need each other the most. Tonight’s game will be rescheduled to focus on what matters most today.”
The Hornets were completely on board with the postponement.
“It’s more than basketball,” Miles Bridges said. “People are losing their lives, losing their homes. This is just a game of basketball, so just praying for those families in need and hoping that the situation gets better for them.”
LaMelo Ball, the Hornets star point guard who grew up in nearby Chino Hills, said his immediate relatives are fine and he is hopeful things will calm down soon.
“I just want to see people be safe, evacuate if they need to,” Ball told The Observer. “Just get with their other family if they need to. Just anything to be safe.”
Following the NHL postponing Wednesday night’s game between the Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings, the Hornets had an idea their contest with the Lakers could be in for a similar fate. The team, along with the NBA, had been monitoring the situation before it boarded its charter flight after Wednesday’s practice in Charlotte.
All systems pointed to the game potentially still being on as of early morning, but in collaboration with the advice of officials on a variety of levels, the matchup was pushed back and the league will have to find a common date when both teams could meet. Charlotte’s next trip out west comes immediately after February’s All-Star break.
In the meantime, the Hornets are going to use the opportunity to continue fine-tuning things. They ended their 10-game losing streak in Tuesday’s victory over Phoenix, the very team they will play again on Sunday at the Footprint Center, and are looking to establish more consistency.
The extra sessions together shouldn’t hurt.
“Not many times in your life do you get a chance to have some break in the middle of the season, which can be very positive if you can use it well,” Vasa Micić said. “I’m sure we will. Unfortunately, these things that are going on are way bigger than basketball, and we should all be committed to help each other, understand each other and just be focused and do what you have to do in our free time.”
That includes the possibility of using masks to take precautions if need be. The smoke is that thick in some areas and an unhealthy air quality alert was issued for the region.
“Now we’ve got to be more mindful of how we move around out here,” Lee said. “It’s more important about humanity and the safety of everybody. As a team, we got to get a practice in today, we’ll try to get another in (Friday).
“I do think we are starting to gain some momentum with having some guys back healthy. And the more reps we have playing together and drilling together is going to help us in the long run, especially coming off that Phoenix Suns game. I want us to continue to build off that.”
This story was originally published January 9, 2025 at 3:33 PM.
