John Raoux/Related Press
The Los Angeles Lakers are headed to the nation’s capital later this month, nonetheless they level-headed would possibly per chance well no longer be visiting the White Home to celebrate their 2020 NBA championship.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported Saturday that the crew is no longer going to seek the recommendation of with President Joe Biden when it heads east to play the Washington Wizards due to scheduling conflicts and COVID-19 protocols, although the Lakers haven’t ruled out a seek the recommendation of with in the long go.
An NBA crew hasn’t visited the White Home since the final time LeBron James went, following his championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. The Golden Convey Warriors in 2017 and 2018 and Toronto Raptors in 2019 became down the tradition all the plan in which by the Trump administration.
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports activities reported in January that the Lakers had been planning to renew the tradition as soon as Biden came about of work (h/t Kurt Helin of NBC Sports activities). Biden used to be on board: After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers received the Extensive Bowl in February, White Home press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged the Bucs and Lakers must level-headed quiz invitations to the White Home “when it be COVID-safe.”
James acknowledged rapidly after the inauguration that visiting the Oval Pickle of job “would possibly per chance well be gargantuan,” nonetheless he acknowledged the league’s successfully being and security protocols would hang that no longer easy and that the crew had no longer had any conversations about it.
The outing would possibly per chance well also enjoy to wait unless after the season. By the level they celebrate their 2020 title with Biden, the Lakers would possibly per chance enjoy two trophies to elevate.
