Five Tiny Tidbits On: The Los Angeles Lakers

It's hard to believe, but the NBA season is just around the corner. Let us celebrate with five tiny tidbits on each team. Tomorrow we begin with the Central Division, so do us a favor and send us your tips at [email protected]. • 1. We're Still Looking For Lakes In Los Angeles. The Lakers did not get their start in Minneapolis, but, technically, in Detroit. The team started in 1946 when Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen bought the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League for $15,000 and relocated it to Minneapolis. The Gems had by far the worst record in the NBL, so the Lakers had the first pick in the 1947 dispersal draft of players from the Professional Basketball League of America, which they used to select George Mikan. • 2. Star Search. Jack Nicholson is the team's is the team's most high-profile celebrity fan, but it's hard to miss Michael Clarke Duncan at games. And the Red Hot Chili Peppers may be the most fanatic Laker followers of all. In fact, their bassist, Flea, writes a Lakers blog for NBA.com. And it's awesome. • 3. I Was A Teenage Power Forward. At 17 years, eight months and two days old, Andrew Bynum became the youngest player ever drafted in the NBA in 2005 (he had planned to attend UConn before deciding to enter the draft out of high school). He also became the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game on Nov. 2 of that year, when the Lakers opened the season against the Nuggets. He was scoreless. • 4. Strange Politics. Luke Walton has two brothers, one of which, Nathan, ran for governor in the infamous 2003 California recall election that swept Arnold Schwarzenegger into office. It is unknown if Walton received more votes than Gary Coleman, or Lassie. • 5. Your Serve. In addition to his LA home once being profiled on MTV's Cribs, and having played junior tennis with Andy Roddick, Chris Mihm claims to have nine percent body fat and wears size 18 shoes.