How many rings would Luka need to become the face of LA sports (over Ohtani)?

[JellosJigglin]

That’s going to be tough. Ohtani is clearly the best baseball player in the world and is an international superstar from a well populated nation.

Also, believe it or not the Dodgers have been more popular in LA than the Lakers and I think that gap has increased even moreso in the last couple years with Ohtani and the aggressive Walter ownership.

I’d say Luka needs a back to back championship run as the best player in the world and Ohtani and the Dodgers have to get eliminated in the playoffs this season.

Yup Dodgers have closed the gap in popularity. Actually I'd say they're even more mainstream right now than the Lakers. I'm judging this strictly on the girls I match with on dating apps lol. More want to go to Dodger games than Laker games and that is a trend that started in recent years. Of course, this is a basketball forum so posters here from L.A. are going to be more Laker-centric. But I bet if you randomly asked Angelenos around the city, they could name more Dodger players than Laker players.

A big part of this is the Dodgers are contenders every year. If the Lakers were a true championship contender, which they are not, then it could swing back the other way. But as it stands now, the Dodgers been competing for, and winning, championships for quite a while now. They have momentum on their side. It's going to take a lot for Luka to take Shohei's mantel. Not to mention, Shohei is a once in a lifetime player. We won't see another like him for 100 years.

I love this boots on the ground style analysis.

We need more of type of perspective on this forum

lol! I was just being honest. Laker games have historically been THE sports scene to be seen at. If you had lower bowl or courtside seats then it was like having cocaine at a rockstar groupie afterparty. Everyone wanted you. But in recent years girls want to be taken to Dodger games. Just being real. It's outdoors, you get the sunset at Chavez Ravine and the mountain backdrop. It actually sets the mood nicely. And I'm all for it because I can get box seats on first base or even behind the dugout way cheaper than Laker tickets.

[Teko]

Luka doesn't have the character/dominance/merit to be more popular than Ohtani in LA.

Shohei is probably one of the rarest talent ever in any major sports (his directly resemblance should be someone like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, Leo Messi, Wayne Gretzky not Luka) , I consider him the best player ever in baseball if healthy.

He is capable of getting you (capable, doesn't mean he will ever achieve those achievement in one season)
15+ Wins
Low 2 ERA
250+ SO

50+ Home Runs
50+ Stolen Bases

For non baseball fan , it's hard to convert those stats into basketball, but someone that can give you

30PPG
13Rpg
7 APG
4 Blocks
3 Steals

While shooting 45% from 3s and playing DPOY type of defense. Again it's really comparing orange to apples as baseball is more of a team sports , 1 or 2 best players won't automatically convert into Ws or champions (Angles had both Ohtani and Trout for several years, they aint win anything).

Just 2 side notes to prove my claims

1. that 700 million dollars contract is now consider a bargain by pretty much all baseball fans. (Japan and international market already paid more than half of that contact in first year)

2. The Dodgers "One Piece Luffy" card (first 40K fans in Dodger stadium vs Pirates) has been selling over $500 per card for weeks now. This will never happen without Ohtani's presence in LA.

Ohtani is essentially Jokic, but with the caliber of a Defensive First Team player.

[druggas]

I don’t know if Luka has it in him to be more than a James Harden/Karl Malone of this era. Guy that does historic #s but gets no rings

He's on the Lakers. Name one superstar that played for the Lakers, but never won a championship.

Elgin Baylor

wow that was easy

He got a ring. He didn't win a championship.

[Godymas]

He's on the Lakers. Name one superstar that played for the Lakers, but never won a championship.

Elgin Baylor

wow that was easy

He got a ring. He didn't win a championship.

That makes no sense

Elgin Baylor has no championship and no ring

[Billl]

0? I can't even name a current MLB player. I didn't know anyone under 50 was still watching.

Ignorance isn't a flex.

I don't know. Not being able to name a bunch of desperate housewives in a positive in my book. The sport is so boring that people look back at the steroid era as the fun times.

[FollowTheSound]

Do people still watch baseball?

Baseball and basketball are neck in neck in terms of popularity.

Not at all, worldwide it's not even close and in the US too Basketball is more popular. Compare social media engagement and it's also not close.

[druggas]

Elgin Baylor

wow that was easy

He got a ring. He didn't win a championship.

That makes no sense

Elgin Baylor has no championship and no ring

Yes, Elgin Baylor was awarded an NBA Championship ring by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972. Although he retired before the end of the 1971-72 season, the Lakers acknowledged his contributions and gave him a ring.

[Raps in 4]

0? I can't even name a current MLB player. I didn't know anyone under 50 was still watching.

I don't know many people who watch sports in general (most people think it's for jocks and gamblers), but I know more who watch baseball than basketball. All of these people are in their 30s.

[magee]

One.

[brackdan70]

Probably should win a playoff series before talking about rings lol.

[azcatz11]

We may have seen the greatest playoff performance in baseball history. Unbelievable.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

[Lalouie]

ohtani just tonight may have bumped the bar to 3rings

4 if ohtani does this same nastiness in the WS

[JellosJigglin]

We may have seen the greatest playoff performance in baseball history. Unbelievable.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

This is a basketball forum. Most people here don't understand they will never see this again in their lifetime and possibly their future grand childrens lifetime. This is literally a once a century type of talent.