Los Angeles Lakers fans are fed up with the team's continued mediocrity, so they're taking to the sun-baked streets of Downtown Los Angeles. Fans will stage a protest outside of the Staples Center on Friday morning to let Jeanie Buss know that they've had it. Twitter users were quick to point out that the Lakers weren't the first fans to organize a stadium protest of their begrudingly beloved team. Cleveland Browns fans surrounded the stadium after their 0-16 season for a parade/protest. Lakers star LeBron James was in Cleveland at the time. He said that fan collective action like this would make him angry, but added that he didn't think it was the fans' fault they were upset. "I'd be pissed," James told The Athletic at the time. "But how are you going to be pissed at the fans? It's not like they don't show up. I mean, damn. It's 1-31. If our fans decided they want to have a fucked up parade and we were 1-31 the last two years? You can't be mad at that. It's fucked up. I understand that as a player, but you've got to try to fix that shit." He also looked on the bright side, admitting fans could do a lot worse. "It could be worse. How 'bout they just boycott a season until y'all win two games in a row?" We'll see if he's consistent when his own fans show up with signs and slogans.<doc-sep>Fans of the Los Angeles Lakers are planning a protest outside of Staples Center on Friday in hopes to voice their displeasure with the organization and its management, according to Fred Roggin of NBC Los Angeles. Lakers fans are a passionate bunch, and the recent streak of questionable decision-making has gotten most up in arms. The purple and gold not only came well-shy of a postseason berth, but also wasted the first year of LeBron James’ tenure with the team, had their Hall of Fame president of basketball operations quit on them without notice, fired their head coach, missed on the best-available candidate in the market, and then on the next best due to contractual differences. If this seems like a long rambling list of mishits, it’s because it’s as many as a readable sentence can get. The Lakers have been the richest source of drama of any of the teams that failed to make the playoffs, at times embarrassing those who love the franchise so loyally. Local and national media have often expressed their dismay with some of the choices the franchise has made this season — from missing on top-of-the-line targets like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard to disappointing details about the inner workings of the front office, which has proven to be a complete disarray. ESPN’s Dan LeBatard told Get Up! on Thursday morning that the Lakers organization has been a “mom and pops” shop for quite a while, but that late-owner Dr. Jerry Buss often did an excellent job at making it look like a functioning franchise. With Jeanie Buss at the helm, the Lakers now look as dysfunctional as they have ever been and now have a series of questions to address in the offseason — but before that takes place, they will have to answer to thousands of angry Angelenos that demand a change within the organization along with answers to the inexplicable line of ineptitude in the front office.<doc-sep>Anonymous/Associated Press Los Angeles Lakers fans are planning to hold a protest outside Staples Center to voice their frustration with the team's front office. According to Redditor C-P-R (warning: post contains profanity), the protest will be held in front of the arena at noon Friday. There are a number of chants planned for the event: "Sell the team!" "Fire Rambis!" (a reference to adviser Kurt Rambis) "Fire Linda!" ( executive director of special projects Linda Rambis) "Kevin McHale" "No Jason Kidd!" "Shadow owner!" This protest comes after the Lakers extended their franchise-record playoff drought to six years with a 37-45 performance in 2018-19. Despite signing four-time NBA MVP and three-time champion LeBron James last offseason, Los Angeles has seen no shortage of drama. The organization was involved in a messy and very public trade-deadline disaster involving New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis. Then the team fell out of contention by going 10-18 following the deadline. Magic Johnson unexpectedly resigned as team president prior to the regular-season finale last month: A few days later, former coach Luke Walton and the Lakers agreed to go their separate ways. That has set the stage for the latest drama surrounding the storied franchise. Video Play Button Videos you might like Former Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue were viewed as the front-runners for the opening early on. However, Williams wound up taking the Phoenix Suns job. As for Lue, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday he has withdrawn his name from consideration as the two sides could not reach an agreement on a contract or a coaching staff. Wojnarowski reported the Lakers were eyeing former Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd—who previously interviewed for the Lakers' head-coaching position—as a top assistant on Lue's potential staff. According to Wojnarowski, Kurt Rambis has been a major part of the team's search for a new coach: With the 34-year-old James entering his 16th NBA season, fans don't want to see the Lakers waste the remaining years of the future Hall of Famer's career. And the fans intend to send a message loud and clear Friday.<doc-sep>In light of the failed pursuit of former Cleveland Cavaliers head Tyronn Lue by the Los Angeles Lakers, disgruntled fans are planning to stage a protest outside of Staples Center on Friday at 12 p.m. The protest was organized by Reddit user Charlie Rivers (u/C-P-R) in an effort to get the attention of Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss, who he says doesn’t care about the fans but “cares what the media says.” Here’s the full press release, via Reddit: (Los Angeles, CA, May 9th, 2019) Due to recent news that has come to light in regards to the reasoning, circumstances, & accumulation in which the handling of hiring Tyronn Lue was done, I announce this statement: I announce a protest in response to Ms. Jeanie Buss’s decision making that has impacted the overall ability of the Lakers Organization to operate as a successful franchise. Many others and I find it disturbing the amount of influence Kurt & Linda Rambis have on the organization. This method of production being based off nepotism, personal friendships, rather than valued experience is alarming. So much so, that we, a section of the Lakers fanbase, believe that this method of conducting business is a net negative for the organization. The protest will be held on the grounds of the Staples Center at the intersection of S Figueroa St & W 11th St. on Friday, May 10th at 12:00PM. This event is not representative of the entire fanbase, but of those who are frustrated with the inept decision making of this organization’s leadership and the path they are taking. We support the Lakers organization, but do not condone its current management. This event is to focus not on the failure to hire Tyronn Lue, in favor of Jason Kidd, but the decisions that ultimately lead to this, in which are the responsibility of Jeanie Buss. We have no issue with Jeanie Buss, Kurt Rambis, or Linda Rambis personally, but are opposed to their decision making. Any acts of public disturbances, profanity, violence, threats, and disruption of the peace are not condoned. This is event is simply a conduit to have our concerns heard. For the latest on the protest, check out this page on Reddit, which is expected to be updated throughout the day.<doc-sep>
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 10, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Lakers 143-120. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) Lakers fans are upset, and they are going to let management know via a protest set for Friday. The dumpster fire that was the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2018-19 season is gaining more heat, this time from its frustrated fanbase. Protests are reportedly planned to be held outside Staples Center, the Lakers’ home arena, so fans can voice their displeasure with the team’s abysmal 37-45 record and embarrassing failure to make the post season, among other things. The organized demonstrations will take place at 12 p.m. PT on Friday, May 10. The efforts to organize the protests were originally posted on reddit and eventually its way to the local media. #Lakers fans are so frustrated they’re staging a protest outside of Staples Center tomorrow. When it comes to this, you’re in big trouble. The organizer will be with us @AM570LASports at 12:45. — Fred Roggin (@FredNBCLA) May 9, 2019 The reddit post encourages Lakers fans to show up in full purple and gold attire. They even have chants they want the crowd to deliver, according to the post. “Sell the team!” “Fire Rambis!” “Fire Linda!” “Kevin McHale” (Ironic, I know) “No Jason Kidd!” “Shadow Owner!” News of the protests comes off the heels of Lakers brass failing to close a deal that would see Tyronn Lue, the former Lakers guard and Cleveland Cavaliers coach of LeBron James’ 2016 championship team, become the next coach in L.A. The Lakers currently have no one in the position after parting ways with Luke Walton. After signing James last summer to a four-year deal to become the next franchise cornerstone, Lakers fans had a brief ray of light shine down on them after missing the playoffs for consecutive years. But after team chemistry issues, a James injury and the debacle of trying to trade for New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis, the season ended up just as bad — if not worse — than the previous campaigns. As of the time of this writing, Lakers officials have yet to make a statement about the demonstrations.