Los Angeles Lakers Sign 20-Year Extension With Staples Center

Regarded as one of the NBA's biggest attractions, the Staples Center, located in downtown Los Angeles and partnered with LA Live, has long been a draw for Hollywood athletes, celebrities, and events.

Most notably, it became the home of the Los Angeles Lakers back in 1999. On Thursday, Lakers’ ownership announced it will extends its tenant contract with Staples Center to remain with the venue for the next 20 years. 

Reported by the LA Times, “The Lakers have signed an extension with the Staples Center that will keep them at their home arena through 2041, per a team press release. Los Angeles has been at the Staples Center since the 1999/2000 season, when the team won its first title in more than a decade." 

Owner Jeanie Buss, who was recently caught up in the Kwame Brown fiasco, provided a positive response to the tenant extension at Staples, which has been home to the NBA’s biggest names, including Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and the current face of the league, LeBron James.  

“We are excited to extend our partnership with AEG,” said Buss in her statement released Thursday. “Staples Center ranks as one of the best arenas in the world to play and watch basketball, and we are thrilled to be able to call it home for another two decades.” 

The Staples Center is co-owned by the Los Angeles Clippers, who are vetting their options for a venue independent from the Lakers in the near future. The venue is also home to NHL's Los Angeles Kings.

Lebron James and the No. 7 seed Lakers face off against the Phoenix Suns for Game 3 in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs on Thursday night. The series is tied 1-1.