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Every year, the Los Angeles Dodgers show a little cross-sport love and have a night celebrating the Los Angeles Lakers. This year was no different, and with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss in attendance to give LeBron James jerseys to Yasiel Puig, Kenley Jansen and Matt Kemp while Josh Hart threw out the first pitch, it looked like this year’s “Lakers Night” was one of the more special ones in the last couple of seasons.
The key with first pitches is to just not embarrass oneself, and Hart managed that while throwing it out to Puig:
@joshhart painting the corners at Lakers Night ⚾️#LakeShow | #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/ZRh4o50Ndb
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 16, 2018
Hart also got a chance to go on the Dodgers’ pregame show and show off his TV analyst chops:
It’s Lakers Night at the Dodgers game tonight. Josh Hart on the pre-game show. pic.twitter.com/EthjurPPV7
— Johnny (@jnavla) August 16, 2018
And before Hart even took the mound, Buss brought out a surprise for Puig, Jansen and Kemp:
Special delivery! @JeanieBuss presented some of the guys with @KingJames jerseys in honor of @Lakers Night at Dodger Stadium!#Dodgers | #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/kvEVjLQ874
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 16, 2018
Fresh threads. What do you think, @KingJames? #Dodgers | #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/jNmlFBnxYT
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 16, 2018
Jansen is a big Lakers fan and Kemp is a Dodgers legend, but Puig is one of the biggest Lakers fans to ever play in the MLB, and more than deserving of a free jersey on this night.
I mean, look at this!
I hope you all find love like Yasiel Puig loves the Lakers pic.twitter.com/BPYhYCJECL
— Grant Goldberg (@GrantGoldberg) August 16, 2018
Plus, Puig’s bromance with Pau Gasol is one of the best things you’ll be reminded of today:
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And before you ask, yes, Puig is one of the many Lakers fans excited about LeBron James joining the team:
I am very excited to have @kingjames here with the @lakers We are looking forward to great things. I’ll see you soon Congratulations #basketball #lakers #kingjames pic.twitter.com/uDhdzg2S4L
— Yasiel Puig (@YasielPuig) July 2, 2018
So Puig will probably get some good use out of that LeBron jersey by going to a Lakers game or two this year, and it seems like a good time was had by all on “Lakers Night.”
Especially given that Hart didn’t embarrass himself on the first pitch. Seriously, that would’ve sucked.
You can follow Harrison on Twitter at @hmfaigen.