bleacherreport
Before tipping off their 2026-27 NBA regular season against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers turned to WWE entrance music to energize the crowd at Crypto.com Arena.
Reserve players were introduced to the theme of world heavyweight champion Roman Reigns, while the starting lineup took the floor to WWE legend John Cena's iconic track. The video quickly gained traction online.
The new-look Lakers dominated their first game, cruising past the Warriors for a 127-105 victory.
During the offseason, LeBron James departed in free agency to join the Philadelphia 76ers, concluding his eight-season run with the Lakers. His exit paved the way for Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to become the franchise's centerpieces, and the team made a major move by acquiring center Walker Kessler in a trade with the Utah Jazz.
In the win, Dončić, Reaves, and Kessler each contributed 23 or more points, underlining their importance to the team's success.
The Lakers will return to action on Friday when they host the Los Angeles Clippers in their second game of the campaign.
Key Analysis
The use of WWE entrance music not only fired up the home crowd but also signaled a new era for the Lakers, who are leaning into entertainment and a fresh identity after LeBron James's departure. With Dončić, Reaves, and Kessler leading the charge, the team's balanced scoring attack offers promise for the season ahead.
Originally reported by bleacherreport.