Photo: Chick Hearn spitting knowledge at the 1984 NBA Draft after the Lakers selected Earl Jones at No. 23.

Here's Pau sitting behind Kobe, who's behind Phil. Interviews w/media next.

Lakers are scrimmaging at the end of Thursday's practice (Gasol, Bryant watch from sidelines):

Ice Cube is hanging out after Lakers practice, chatting up @JoeBeast95 in between taking jumpers:

LAL stayed in Dallas last night, arriving in Denver this morning. Pic of the Rockies in the distance:

Pic of Sasha Vujacic catching up pregame with Andrew Bynum. Sasha's averaging 11 pts in 27 mpg:

Pic of the Staples Center scoreboard celebrating Bryant's further push into NBA history:

Pau Gasol is always the guy who's a foot taller than everyone else checking out of a hotel:

Kobe stopped to sign some pregame autographs in San Antonio:

The Lakers got new practice uniforms for X-Mas:

Barnes got LAL tix for Vick & his boy D. Jackson, who returned punt to beat NY. Barnes pic 2:

@Matt_Barnes22 got a signed Vick jersey from Vick in Philly. Barnes is repping at Toronto airport:

General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a gift from Poland to U.S. celebrating 200 yrs. of independence:

@JoeBeast95 getting his first pregame shots in for the Lakers:

President Obama received a signed championship banner and basketball from the Lakers:

Here are the Lakers up on the podium, pre Obama:

One more of Obama and @DerekFisher: