Lakers vs. Magic: Paul Westhead Bobblehead Night

The Lakers are back at Crypto.com Arena for a Wednesday-night matchup against the Orlando Magic on January 14, 2027, and this one comes with a bonus: the first fans through the doors get a Paul Westhead bobblehead. That's reason enough to show up early.

Westhead coached the Lakers to the 1980 NBA championship, riding a roster built around a 20-year-old Magic Johnson. His tenure was short and eventually turbulent, but that title run still gets talked about in Laker lore. Honoring him with a bobblehead is a nice nod to a piece of franchise history that doesn't always get top billing. If you're a collector, this one should age well on the shelf.

On the court, the matchup pits the Lakers against an Orlando squad that has been rebuilding steadily around Paolo Banchero. These early-January games are often where playoff pictures start coming into sharper focus, so there's something real at stake beyond the giveaway. Downtown Los Angeles on a game night has its own energy, and this ranks among the LA sports events that draw casual fans and diehards alike through the winter stretch.

Bobblehead nights attract bigger crowds and earlier arrivals, so plan on getting there 30 to 45 minutes before tipoff if you want to guarantee one. Supply is always limited and typically runs out before the final wave of fans walks through the gate. The bobblehead depicts Westhead as he appeared during his Lakers coaching years, a cool piece of franchise memorabilia from the Showtime era's earliest chapter.

Getting there. Crypto.com Arena sits at 1111 S. Figueroa St. in downtown Los Angeles, a short walk from the 7th Street Metro Center and Pico stations on the Blue/Expo and Red/Purple lines. Driving in from the 110 is straightforward; the FigAt7th and Pico parking structures are nearby. Rideshare drop-off is on 11th Street. Tipoff is 7 p.m. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, one of the go-to spots for los angeles games of this caliber. Pricing varies by seat location and demand, so check closer to game day if you're flexible on section.

January is peak NBA schedule, and Crypto.com Arena fills fast for primetime matchups. This is one of those sporting events Los Angeles delivers reliably each season, and a limited giveaway makes it worth moving on sooner rather than later.

For more things to do in Los Angeles this winter, check out the Sports section or explore what else is on in Downtown.