LeBron James welcomed Lakers season ticket holder Jack Nicholson back to his courtside seat for the first time since 2021
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- Jack Nicholson returned to his courtside seat at the Los Angeles Lakers game on Friday.
- According to the Associated Press, the actor hadn't been seen in his usual spot since October 2021.
- LeBron James welcomed Nicholson, who's held season tickets since 1970, with a hug before the matchup.
Jack Nicholson made his grand return to his courtside seats at the Los Angeles Lakers playoff matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
The actor, 86, is a longtime Lakers fan and has held season tickets since 1970. According to the Associated Press, the game marked the first time Nicholson sat in his regular seat near the opposing team's bench since the Lakers' season opener in October 2021.
A video shared by the NBA on Twitter showed LeBron James welcoming Nicholson with a hug before the game. Nicholson was also accompanied by his son Ray Nicholson and grandson Duke Nicholson, per the AP.
—NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2023
Nicholson also posed for a photo with Grizzlies' star Ja Morant's father Tee Morant and caught up with comedian Larry David on the court. It turned out to be another star-studded night at the Crypto.com Arena — Adele, Dr. Dre, and musician Flea were also in attendance for Game 6.
—NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2023
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The team didn't just welcome Nicholson back with pleasantries — they even put him on the big screen. Deadline reports that a video montage featuring clips of the actor in "The Shining" and the 1989 superhero flick "Batman" played on the jumbotron before the crowd gave him a round of applause.
—Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 29, 2023
The Lakers eliminated the Grizzlies from the playoffs, outscoring the Memphis team 125-85 in the statement win. According to the Associated Press, Friday's game marked the first time the Lakers won a playoff series at home since 2013.