Terrance Mann alleges bias towards Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
The perception that the Clippers are not as welcome in Los Angeles as the Lakers stem from the historical success of the Lakers, who have a storied legacy of championships and iconic players.
Sharing the same arena for over two decades has often relegated the Clippers to a secondary position, leading to the perception of them as the “little brother” to the Lakers.
It seems that this favoritism is even with the workers at Crypto.com Arena. In a recent episode of Podcast P, Clippers stars Paul George and Terrance Mann talk about how it feels like to be in Laker land:
“We share the space there – it’s a weird dynamic. Cause I was telling him, we’ll go in the weight room and Bron got his sh*t, we don’t touch his shit. Logo’d out.”
They revealed how the Lakers players appeared to receive preferential treatment, even in the most mundane aspects of the facility. The differential treatment extended beyond the players, as Mann noted that a significant portion of the arena staff seemed to be Lakers supporters.
This created an atmosphere where the Clippers often felt like they were in the Lakers’ shadow, being considered the “little brothers” of the more popular and successful team.
LA Clippers Set To Move Into $1.2 Billion Arena
The Clippers’ time at the Crypto.com Arena is soon coming to an end, as they eagerly await the opening of the Intuit Dome. The state-of-the-art arena, costing $1.2 billion, is set to accommodate 18,000 fans upon its opening for the 2024-2025 NBA season.
The venue will be the centerpiece of a 28-acre mixed-use development, featuring a practice facility, office space, a sports medicine clinic, retail outlets, a public plaza, a hotel, and ample parking.
Designed by AECOM, the arena’s striking exterior design showcases an elliptical shape with a grid-like pattern resembling a basketball net. The project aims to complement the sports and entertainment district around SoFi Stadium, providing a vibrant and modern home for the Clippers as they move away from their current Crypto.com Arena in Downtown LA, which is also undergoing renovations.