LAKER FANS: We're Not Used To This!!!

This goes out to all us Laker fans.....and those smacking us around for going berserk during this offseason [which is only a week old].

We are not used to this.  We're not.  I'm not talking about retooling the team.....which we are vaguely familiar with.  I'm talking about our SUPERSTARS leaving.  This just doesn't happen.

Think about it.  Magic Johnson retired a Laker.  Yeah, it was sudden in 1991....but we've never seen him in another NBA uniform.

James Worthy retired a Laker.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a former Buck, never left the Lakers once he became one. 

Hell, Wilt Chamberlain retired a Laker.  Well traveled, he never left LA for another team.  Jerry West retired a Laker.  Elgin Baylor retired as a Laker.  Happy Hairston retired a Laker. 

Really, the last Laker great to leave LA was Gail Goodrich.....and he left twice. 

So, why wouldn't most Laker fans assume that Shaq and Kobe would be around in purple and gold forever??  Sure, it is very naive.....but that was the way we did business around here.  I mean.....players just don't "want" to leave.

So forgive some of us who don't know how to react to the recent news of possible defections.    Heck, I still can't imagine Shaq or Kobe anywhere else but as Lakers.....so forgive me too.