Lakers won’t train
in Hawaii this year

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Star-Bulletin staff

The Los Angeles Lakers will not be back in Hawaii this fall for their preseason training camp, an official for the NBA team told the Star-Bulletin yesterday.

A staff member in spokesman John Black's office said the Lakers, currently trying to win their third consecutive NBA title, would not train nor hold an exhibition game in the islands for what would be the 10th time since 1988. Last October, the Lakers lost twice to the Golden State Warriors in exhibition games at the Stan Sheriff Center.

No reason was given for not returning to Hawaii, although the team indicated last year that it might make the trip every other year.

Last year, due to concerns following the Sept. 11 attacks, the NBA canceled all exhibition games outside the U.S. The Lakers and Warriors were scheduled to play twice in Tokyo following a single game in Hawaii; after the trip to Japan was canceled, a second exhibition game was added.

Stan Sheriff Center manager Rich Sheriff said that no other NBA team has contacted him regarding use of the arena this fall.