Lakers fans throw rocks and bottles at LAPD as thousands gather outside Staples Center following team's LeBron James inspired victory in NBA Finals
Chaos erupted outside the Los Angeles Staples Center on Sunday after crowds of Lakers fans clashed with police as they took to the streets to celebrate the team's championship win.
Thousands of people gathered outside the venue shortly after the Lakers claimed their 17th title with a 106-93 victory over the Miami Heat inside the NBA bubble in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, created to protect players from the coronavirus.
The championship win, the first for the franchise since 2010, capped an unprecedented season that resumed in July following a four-month COVID-19 shutdown.
Large groups of fans dressed in purple and gold quickly flooded the streets of downtown LA, despite coronavirus health restrictions and earlier warnings from public health officials for fans to stay home.
Celebrations had been mostly peaceful before descending into violence when some members of the crowd began throwing rocks and bottles at police officers, KABC-TV reported.
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Police on horseback move people back as rowdy fans celebrate, Sunday in Los Angeles, after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals to win the championship
Thousands flooded the streets in downtown Los Angeles, ignoring earlier warnings from public health officials for fans to celebrate at home
Los Angeles Lakers fans celebrate their team winning the 2020 NBA Championship against the Miami Heat, amid the coronavirus pandemic
A man is detained by police outside the Staples Center after chaos erupted outside the venue on Sunday. Cops reportedly declared an unlawful assembly after crowds failed to disperse
Police try to control a crowd on the street outside the Staples Center as Los Angels Lakers fans celebrate their team winning
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Lakers fans trashing police cars pic.twitter.com/Koi9Rk5jvr
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) October 12, 2020
Lakers fans trashing police cars pic.twitter.com/Koi9Rk5jvr
Videos posted online also showed cars doing 'donuts' and fireworks being set off in the street - which is illegal without a permit.
Social media footage also showed fans surrounding LAPD squad cars and banging on the vehicles, prompting police to take action and declare an unlawful assembly.
At least one person was seen being detained by officers dressed in riot gear amid the chaos.
Police and California Highway Patrol officers shut down ramps leading to the Los Angeles downtown area after crowds got out of control.
Witnesses told the Los Angeles Times that officers also fired 'beanbag rounds' at one point, which sent some people running.
Cops however, said they did not resort to using pepper balls or gas to try to disperse crowds, KNX 1070 News radio reported.
LA Mayor Eric Garcetti on Friday urged residents to celebrate from their homes to make sure 'all the progress we have made in our fight against COVID-19 isn't reversed from one night of celebration.'
'I encourage you to yell at the top of your lungs inside your homes, maybe even open up the window or step outside your door as we've done for our first responders and essential medical workers to thank them,' he said.
'Let's thank the Lakers when they win, but let's do it safe.'
Fans cower from police as the authorities try to disperse the rowdy crowd from outside of Staples Center with projectiles
A Los Angeles police officer tries to disperse rowdy fans in the street in Los Angeles, after celebrations took a violent turn
Los Angeles Police Department officers on horseback move people back as rowdy fans celebrate
Thousands of people dressed in purple and gold took to the streets to celebrate the franchise's first NBA title since 2010
Lakers fans celebrate near Staples Centers as Los Angeles plays against Miami Heat in Game 6 of the 2020 NBA Finals
LA Mayor Eric Garcetti on Friday urged residents to celebrate from their homes to make sure 'all the progress we have made in our fight against COVID-19 isn't reversed from one night of celebration'
The Los Angeles Lakers captured a record-tying 17th NBA Championship that sealed the best-of-seven title series 4-2, restoring the storied franchise to the top of the basketball world.
The Lakers' victory tied them with the Boston Celtics for most NBA championships and capped an unprecedented season that resumed in July at a spectator-free campus at Disney World in Florida after a four-month COVID-19 shutdown.
Finals MVP LeBron James led the way for the Lakers, scoring 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists while spearheading a defensive masterclass that doused the Heat's offense.
The Lakers, who won their first title since 2010, also got a key contribution from Rajon Rondo as the veteran point guard delivered an early offensive burst that helped them to a 28-point halftime lead and the Heat never threatened again.
'It means a lot to represent this franchise,' said James, who joined the team in the summer of 2018 after they had missed the playoffs five seasons in a row.
'I told (Lakers president) Jeanie when I came here that I was going to put this franchise back in the position where it belongs.
LeBron James celebrates his fourth NBA title with JR Smith and his Los Angeles Lakers teammates on Sunday night
LeBron James holds his fourth NBA Finals MVP award, which is named for Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell
LeBron James, who poured in 40 points in a losing effort on Friday, began Game 6 by setting another record in his illustrious career. Sunday's game was the 260th of James' playoff career, lifting him into sole possession of first place on the league's postseason appearances list
'We just want our respect. Rob wants his respect, coach Vogel wants his respect, our organization wants its respect, Lakers nation wants its respect,' he said.
'And I want my damn respect too.'
The championship win ends a more than 90-day stay for the Lakers inside the NBA's bio-secure bubble.
It also marked the end of an emotional season for the franchise after Lakers great Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others near Los Angeles in January.
Racial justice issues were front and center since the NBA restarted, with players wearing slogans like 'Vote' and 'Education Reform.'
The death of George Floyd, a Black man, in police custody in Minneapolis in May, sparked nationwide protests and renewed calls for reform among players and the public.
'We all want to see better days and when we leave here, we have to continue to push that,' James said.
'Continue to push against social injustice, continue to push against voter suppression, continue to push against police brutality, continue to push against everything that is the opposite of love.
'If we continue to do that - all of us - America will be a much better place.