A resolution congratulating the Los Angeles Lakers for winning the 2009 National Basketball Championship.

Whereas, on June 14, 2009, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in game 5 of the 2009 National Basketball Association Championship Finals;

Whereas that triumph marks the 15th National Basketball Association Championship for the Lakers franchise and 10th for the Los Angeles Lakers;

Whereas that triumph also marks the fourth National Basketball Association Championship victory for the Los Angeles Lakers since 1999, earning the Los Angeles Lakers more championship victories in this decade than any other team in the league;

Whereas Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, who throughout his career has epitomized discipline, teaching, and excellence, has won 10 National Basketball Association Championships as a head coach, the most championships for a head coach in National Basketball Association history, surpassing the number won by the legendary Arnold Red Auerbach;

Whereas the 2009 National Basketball Association Championship marks the ninth championship for Los Angeles Lakers owner Gerald Hatten Buss;

Whereas general manager Mitch Kupchak has built a basketball team that possesses a great balance among all-stars, veterans, and young players;

Whereas the Los Angeles Lakers won 65 games in the 2009 regular season and defeated the Utah Jazz, the Houston Rockets, the Denver Nuggets, and the Orlando Magic in the 2009 National Basketball Association playoffs; and

Whereas each player for the Los Angeles Lakers, including Trevor Ariza, Shannon Brown, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Jordan Farmar, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Didier Ilunga-Mbenga, Adam Morrison, Lamar Odom, Josh Powell, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton, and Sue Yue, contributed to what was truly a team effort during the regular season and the playoffs to bring the 2009 National Basketball Association Championship to the city of Los Angeles: Now, therefore, be it