Jeffrey Osborne

The Los Angeles Lakers are once again calling on one of their top fans, vocalist Jeffrey Osborne, as the NBA Finals begin today (June 3) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Lakers are defending champions and are facing the Boston Celtics.

Osborne will be performing the National Anthem before the game, which begins at 6 p.m. PT on ABC. He has performed at the finals five times for the Lakers, including in 2009, 2008, 2002, 1988 and 1985. The Lakers won all of those series except for 2008, when the Celtics won. The Lakers beat the Celtics during the 1985 series.

The best-of-seven series continues Sunday (June 6) in Los Angeles. The Lakers are led by Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Ron Artest, while Boston is led by Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

Osborne, who scored with such top hits as “On the Wings of Love,” “Stay With Me Tonight” and “You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song),” released a CD in 2005, From the Soul, that was produced by Paul Brown.