LOS ANGELES, March 8, 2007 -- You may know actor Andy Garcia from such films as The Untouchables, The Godfather, Part III (for which he was nominated for an Academy Award) and Ocean's 11, Ocean's 12 and the soon-to-be released Ocean's 13. And, if you watch Lakers games, you may see Garcia in the stands, fourth row opposite the Lakers bench. Despite growing up in Florida, Garcia has been a lifelong Lakers fan and is No. 5 on our list of All-Time Top 10 Celebrity Lakers fans. We talked with Garcia about the origin of his fandom, what it's like to be a Lakers fan and what kind of effort he wants to see from the Purple and Gold.

NBA.com: When did you start following the Lakers?

Andy Garcia: The Lakers were one of the teams I followed when I was a kid in Florida because of Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor. We didn't have a team in Florida. And my first exposure was watching the games on television. We wouldn't have games on TV every night, but when the Lakers were in the playoffs you'd get much more exposure to them.

NBA.com: And they were a glamour team.

Andy Garcia: Yeah, and you had the Celtics and the 76ers and later the Bucks with Kareem.

NBA.com: Was that one of the things you wanted to do when you moved to L.A., go to more Lakers games, of course, when you had the opportunity to go?

Andy Garcia: When I had the opportunity. I got invited to go and actually sit in Jerry Buss' booth up in the Forum. And I would go periodically when Jerry would invite me up there. And that was extraordinary because that was just when they were drafting Magic. From then on I got to watch the entire Showtime era.

Eventually I was able to afford some season tickets at the Forum. I started out a little higher, then I started moving down and then I got to the second row at the Forum. And when they moved to STAPLES Center and I went over there too.

NBA.com: Is that when your Laker fandom solidified, with the Showtime Lakers in the '80s?

Andy Garcia: Oh, yes, definitely. When I moved out to L.A., I was eager to support them because I had been following them since I was a kid. And now that I was in the city, I had a closer tie to them.

NBA.com: When did you first purchase season tickets?

Andy Garcia: I can't remember the year, but it was right after Magic started his run, but I do remember it was at the Forum. And I've had them ever since.

NBA.com: How often do you go? Whenever you can?

Andy Garcia: When I'm in town and when I'm free, I go. Whenever I can, I do.

NBA.com: Was there one moment, one team that stands out in your memory?

Andy Garcia: Nothing surpasses the Showtime Lakers of Magic, Worthy, Kareem and that team, also with Cooper and Rambis. That team was one of the most exciting basketball teams ever to play with the style they played. Those guys would take first place.

And then you have the second one ... the years with Shaq and Kobe where they took the championships. And there were games that were quite electrifying. You know the game with the last shot by Robert Horry, the comeback with Shaq and the dunk against the Blazers. I've been there for extraordinary moments.

NBA.com: Now, most people define fanaticism or fans as those people who are really up when their team wins and really, really down when their team loses. Are you that type of fan?

Andy Garcia: (Quickly) No.

NBA.com: Ha!

Andy Garcia: No, no. I go up and down with them in the game, but once I go home, there's always the next game. Also, there are things that are more important. But obviously, you get disappointed if they don't play well.

To me it's not so much losing the game but the effort in the game. When the effort is not there, that's what gets my goat ... when the effort isn't there. You know, if you lose and you played hard, then you lost and you played hard.

NBA.com: It's key to have that effort.

Andy Garcia: The defensive effort is key. There's no excuse for lacking effort, except exhaustion. And if you've got no legs, tell your coach: "I've got no legs, get me out of the game." No matter who it is. You have to be able to sacrifice yourself and say, "I can't play, I've got no legs."

Or you can't say, "I'm going to ease up on defense so I can save it on offense." I don't believe in that. I believe every game is won on the defensive side.

NBA.com: What's the best thing about being a Lakers fan?

Andy Garcia: If you're into sports, it's good to have a team to follow and enjoy the event. It's an event and to see the competition. It's good to see that type of basketball played on that level and on a consistent basis, I think it lets you a little bit more insight into the world of the players and who's doing what, what's going on and who's not measuring up and why and who's coming up. It just gives you a little more insight on what's going on in the game.

NBA.com: Do you ever talk about the Lakers with other celebs?

Andy Garcia: "Jack, I see more than anyone. Jack is there just about every game. We may exchange a "Hey, what's goin' on?" Jack is probably the most knowledgeable of all fans. And he always has the most interesting of theories. I'm always interested to hear what coach Jack has to say.

NBA.com: And I hear he's been there since the late '60s.

Andy Garcia: He's the No. 1 guy. Definitely the No. 1 guy.