The Los Angeles Lakers will be raising a championship banner for the In-Season Tournament on December 18, according to Shams Charania. Initial reports indicated the Lakers wouldn’t be raising a banner, but that no longer seems to be the case. Fans are mixed on the Lakers’ decision to do this.
“The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a unique NBA In-Season Tournament banner to honor their 2023 IST championship. It will be a single forever banner hung on Dec. 18, where future dates will be added should the franchise win additional IST titles in future.”
The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a unique NBA In-Season Tournament banner to honor their 2023 IST championship. It will be a single forever banner hung on Dec. 18, where future dates will be added should the franchise win additional IST titles in future.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 11, 2023
Some fans were stunned that the Lakers would raise anything except NBA Championship banners.
LMAOOO NO WAY THEY ACTUALLY DID IT
— ᴅ ʀ ᴇ ᴡ (@FeelLikeDrew) December 11, 2023
Fans wanted Jeanie Buss to block the banner.
JEANIE NOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/nnAqcLNJ4z https://t.co/BQHu1Xipps
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) December 11, 2023
Some fans found it hilarious that an In-Season Tournament is being heralded in this manner.
This is actually beyond parody 😭
— Ethical Hoops🏆 (only takes Ws) (@EthicalHoopz) December 11, 2023
Many used this opportunity to mock the Clippers, that don’t have any NBA Championship or In-Season Tournament banners.
Clippers can’t even get ahold of a ist banner, im crine.
— Wizely 🫥🌙 (@Wizelycook) December 11, 2023
Warriors fans thought this was an embarrassing move from the Lakers.
Embarrassing
— Chef curry (Parody) (@baby_face_goat) December 11, 2023
Fans believe Adam Silver has forced the Lakers to hang a banner to legitimize the In-Season Tournament.
"Jeanie hang the damn banner" https://t.co/ha2KtU3VSD pic.twitter.com/otIjCexkrh
— Anthony (@ADoubo24) December 11, 2023
Lakers fans think this is another step in them asserting themselves as the greatest franchise in NBA history.
THIS IS WHY THE LAKERS ARE THE GREATEST FRANCHISE OF ALL TIME 🐐
— BronMuse (@BronMuse) December 11, 2023
This is hard to analyze because the Lakers initially weren’t planning on raising a banner for this. This likely was a recommendation by the league, as it allows them to further legitimize the In-Season Tournament as something that is there to stay. If the Lakers, the franchise that is tied for the most NBA titles ever, raise a banner for this, every team that wins it in the future will likely follow.
At least it’s just one banner which will see more dates added to it in the future. That is pretty inoffensive, especially in a league where franchises have raised banners for Divisional Titles or NBA Finals appearances. At least this banner also has a trophy for the franchise to claim as an achievement.
Austin Reaves Says The Lakers Are Focused On Raising A Real Banner
The Lakers were initially expected to not raise a banner for the tournament, but have seemingly course-corrected overnight. Austin Reaves appeared on FanDuel TV on ‘Run It Back’ and discussed the possibility of the Lakers raising an In-Season Tournament banner a couple of hours before Shams confirmed that the Lakers will be doing so.
(Starts at 1:20)
“I don’t know. The Lakers are so used to winning actual championships that I don’t think we’ll raise a banner. But for it to be the first time for anybody to win that tournament, that’s special. Regardless if we do or don’t, I’ll be happy. Hopefully, we can raise a real championship banner this year.”
The Lakers have a legitimate shot at being named champions this year. The team has gotten healthy and is establishing itself as easily the best defensive team in the NBA. They’re currently the fifth seed in the West but are just a few wins from being as high as No. 2 in the Conference.
LeBron James is defying age and Anthony Davis is a DPOY candidate once again. Unfortunately, the Lakers have struggled with offensive consistency across the lineup, but that’s where players like Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell will hope to step up and provide the consistent scoring the Lakers need. Or else they may find themselves on the trade block.
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