Lakers to hang single In-Season Tournament banner, potential future wins to be added
The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a unique NBA In-Season Tournament banner to honor their championship this season in the inaugural event, the team announced Monday.
It will be a forever banner hung on Dec. 18, where future dates will be added should the franchise win more IST titles. The Lakers’ new banner for their home arena will be a different shape and color than the existing NBA championship banners to make it distinct. Los Angeles, which boasts 17 NBA championships, wants to honor the moment but recognizes its distinction among titles.
Lakers Nation, join us in celebrating our undefeated run to the inaugural In-Season Tournament Championship 🏆
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 11, 2023
The Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers 123-109 in the first In-Season Tournament championship game on Saturday. LeBron James was named MVP of the tournament and every player on Los Angeles’ squad earned $500,000. Pacers players earned $200,000 each.
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Why an IST banner?
The Lakers famously don’t hang division or conference banners unlike most NBA franchises. Every season is championship or bust for them. The decision to hang an In-Season Tournament banner is somewhat surprising, considering it’s not a season-long championship. At the same time, with how much the league has invested in the tournament, it’s safe to assume that the Lakers were likely going to hang a banner to appease the NBA’s new invention. The compromise is ensuring that the banner looks different — it’ll be a different shape and color — and is of “add-a-year” format, meaning there will only be one banner hanging with each subsequent IST championship year added to the 2023-24 victory. — Jovan Buha, Lakers staff writer
How should the Lakers celebrate the championship?
Given the uncharted territory with the In-Season Tournament, the Lakers holding a pregame ceremony at their next home game feels like an appropriate celebration (in comparison with a parade or separate event). They never had a chance to properly celebrate their 2020 championship in the bubble because of the pandemic, so any chance to honor the success of the LeBron James-Anthony Davis partnership is welcomed by the franchise.
As The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Monday, that date could also mark Gabe Vincent’s return, giving the Lakers a full rotation and plenty to celebrate on the floor as well. — Buha
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(Photo: Candice Ward / USA Today)
