Before the NBA in-season final game against the Indiana Pacers, Arash Markazi revealed that the LA Lakers presently do not intend to display a banner should they emerge victorious in the In-Season Tournament, due to the team’s strict policy. Despite completing a remarkable run to winning the inaugural NBA Cup, the Lakers are adhering to their policy.
As the team celebrates their latest on-court achievement, footage of one of the franchise legends giving a speech about the value attached to banners has emerged. This follows the franchise’s decision to accommodate NBA in-season tournament banners.
Kobe Bryant explained the Lakers’ banner policy
Kobe Bryant, renowned for his intense competitiveness in basketball and his unwavering commitment to victory, spent 19 years in the NBA, notably with the Lakers. During his illustrious career, he firmly believed that the Lakers never aimed for anything less than securing a championship.
While the controversy and confusion behind the U-turn made by the Lakers’ policy on displaying the NBA in-season winning banner looms, Ball is life tweeted footage of Kobe Bryant talking emphatically about what banner to hang according to the franchise policy.
Kobe Bryant said in the leaked video, “You have a responsibility to the city of Los Angeles to bring championship banners back to where they belong. That is your responsibility. To understand that, nothing else matters.” Kobe believes that Second place does not matter in Lakers.
While confirming that second place means that you are the first loser, Kobe who understood what it means to feature for the team said, “You have that mentality here, that is what gets it here. This franchise is not about hanging division banners. It does not hang conference championships. We hang one banner and one banner only and that is NBA titles.”
Reflecting on his journey, Bryant contributed to the franchise’s triumph with five championships in seven NBA Finals appearances. As the iconic face of the franchise throughout his 19-year tenure, Bryant sees being a Laker as more than just luck in the NBA.
Between 1997 and 2016, the Lakers clinched two NBA Western Conference championships, experienced one loss in the NBA Western Conference Finals, achieved five semi-final playoff finishes, and encountered three first-round exits. While some NBA teams celebrate making the playoffs or advancing deep into the postseason, Bryant emphasizes that such achievements are not considered noteworthy for the franchise.
Lakers take U-turn on banner decision
The Los Angeles Lakers are renowned for their strict banner policy, reserving them exclusively for championships. They also adhere to a rule against retiring player numbers unless the player has been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
While this might seem stringent compared to other teams, the Lakers boast a rich history with 17 championship banners, leaving little room for additional accolades. Given the need for 19 more banners for conference championships and 33 for division titles, these limitations appear sensible.
Initially, it appeared that the In-Season Tournament wouldn’t meet the Lakers’ criteria. Reports suggested they wouldn’t hang a banner if they emerged victorious. However, following their triumph over the Indiana Pacers to secure the inaugural NBA Cup, the Lakers reversed their decision, announcing on Monday that they would indeed hang a banner.
This banner will differ from the ones commemorating the 17 NBA championships. Rather than a separate banner for each In-Season Tournament victory, the Lakers will display a single banner and add to it for future triumphs. The design will deviate in shape and color from the existing banners in the rafters of the Los Angeles Arena.
As the In-Season Tournament is still in its early stages, its long-term success hinges on participation and support from winning teams. The Lakers’ decision to break their established policy signals a positive outlook for the event’s future.
