Lakers To Raise In-Season Tournament Banner
Amid their first-ever In-Season Tournament title, the Los Angeles Lakers have elected to raise an In-Season Tournament Banner inside Crypto.com Arena, NBA insider Chris Haynes was first to report Monday.
Per Haynes, the IST banner will be different from the Lakers’ 17 other titles–thus making a clear distinction from their NBA Titles. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the banner will be raised on Dec. 18 against the New York Knicks.
The Lakers clinched the first-ever In-Season Tournament title Saturday evening over the Indiana Pacers–a winner-take-all championship, as opposed to the best-of-seven format in the actual NBA Playoffs.
Los Angeles bested Indiana by 14–123-109–in Las Vegas, Nev., behind a 41-point, 20-rebound performance from Anthony Davis. LeBron James ultimately took home the IST MVP after averaging 26.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists throughout the tournament.
Entering the title game, the Pacers and Lakers were the league’s only unbeaten teams in the tournament. The latter ultimately bested five of their seven opponents by double figures, including a dominant 133-89 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the semifinal contest Thursday.
As a clear recognition to their accomplishments–even though it might sound lame because it is, in the end, a regular season tournament–I don’t hate the Lakers raising a banner. I’m not well-versed in international soccer (sorry, football), but even the Champions League winners keep a replica of the trophy.
I know, there are levels to comparing trophies and hanging banners for renowned tournaments versus an NBA In-Season Tournament, but if you win a title of any sort, celebrate it! Remember it! Then repeat it! Rinse and repeat. For the IST, sure, it might be a tad corny. But, just remember: 29 other teams didn’t win that same corny tournament. What does that say about them?
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