The Los Angeles Lakers won the first-ever in-season tournament championship last weekend with a victory in the finals over the Indiana Pacers. And they reportedly plan to let everyone know about it.
The In-Season Tournament was a controversial implementation by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, as many fans don’t believe that it ultimately matters all that much in the grand scheme of the season, as it plays no role in the postseason
However, the Lakers clearly see their championship victory as a big accomplishment. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Lakers plan to raise an In-Season Tournament championship banner inside Crypto Arena going forward.
The Los Angeles Lakers will raise an In-Season Tournament championship banner inside Crypto Arena, league sources tell myself and @TheSteinLine. pic.twitter.com/rzTw0LWTjq
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 11, 2023
Haynes added that the banner will be a different color and shape than the organization’s existing championships banners to “make it distinct”.
SOURCES: IST Banner will be a different shape and color than the existing NBA Championship banners to make it distinct.
Will be one IST Banner where dates/years will be added should Lakers win additional IST Championships. https://t.co/W8oG2HLxjC
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 11, 2023
For a historic franchise like the Lakers, banners are typically only reserved for NBA Finals victories. So it is certainly surprising that the organization seems to value this in-season tournament win so much.
Fans took notice of this report from Haynes. Most seem to believe that their In-Season Tournament championship isn’t an accomplishment worthy of a banner.
This is something I thought the Pacers would do if they won the tournament, if I was a Lakers fan (and I’m not), I’d be embarrassed. This is on the level of the Colts AFC Championship Game participant banner. https://t.co/UuOKoZJ0jL
— Greg Peterson (@GUnit_81) December 11, 2023
If they lay an egg in the playoffs the internet is gonna have a field day and I can’t wait https://t.co/8HODFm1wMG
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) December 11, 2023
Kobe watching them hang an in-season tournament banner. https://t.co/cDSssGIBh5 pic.twitter.com/la9Z7Cbefd
— Jordan Moore (@jordanmoore_21) December 11, 2023
https://t.co/eqNNoTvz2J pic.twitter.com/hakf3aiYPN
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) December 11, 2023
Some are even claiming that the NBA requested the Lakers to do this in order to legitimize the In-Season Tournament further to fans.
Obvious this was a league request. Trying to legitimize the tournament. I knew they weren’t going to allow teams to avoid raising a banner. https://t.co/2vzuDp8o8J
— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) December 11, 2023
Well that’s interesting. Figure Adam Silver had a say in this https://t.co/geCmm9ald3
— Matthew Peralta (@_MatthewPeralta) December 11, 2023
On one hand, the Lakers raising this banner seems to be an attempt to make the In-Season Tournament as important as an NBA Finals victory. And at this point, that is pretty laughable to most fans.
However, other sports such as soccer take In-Season Tournament victories very seriously. And there is nothing wrong with the NBA trying to do the same.
Regardless, the NBA clearly has a ton of work to do to legitimize the In-Season Tournament. Because at this point, fans still seem to see it as nothing more than regular season games.
