The Los Angeles Lakers won the first NBA in-season tournament just over two weeks ago when they beat the Indiana Pacers, 123-109, in the final game of the tourney. As a result, they were awarded the NBA Cup.
On Monday, prior to the tip of their game against the New York Knicks, they unveiled a banner honoring that NBA Cup win. The banner is noticeably smaller than their numerous NBA championship banners, and it looks considerably different in terms of its design and color scheme.
There are plenty of people who have criticized or even mocked the organization for hanging a banner to commemorate its in-season tournament title. Remember, the Lakers are one of the few teams in any major sport that only hang world championship banners and not division or conference title banners.
Ron Harper, who won two world titles with the Lakers two decades ago, said putting up a banner to commemorate the NBA Cup win was embarrassing.
Embarrassing to all of those NBA finals championships banners… WOW
— Ron Harper (@HARPER04_5) December 19, 2023
Whether fans like it or not, the in-season tournament is here to stay, and apparently, it has already been a success for the league.