The Los Angeles Lakers added a unique chapter to NBA history by hoisting their In-Season Tournament (IST) championship banner in December, deviating from the traditional banner ceremonies held at the start of the regular season. The banner, celebrating their IST triumph, now hangs alongside the Lakers’ 17 NBA championship banners in the Crypto.com Arena.
Before their game against the New York Knicks on Monday, speculation surrounded how the Los Angeles Lakers would choose to acknowledge their IST victory. Unlike other teams, the Lakers typically reserve banner ceremonies for the regular season’s opening night, honoring the previous season’s NBA Finals champions with championship rings. However, the Lakers decided to break tradition and celebrate their IST win before a home crowd.
Momentous Unveiling Around the NBA Cup
Gathered around the NBA Cup, LeBron James and the Lakers witnessed the unveiling of the IST banner. Positioned next to their numerous NBA championship banners, this marked a precedent-setting moment for future IST winners.
LeBron James commented on the unique celebration, saying, “To acknowledge wins throughout the course of a marathon, I think it’s pretty cool. That’s the first. That’s the inauguration of it, so for our fans that didn’t get an opportunity to be in Vegas, they got an opportunity to kind of share that celebration with us tonight, share that moment. Something that will live on forever, for sure, here.”
However, the celebratory mood was short-lived as the New York Knicks defeated the Lakers 114-109. Despite LeBron James’ triple-double and Anthony Davis’ strong performance, the Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and Immanuel Quickley, secured a narrow five-point victory.
New York coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged the team’s mental toughness and ability to overcome adversity, emphasizing the collective effort of different players stepping up each night.
The Lakers, now 15-12, will face the Chicago Bulls on the road, while the Knicks, with a 15-11 record, clash with the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in their upcoming games on Wednesday.
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