Basketball is a game of numbers, but for Shannon Sharpe, it’s mostly a game of rhymes. If you’ve spent any time on sports Twitter or caught a clip of First Take over the last few years, you’ve heard the refrain. It starts with a rapid-fire list of names—usually involving a superhero, a fast-food chain, and maybe a random household appliance—and always ends the same way: Lakers in 5.
It’s the ultimate "Unc" moment. Shannon leans back, a grin spreading across his face, and starts the chant. "SGA, PGA, USA... Lakers in 5!" It was funny. Then it was a meme. Then, eventually, it became the heavy stone that sank the ship.
The Birth of a Catchphrase
Honestly, nobody really knows the exact second the "Lakers in 5" bit started, but it peaked during the 2024-2025 season. Shannon Sharpe has always been the unofficial president of the LeBron James fan club. That’s not a secret. But this specific bit—the Lakers in 5 Shannon Sharpe special—became his signature weapon against anyone who dared to pick against Los Angeles.
He didn't just say they'd win. He predicted a gentleman’s sweep. Every. Single. Time.
Whether it was against the young, hungry Oklahoma City Thunder or the bruising Minnesota Timberwolves, Shannon had a rhyme ready. "Ant-Man, Batman, Superman... Lakers in 5!" It was a rhythmic, hypnotic way of dismissing the competition. And for a while, it worked because it gave Lakers fans something to rally around. It wasn't about logic; it was about vibes.
Why the Rhymes Mattered
You've got to understand the media landscape here. Shannon isn't just an analyst; he’s an entertainer. By turning a prediction into a lyrical performance, he bypassed the need for actual "X’s and O’s" talk. Who cares about perimeter defense or floor spacing when you can rhyme "divorce court" with "Lou Dort"?
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The catchphrase became so big that even the players started noticing. When you’re a professional athlete and a Hall of Famer is on national TV basically saying your team is a "speed bump" on the way to a ring, you remember that.
When the Meme Met Reality
The 2025 NBA Playoffs provided the ultimate "be careful what you wish for" moment. The Lakers were matched up against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Shannon, true to form, went on the air and did the bit. He looked Stephen A. Smith in the eye and doubled down. Actually, he tripled down.
"Mustard seed, poppy seed, sesame seed... Lakers in 5!"
The irony? The Timberwolves ended up winning that series in—you guessed it—five games. But it wasn't the Lakers doing the sweeping.
Anthony Edwards, ever the troll, didn't let it slide. After clinching the series, he went to the podium and threw the rhyme right back at Shannon. "Ant-Man, Batman, Superman... we won in 5," he told reporters. It was the death knell for the catchphrase. You can't really use a weapon once the enemy has taken it from you and hit you over the head with it.
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The Luka Factor and the "Lakers in 5" Peak
Before the Minnesota disaster, there was a brief moment where the "Lakers in 5" narrative actually felt... plausible? It was right after the Lakers made a massive mid-season splash by acquiring Luka Dončić in a trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks.
Suddenly, you had LeBron James and Luka on the same floor. Shannon lost his mind.
On First Take, he was practically vibrating. "OKC, KFC, UFC... Lakers in 5!" he shouted. He argued that with "GOAT James" and Luka, the regular-season standings didn't matter. The Thunder had the best record in the West at the time, but Shannon dismissed them like they were a JV squad. Stephen A. Smith famously asked him if he needed a drug test.
It was peak sports television:
- The Logic: Pairing the two best passers in the world makes the Lakers unbeatable in a short series.
- The Reality: The Lakers lacked a center after a failed trade with the Hornets, leaving their defense as porous as a sponge.
- The Shannon Twist: None of that mattered as long as the rhyme sounded good.
Is the "Lakers in 5" Era Over?
Shannon eventually had to face the music on his Nightcap podcast with Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson. He took the L. He admitted the Lakers were "too old" or "didn't have the legs," but the damage to the meme was done.
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When a catchphrase goes from being a "vibe" to being a "jinx," it's hard to bring it back. Lakers fans who used to tweet "Lakers in 5" under every highlight started deleting their posts. It became a symbol of the team's inability to live up to the massive media hype that follows LeBron everywhere.
The Lessons for Fans
If you’re going to adopt a mantra like the Lakers in 5 Shannon Sharpe style, you have to be ready for the receipts. In the age of social media, nothing disappears.
- Memes don't win games. As much as we love the "Unc" energy, a rhyme isn't a defensive rotation.
- Star power has limits. Even a LeBron-Luka pairing couldn't overcome a lack of depth and size.
- The "Shannon Effect" is real. He can make a take go viral, but that just makes the fall harder when the take is wrong.
What’s Next for Shannon and the LakeShow?
The Lakers are currently in a weird spot. LeBron is getting older, the roster is top-heavy, and the West is deeper than it’s ever been. Shannon has started to pivot his takes lately, even suggesting at one point that LeBron might need to consider retirement if his scoring average continues to dip.
But don't expect him to stay quiet for long.
Shannon Sharpe is built on bold predictions. The "Lakers in 5" might be retired for now, but as soon as the Lakers win three games in a row, you can bet he'll be back on First Take or Nightcap, looking for something that rhymes with "championship."
Your Next Steps:
To stay ahead of the next viral sports moment, track the Lakers' defensive rating alongside their offensive output. If you're looking to engage with the "Lakers in 5" community, focus on the 2026 trade deadline rumors, as that’s usually when Shannon’s predictions start to heat up again. Monitor the Nightcap YouTube channel for the most authentic "Unc" reactions.