Let’s be real for a second. If you walked into Crypto.com Arena a few years ago and told a die-hard Lakers fan they’d eventually be looking at a banner for a tournament that happens in November, they probably would’ve laughed you out of the building. The Lakers are the "Gold Standard." They don't do participation trophies. They don't even hang banners for Western Conference titles or Pacific Division wins.
It’s NBA championship or bust.
But things changed. On December 18, 2023, the Lakers NBA Cup banner officially joined the sea of gold and purple in the rafters. It was a weird night, honestly. The team had just ground out a win against the Indiana Pacers in Las Vegas to take home the first-ever In-Season Tournament (now the NBA Cup) trophy. Suddenly, the franchise with 17 world titles had to figure out how to celebrate a tournament that didn’t exist six months prior.
The Night the Lakers NBA Cup Banner Went Up
The ceremony was... efficient. Before a game against the New York Knicks, the lights dimmed. A video package played, highlighting LeBron James’ surgical efficiency and Anthony Davis’ absolutely monstrous 41-point, 20-rebound performance in the final.
Then, the sheet dropped.
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Unlike the massive, iconic horizontal championship banners that represent years like 1980, 1987, or 2020, this one looked different. It was vertical. It was black. It had a gold trophy on it. It didn't look like the others, and that was very much by design. The Lakers knew they were walking a tightrope here. They wanted to acknowledge the achievement without pretending it was the same thing as a Larry O’Brien trophy.
LeBron’s reaction was pretty telling. He didn't linger. As soon as the ceremony ended, he headed straight for the layup line. He later told reporters it was "cool" to acknowledge wins during the marathon of a season, but you could tell his mind was already on the next task. For a guy with four rings, a mid-season tournament is a nice snack, but it’s not the main course.
Why the Design Matters So Much
You can’t just throw any old piece of fabric into the Lakers' rafters. There’s a hierarchy. The Lakers NBA Cup banner is black with gold trim, specifically intended to be a "living" document.
Here is the breakdown of why it looks the way it does:
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- The Shape: It’s a vertical pendant. This distinguishes it from the horizontal rectangles used for the 17 NBA Championships.
- The "Add-On" Strategy: This is the only banner of its kind the Lakers plan to hang. If they win the NBA Cup again—which they almost did in the following years—they won’t add a second banner. Instead, they’ll just stitch the new year onto the existing one.
- Color Choice: The black and gold palette mirrors the "City Edition" vibes and the actual trophy color, keeping it visually separate from the "Championship Gold" of the primary banners.
The Charles Barkley Factor and Public Backlash
Not everyone was a fan. Actually, a lot of people hated it. Charles Barkley famously went on the Dan Patrick Show and promised to "roast their ass" if they actually put the banner up. To critics, the Lakers—the most storied franchise in basketball—hanging a mid-season banner felt like a "small market" move.
There’s a rumor that’s been floating around NBA circles for a while now, too. Reggie Miller even suggested that Commissioner Adam Silver might have had a "conversation" with the Buss family. The logic? If the Lakers—the most prestigious brand in the league—didn't take the NBA Cup seriously, nobody else would. By hanging the Lakers NBA Cup banner, the team gave the tournament instant legitimacy. Whether Jeanie Buss did it for the league or for the fans is still debated in sports bars across SoCal.
What it Means for the Rafters Long-Term
Look, the rafters at Crypto.com Arena are crowded. Between the 17 championship banners (now 18 if you count the 2024-25 movements) and the retired jerseys of legends like Kobe, Magic, Kareem, and Shaq, space is at a premium.
Adding the Lakers NBA Cup banner felt like a shift in philosophy. It was an admission that the modern NBA is changing. The league wants "meaningful" games in December, and the players want the $500,000 per-player prize money.
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If you’re a purist, it’s an eyesore. If you’re a modern fan, it’s a cool reminder of the week LeBron and AD decided to turn into prime versions of themselves in Vegas just to prove they could still dominate a tournament format.
The Stats that Put it There
Just to remind you how dominant that run was:
- The Lakers went 7-0 in the tournament.
- Anthony Davis averaged 23.3 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks.
- LeBron James was the first-ever tournament MVP.
- They beat the Pacers 123-109 in the final.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Visitors
If you're heading to a game and want to see the Lakers NBA Cup banner for yourself, here is how to navigate the history in the rafters:
- Look to the South: The NBA Cup banner is typically positioned near the retired jerseys and the more recent championship banners, but its black color makes it stand out from the sea of gold.
- Check the Years: Notice the empty space at the bottom of the banner. This is reserved for future dates. The Lakers are betting they’ll win more of these, and they’ve left the room to prove it.
- Context is Key: Don't compare it to the 2020 or 2010 banners. Think of it more as a "Special Achievement" award. It represents a specific moment in time where the NBA tried something new, and the Lakers, as always, ended up winning it first.
- Merch Hunt: If you're a collector, the inaugural "Cup" gear is becoming a bit of a niche item. Since the tournament name changed and the logo evolved, that 2023 "In-Season Tournament" branding is a one-off piece of history.
The rafters tell a story. While the Lakers NBA Cup banner might be a controversial chapter, it’s a permanent part of the book now. It’s a reminder that even for a franchise with everything, there’s always something new to win.
Go to a game, look up, and decide for yourself if it belongs. Just don't tell Charles Barkley you liked it.
How to See the Banner
To see the banner in person, you’ll need to grab tickets for a Lakers home game at Crypto.com Arena. The best views are actually from the 200-level suites or the 300-level "nosebleeds" where you are eye-level with the history hanging from the ceiling. If you can't make it to LA, the official Lakers website and the NBA App have high-resolution "Virtual Locker Room" tours that show the updated rafter configuration in 4K.