Walk into Crypto.com Arena—yeah, most of us still call it Staples Center in our heads—and look up. It’s heavy. Not just the physical weight of the fabric, but the history. Those Los Angeles Lakers championship banners are basically the gold standard of the NBA. Literally gold. While other teams might hang division titles or "Western Conference Finalist" rags, the Lakers have this famously arrogant, yet totally earned, policy: we only hang the big ones. No participation trophies. No "we tried our best" banners. Just the 17—well, technically 18 now if you’re counting the 2023 In-Season Tournament, which caused a whole stir—titles that define the sport.
It’s weirdly intimidating.
If you’re a visiting player, you’re standing there during the national anthem, and you’re looking at names like Mikan, West, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Shaq, and Kobe. It’s a lot. Those banners aren't just decorations; they’re a psychological weapon. They represent a lineage of winning that started in the frigid gyms of Minneapolis and moved to the glitz of the Forum before settling in downtown LA.
The Controversy of the Minneapolis Titles
People love to argue about the first five. If you talk to a Boston Celtics fan, they’ll probably roll their eyes and tell you the Lakers shouldn't count the titles won in Minneapolis. But here’s the thing: the franchise didn't just reboot when they moved west in 1960. They brought the hardware with them. George Mikan was the NBA's first true superstar, a dominant force who forced the league to widen the lane because he was just too good.
For a long time, the Lakers didn't even have individual banners for the Minneapolis years. They had one "honored" banner that listed 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954. It felt like a footnote. However, the organization eventually realized that ignoring those wins was a disservice to the guys who built the foundation. Now, they are properly integrated into the rafters. It’s about the soul of the franchise, not just the zip code. You can't tell the story of the Los Angeles Lakers championship banners without starting in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
The Gold Standard: Showtime and the Shaq-Kobe Era
The 1980s changed everything. Magic Johnson’s smile and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook didn't just win games; they created a brand. Those five banners from '80, '82, '85, '87, and '88 represent the peak of basketball-as-entertainment. The 1985 one is arguably the most precious because it was the first time they finally beat the Celtics in the Finals. That banner isn't just fabric; it’s a scar that finally healed.
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Then you get into the three-peat. 2000, 2001, 2002.
Shaquille O'Neal was a literal cheat code. Kobe Bryant was the obsessive prodigy. Those three banners represent the most dominant stretch of modern basketball. It’s funny, looking back, how much they clashed, but when you see those three gold rectangles hanging side-by-side, the drama fades. Only the rings remain. Kobe’s final two in 2009 and 2010 solidified him as the king of the city, proving he could win without Shaq and cementing his jersey—both of them—right next to the championship lore.
That Time the Banners Got Covered Up
Here is a bit of trivia that still makes Lakers fans' blood boil. For a few years, when the "other" team in LA—the Clippers—played their home games in the same building, they actually covered the Los Angeles Lakers championship banners with posters of their own players. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan.
It was a total "Little Brother" move.
Doc Rivers, the Clippers' coach at the time, decided he didn't want his players looking up and seeing their rivals' success. It created this bizarre dynamic where the history of the building was literally hidden behind giant selfies of guys who hadn't won anything yet. It didn't work, obviously. You can cover the banners, but you can't cover the legacy. Lakers fans saw it as a sign of weakness, and honestly, they weren't wrong. It just made the 2020 title even sweeter.
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The 2020 Bubble Banner and the NBA Cup
The 17th banner, the one from the Orlando "Bubble," is unique. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019-2020 season was finished in a vacuum. No fans. No parade. Just LeBron James and Anthony Davis grinding it out in a gym that felt like a high school tournament.
Some critics call it a "Mickey Mouse ring."
Those people are wrong. Every team had the same obstacles, and the Lakers were the ones who stayed sane and stayed healthy. That banner also serves as a massive tribute to Kobe Bryant, who passed away in January of that year. The team's "Leave a Legacy" mantra was about him. When they finally raised that banner in May 2021, once fans were allowed back in the building, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
Then came 2023. The NBA introduced the In-Season Tournament. The Lakers won it. Suddenly, there was a debate: do we hang a banner for this? The Lakers have a strict "championships or nothing" rule. They compromised. Instead of a traditional championship-sized banner, they hung a smaller, differently shaped one to commemorate the NBA Cup win. It’s a bit of a departure from tradition, but LeBron wanted it, and when LeBron wants something, it usually happens.
What the Rafters Tell Us About the Future
If you look closely at the arrangement, you'll see gaps. The Lakers leave space. They expect to win more. It’s a confident, almost cocky way of decorating your home. Jeanie Buss and the front office know that the standard isn't just making the playoffs; it's adding to the collection.
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Unlike many franchises that retire numbers and hang banners in a cluttered mess, the Lakers keep it clean. The jerseys are on one side, the championships on the other. It’s organized excellence. There is a specific geometry to it. You see the 1972 banner—the one Jerry West finally got after years of heartbreak—and you realize that these aren't just team achievements. They are markers of human perseverance.
The banners also represent the business of the NBA. They are the reason the Lakers can charge what they do for tickets and why every free agent considers wearing the purple and gold. You aren't just signing a contract; you're auditioning for a spot in the rafters. If you don't win a title, you're just a footnote in Lakers history. Just ask Carmelo Anthony or Russell Westbrook. Great players, sure. But no banner, no immortality in LA.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Visitors
If you’re heading to a game or just want to appreciate the history, here is how to actually engage with this legacy:
- Get there early. Security is a nightmare anyway, but being in your seat 20 minutes before tip-off gives you time to really scan the rafters. Look at the 1972 banner specifically; that 33-game winning streak team was arguably the most overlooked squad in history.
- Understand the colors. Notice the slight variations in the gold and purple over the decades. The older banners have a different "vibe" to them, reflecting the era's aesthetic.
- The Mikan Factor. Look for the 1949-1954 recognition. It’s the proof that the Lakers claim the entire history of the NBA, not just the Hollywood version.
- Compare the sizes. The In-Season Tournament banner is purposefully smaller. It’s a great talking point—ask the person sitting next to you if they think it belongs there. You'll probably get a 10-minute lecture on Lakers "purity."
- Check the Jersey/Banner Gap. There is a very specific hierarchy. Only the legends who brought home the gold get their names nearby. It’s an elite club with the highest entry fee in sports.
The Los Angeles Lakers championship banners are the soul of the franchise. They are the receipts for decades of "Showtime" and "Mamba Mentality." Whether they are at 17 or 18 or 20, each one represents a year where the world of basketball revolved around Los Angeles. And if you’re a fan, that’s all that really matters.