How Would Have Kobe Bryant Felt About Lakers Hanging In-Season Tourney Banner?

In an old interview, the late Kobe Bryant explains the Los Angeles Lakers championship mentality

The Los Angeles Lakers caught a lack of heat for their decision to raise the banner at Staples Center for winning the first In-Season Tournament. 

Many felt it was unnecessary because most consider it a fake title. They say it doesn't belong alongside the Lakers' 18 NBA titles. But that's what happened after they recently won their latest "title." 

It makes you wonder how Lakers great Kobe Bryant would have reacted if it were alive today. In 2020, he was among those killed in a helicopter accident. 

An old interview that recently surfaced would likely provide Bryant's feelings on the matter. While speaking of his legacy with the Lakers, he talked about how the organization treated championships versus other team honors. 

"You know this franchise does not hang Division banners," Bryant said. "It does not hang Conference championships. We hang one banner and one banner only and that's NBA championships. You have to start there. You have to understand that that's what this is."

Even former Lakers guard Ron Harper, who won two titles alongside Bryant, was critical of the move. After seeing video of the banner raising, he voiced his frustration on social media. 

He wrote, "Embarrassing to all of those NBA finals championships banners… WOW." 

NBA Champion Ron Harper Criticizes Lakers For Hanging In-Season Tournament Banner

Shandel Richardson is the Publisher of Back In The Day NBA. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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