Lakers will raise championship banner on May 12

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts with his MVP trophy and Finals trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Lakers will officially raise their championship banner on May 12 prior to their home finale against the Houston Rockets.

Last October, the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship inside the Orlando, Fla. bubble. Usually, the NBA champion raises their banner for their home opener. With no fans being allowed in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Lakers decided to hold off on it until they were ensured that some fans will be able to see it live.

Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss announced during a sit-down interview with Spectrum SportsNet’s Allie Clifton on Thursday that the Lakers will be raising their championship banner on May 12 prior to their game against the Houston Rockets. That game is also their final home game of the 2020-21 regular season before the start of the NBA playoffs.

"It's a good send-off as we prepare to go into the playoffs." @JeanieBuss announces that the 2020 #Lakers Championship banner will be unveiled May 12, the final regular season game at home. pic.twitter.com/yEekMGCycR
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) April 8, 2021

Lakers hanging their championship banner in May 12 home finale

While the Lakers opted against raising their title banner, the team did hold their championship ring ceremony ahead of their regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Lakers have not had fans admitted into the Staples Center for the majority of the 2020-21 season due to the global pandemic. Starting on April 15 against the Boston Celtics, the Lakers revealed they will allow limited fans to attend games inside the Staples Center after the state of California determined that Los Angeles county entered the orange reopening tier.

As of this writing, the Lakers are fifth in the Western Conference standings. The team has dealt with some brutal injuries thus far. LeBron James is recovering from a high right ankle sprain and is still weeks away from returning and Anthony Davis is out indefinitely with a strained right calf. If there was good news, it is that center Andre Drummond made his return on Thursday night against the Miami Heat after missing four games with a big right toe injury.

Regardless of where they are in the standings, the May 12 game will be a hot ticket in Los Angeles, as Lakers fans will want to see the organization’s 17th championship banner raised into the rafters.

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