In a recent episode of The Skip Bayless Show, Skip Bayless expressed strong opinions about the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to raise an In-Season Tournament (IST) championship banner. According to Bayless, LeBron James and the Lakers should “be ashamed” for making this choice. He noted that the team should undertake a critical examination of the team’s priorities and actions.

Bayless began by emphasizing the Lakers’ storied history and their traditional focus on championships in June, not December. He pointed out that the Lakers should be focused on pursuing real championships, instead of celebrating a tournament victory with the same energy reserved for the NBA Finals. The IST banner, in Bayless’ view, doesn’t align with the Lakers’ championship legacy.

Bayless Believed the Fans Knew The Banner Was Less than Important

In a direct message to LeBron James and Laker nation, Bayless expressed his disappointment and suggested they should feel ashamed for raising the IST banner. He highlights the discomfort he sensed from fans during the banner-raising ceremony at Crypto.com Arena, describing the applause as somewhat reluctant and unsure.

Bayless drew a parallel between the Lakers raising the banner with the Dallas Cowboys’ recent performance in losing to the Buffalo Bills. He criticized both the Lakers and Cowboys for lackluster showings. He thanked Harry – the person who sent him the question he responded to on the video – for sending him the question. 

Bayless final point was that the Lakers should be as embarrassed about the banner-raising ceremony as the Cowboys were in losing to the Bills. He shared that Lakers legends like Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, while they would have wanted to win the tournament, would have rejected the idea of raising a banner for an In-Season Tournament.

The Bottom Line Is that the IST Banner Is Far from the NBA Championship

The post concludes by underscoring the sentiment that, instead of celebrating an IST victory, Lakers legends of the past would have been more focused on pursuing championships in June. Bayless states firmly that the banner ceremony added insult to injury, especially considering the Lakers’ prestigious history. The controversial decision to raise the IST banner continues to spark discussions and criticisms among basketball enthusiasts and fans alike.

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