Udonis Haslem criticizes Lakers’ celebration with champagne popping and banner for NBA IST victory

In the aftermath of the Los Angeles Lakers’ historic triumph in the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament, a wave of celebration swept across the team, marked by the popping of champagne corks and the unveiling of a commemorative banner.

However, not everyone was on board with this grandeur, and Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem took a vocal stand against the Lakers’ exuberant celebration.

Udonis Haslem criticizes Lakers’ NBA IST win celebration

After securing the NBA IST win the LA Lakers raised eyebrows with champagne glasses in a jubilant display.

Unfazed by the allure of the $500K prize money, Haslem expressed his disdain for the extravagant celebration, proclaiming, “I’m all for people getting their money. That 500K? I’m all for that. But what we aren’t going to do is pop champagne and hang banners. We ain’t doing that, not for this.”

Another aspect of the IST win was the Lakers’ decision to embrace the In-Season Tournament victory with the grandeur usually reserved for NBA championships.

This contradicted earlier reports that they wouldn’t raise banners for non-championship achievements.

Despite this controversy, former laker champion, Shaquille O’Neal appreciated the distinctive nature of the new banner, distinguishing it from traditional championship banners.

“There’s a loophole there…It’s not really a banner. This is just flag. What I call it an accoladed flag… It is a Championship, but the loophole is, like I said it’s an accoladed flag…because it’s Black and Gold, it’s an accoladed flag. So I don’t mind”, clarifies Shaq in the Big Podcast.

Lakers beat Thunders to break their losing streak

In a spectacular display of resilience, LeBron James propelled the Los Angeles Lakers to a much-needed victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder, snapping a four-game losing streak.

The 38-year-old basketball veteran showcased his enduring prowess by scoring a season-high 40 points, including a flawless performance from beyond the arc and the free-throw line.

As the Lakers faced the challenge of maintaining their lead, James elevated his game, contributing 11 crucial points in the final minutes to secure the win.

His teammate, Anthony Davis, echoed the sentiment of urgency, labeling the matchup as a “must-win” game, and the Lakers’ impressive offensive performance, shooting over 52% with a season-high 37 assists, and showcased a team determined to break free from their recent struggles.

Amidst the celebratory atmosphere, LeBron James, focused on enjoying the upcoming Christmas festivities with his family, demonstrated that the win meant more than just breaking a losing streak.

Do you think that the LA Lakers can go full swing from winning the NBA IST all the way to winning the 2024 NBA Finals? Let us know what you think in the comments down below!