Shaq to Clippers: Stop covering Lakers' banners at Staples Center

It doesn't matter how high the Clippers are flying, the city of Los Angeles will never truly claim a basketball team other than the Lakers.

The same principle applies to dominion over Staples Center. Although the Clippers have tried to claim their own space by covering up the Lakers' banners during home games in recent seasons, Shaquille O'Neal isn't having any of it.

“Speaking of Clippers, I don’t like the fact that when you guys have your home games, you cover up the jerseys," O'Neal told Spectrum Sportsnet, as relayed by Cory Hansford of Lakers Nation.

"Until you win 16 championships, then you can start changing the rule. Don’t cover up my jersey. This is (Lakers) building. Don’t forget that s---. Y’all just leasing it. That’s our building."

Clippers head coach Doc Rivers made the controversial decision to give the Staples Center a makeover when he arrived in 2013. But as O'Neal illustrates, the building does belong to the Lakers.

That's perhaps why the Clippers are reportedly exploring a new arena of their own - they need their own space, away from the big brother Lakers. However, their lease with Staples Center runs through 2024, so the feud will continue for at least another seven years.