Lakers won't unveil championship banner until fans return
The Los Angeles Lakers' 17th championship banner will remain hidden for Tuesday evening's season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers.
"We won't be unveiling a banner because we want to wait for the fans on that," Lakers president of business operations Tim Harris told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
The banner will be shrouded by a black cloak that reads, "Stay tuned, Lakers family" in gold type as the local rivals meet at an empty Staples Center amid restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In late November, the L.A. County Department of Public Health announced a mandate prohibiting any public and private gatherings of individuals from different households.
Harris believes the banner should remain covered until fans can share in the team's success.
"When you win a championship, the championship has a lot of quote-unquote owners. A championship belongs to the team, it belongs to the players, it belongs to the fans," Harris said.
"We've obviously been awarded the trophy. And (Tuesday) night we'll award the rings," he continued. "And we want to wait, if we can, with all hope, until we have a chance to unveil the banner with the owners of the banners - which is the fans - there with us."
The Lakers last hosted a game with fans in attendance on March 10 when LeBron James and Co. suffered a narrow 104-102 defeat to the Brooklyn Nets.