“The road to back-to-back starts in about a week,” LeBron James said, before the Los Angeles Lakers unveiled their 2020 NBA championship banner.

Prior to the final home game of the regular season — the 70th game of 2020-21 — the Lakers belatedly celebrated their bubble triumph by revealing a 17th gold championship banner, which had been covered by a black sign that read “Stay Tuned, Lakers Family” throughout the season.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1392669154637869057

A two-part video commemorating the Lakers storied history and the 2019-2020 season was played before Buss spoke.

The Lakers strategically waited until fans were allowed back in Staples Center (which started on Apr. 15) before the ceremony. The 2020 champs were awarded rings on the opening night of the season, Dec. 22, in front of an empty arena.

“We've waited until now, because our banner has always been about our fans,” Jeanie Buss said before handing the mic to James. Anthony Davis briefly spoke after about “We Are The Champions” died down, and he expressed gratitude to Lakers faithful, too.

Earlier, Frank Vogel spoke on the importance of rejoicing with their fans, and the banner's significance to everybody in the Lakers organization and locker room.

“It’s a great source of pride for me personally and for our whole group,” he said. “Our staff, our players, our coaches, ownership, our whole front office. Everybody is super proud of what we were able to accomplish last year, and this moment with the banner is really about the fans.”

An official championship parade has yet to be organized.

“It’s going to be a special moment for us,” Vogel added. “We purposely postponed this to the end of the year, so that our fans can celebrate this. We haven’t had a parade. They weren’t there for the ring ceremony, so with us to be able to raise that banner with fans in the building, it’s very special and that moment is going to go to them.”

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The Lakers brilliantly navigated the bubble and toppled the Miami Heat in six games in the NBA Finals. LeBron James won his fifth Finals MVP, while Anthony Davis earned a title in his first season in purple-and-gold.

Championship No. 17 tied the Lakers with their long-time rival, the Boston Celtics, for most titles in NBA history. Obviously, fans are hoping a healthy James and Davis can continue the Lakers' unique tradition of repeating.

If they do, maybe they can have two parades down Figueroa.