Lakers Announced Championship Ring Policy

BYBen Mock9.4K Views
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Lakers Warriors, game 4 of Western Conf. Finals
Los Angeles, CA, Monday, May 8, 2023 - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) guards Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) in game four of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
It's going to get expensive for the Lakers if they win the Finals.

The NBA doesn't have an official policy on who gets a Championship ring when a team wins the NBA Finals. Each franchise is allowed to determine its own rules of eligibility. While players may not be officially credited as an NBA champion by the league, getting a ring is the decision of the team.

This is important as it defines whether players cut or traded during the season are eligible to receive a ring if that team wins it all. The Lakers are currently having a great playoffs. They have already taken down the two-seed Grizzlies and sit one game away from eliminating the Warriors. But the Lakers also swung some pretty big trades this season. That leaves the question as to whether those players get rings.

All Lakers, Past And Present, Will Get Rings

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 27: Russell Westbrook #0 and Patrick Beverley #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers interact against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center on December 27, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

The Lakers traded eight players during the regular season. The most notable departures were Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverly. Westbrook was dealt to the Jazz in the three-team trade that brought Jarred Vanderbilt to the Lakers. The same day, Beverly was sent to Orlando in a four-team trade that saw the Lakers acquire Mo Bamba. In total, the Lakers had nine players who are no longer on the roster. While eight were traded, a ninth player spent time on the Lakers' roster before being sent to the team's G-League affiliate.

However, the Lakers have confirmed that all players who played for the Lakers during the season would be eligible for a ring if the Lakers win the Finals. That would mean the Lakers would be giving out 26 player rings in the event that they win the Finals. Championship rings are valued at around $20,000 to $30,000. That means that to fulfill this promise, the Lakers will have to spend a minimum of $520,000 to ensure that everyone gets a ring. The end estimate sees that number balloon to $780,000. Do you think every player should get a ring? Let us know in the comments below. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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About The Author
Benjamin Mock (they/them) is a sports and culture writer working out of Philadelphia. Previously writing for the likes of Fixture, Dexerto, Fragster, and Jaxon, Ben has dedicated themselves to engaging and accessible articles about sports, esports, and internet culture. With a love for the weirder stories, you never quite know what to expect from their work.
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