One of the most effective ways to inspire other entrepreneurs is by sharing our story—how we, as a brand, managed to sponsor the Los Angeles Lakers and what it signifies for us. My name is Borja Mera and at Siroko, inspiring others has always been at the core of what we do, encapsulated in our motto, #InspireOthers. For me, Siroko represents more than just a business; it’s about motivating people to follow their dreams, no matter the path they choose.

The journey to this incredible milestone began with a simple yet significant step: overcoming a personal fear. I decided to put myself out there by appearing on a podcast to share my entrepreneurial journey. This experience was a turning point, and it also led us to launch our own podcast, En Modo Avión. After that, something remarkable happened. Hundreds of people and companies started reaching out to us, offering opportunities to collaborate. Among these opportunities, I chose the ones that aligned with our mission—to inspire as many people as possible to live an active lifestyle, engage in sports, and leave behind the sedentary habits that dominate modern life.

The first lesson from this experience is clear: good things happen when you overcome fear. Whether it’s in business or life, taking that first step towards something you’re afraid to do can open doors you never imagined. For me, that step was putting myself in the public eye, sharing my story, and embracing vulnerability.

Our journey toward sponsoring the Los Angeles Lakers started with an unexpected connection. A global sports marketing agency reached out to us because they liked our podcast and how we creatively announced our partnership with Real Sporting de Gijón, a football club that has deep personal significance to our team. They appreciated how we had communicated this agreement and were impressed by the innovative way we had handled it. This interaction led them to offer us their services.

At first, the agency proposed traditional advertising options—placing our brand on the billboards you see during football broadcasts. They highlighted new technology that allowed advertisers to track data on who watches their ads on TV, providing in-depth analytics. During our discussions, one phrase stuck with me: “We can reach anywhere, any team in the world, from the NFL to the NBA or the Premier League.”

Inspired by the possibilities, I decided to think big. Instead of settling for a smaller campaign, I aimed for the top. “I want to sponsor the Los Angeles Lakers,” I said. I didn’t care if our logo only appeared on something small, like the wheels of LeBron James’ car—I just wanted Siroko to be associated with the Lakers. For us, the value of being able to say we were official sponsors of such a prestigious team would be enormous. It would elevate our brand to a new level and open countless doors.

Sponsoring the Lakers made sense on many levels. Beyond the business advantages, I’ve been a lifelong basketball player, and Siroko was preparing to enter the basketball market. The Los Angeles Lakers are the most iconic basketball brand in history, making them the perfect partner for us. Additionally, with Pau Gasol’s number recently retired by the Lakers, the connection felt even more meaningful as Gasol is the greatest Spanish basketball player of all time.

Initially, the idea seemed far-fetched, and some people around me advised against it. They suggested we continue focusing on our partnership with Sporting de Gijón, which was going well. However, I believed in the vision and prepared a detailed proposal that outlined Siroko’s brand values, our mission, and our capacity to reach hundreds of thousands of customers. I emphasized how we, like the Lakers, are building a legacy, which is a word deeply ingrained in the Lakers’ ethos.

In my research, I learned that the Lakers are one of the few NBA teams without a mascot. So, I offered to create one as part of our proposal. I crafted the best pitch I could imagine, hoping to impress the Lakers’ marketing team enough to make them consider working with us. I knew that sometimes, you have to let go of expectations and trust that things will fall into place. And sure enough, that’s what happened.

A few days later, I received an email from the agency. The Lakers’ marketing team had reviewed our proposal and liked it, and they sent back a counter-proposal. Although they didn’t want a mascot, they did offer us something even better: an opportunity to sponsor the Laker Girls.

The Laker Girls are more than just a dance team; they are part of the Lakers’ identity and a key piece of Los Angeles’ urban culture. Since 1979, they’ve been a symbol of the team’s history, and they’ve become an integral part of the NBA culture. The deal involved dressing the Laker Girls in Siroko apparel, having them wear our gear while performing during Lakers’ game time-outs, and prominently featuring our logo on the arena’s screens during every game.

One of the first times the Siroko logo appeared was during a pre-season game in Las Vegas between the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. It was surreal to see our brand alongside such iconic teams.

I’m incredibly grateful to the people who helped make this deal happen, including our lawyer Raf, who meticulously reviewed every contract clause to ensure nothing was overlooked, and Scott, the Lakers’ executive director of partnerships. Even before we signed the deal, Scott was helping us with the licensing of a song for our podcast, En Modo Avión, where I had already boldly announced the sponsorship before it was official because I had such confidence in the outcome.

Since then, the Los Angeles Lakers have treated us wonderfully, and we’ve built strong relationships with their partnerships team. This sponsorship is more than just a milestone for Siroko—it marks the beginning of a new chapter for us. We’re excited about the amazing things we’ll create together with the Lakers and the incredible marketing opportunities that await.

This sponsorship is the most significant moment in Siroko’s history. It’s a defining achievement that will forever be a part of our brand’s legacy. Becoming a sponsor of one of the most iconic sports teams in the world—home to the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a team steeped in history and glory—is an honor beyond words.

The lesson from this journey is simple: that fear that’s holding you back—whether it’s public speaking, launching a new idea, or reaching for something that seems impossible—face it head-on. Incredible things can happen when you push past your fears. For Siroko, that meant becoming proud sponsors of the Los Angeles Lakers, inspiring others to chase their dreams, just as we have.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB. Once that is done, we will examine how each team honors its past players, coaches, and executives. As such, it is important to us that the Los Angeles Lakers will be retiring the number 21 of Michael Cooper.

Cooper played twelve seasons with the Lakers, bringing strong defense to the “Showtime Lakers” that won five NBA Championships.  Individually, Cooper was the 1986/87 Defensive Player of the Year and was an eight-time All-Defensive Selection.  He was also selected for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame months ago.

His number will be officially retired on January 13 when the Lakers host the San Antonio Spurs.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Michael Cooper for his impending honor.

Will Derek Fisher ever get into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame?

No, but he deserves to be honored at a high level somewhere.

Derek Fisher was the consummate role player, an outspoken leader and the perfect floor general, which made up for a lack of natural ability.  No other guard could have complimented Kobe Bryant better, and he was not just along for the ride in those five championships for the Lakers; he helped design the car.

Fish could shoot, made few mistakes, and was underrated on defense.  We are not saying he should have been a multi-time All-Star, but super high-IQ players like Fisher are rare.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.  Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives.  As such, we are pleased to comment on the Los Angeles Lakers’ retirement of Pau Gasol’s number #16 last night.

Debuting in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001, the 7’ 1” Center, becoming the first European to win the Rookie of the Year.  An All-Star for Memphis in 2006, Gasol never had a year where his PPG was lower than 17, his RPG were lower than 7, and his Blocks were lower than 1.5 per Game.  Gasol was low-key one of the more complete players in Basketball, but was not noticed on the national level due to playing in Memphis.  This changed when he was traded to the Lakers during the 2007-08 Season.

Joining Kobe Bryant, Gasol had his perfect dance partner.  Gasol kept his scoring numbers strong, and was able to increase his rebounding stats, posting three straight 10-plus RPG years (2009-10 to 2011-12), earning three straight All-Stars (2008-09 to 2010-12), and most importantly, helped lead the Lakers to Titles in 2009 and 2010.  Gasol was never going to be under the radar again, and Los Angeles treated him like royalty.  He left the Lakers in 2014 for the Chicago Bulls as a Free Agent.

His #16 now hangs side-by-side with Kobe’s #8 and #24 it should be.  He also joins Wilt Chamberlain (#13), Elgin Baylor (#22), Gail Goodrich (#25), Magic Johnson (#32), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (#33), Shaquille O’Neal (#34), James Worthy (#42), Jerry West (#44), Jamaal Wilkes (#52) and George Mikan (#99).

Gasol is a Finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this year, and is a probable first-year entrant.  2023 is shaping up to be a special year for Gasol.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Pau Gasol for earning this impending honor.

When basketball fans think of elite franchises, the Los Angeles Lakers come to mind instantly. The organization is the proud holder of 33 major Division titles, 19 Conference titles, and an impressive 17 Championships since the team was founded way back in 1947. 

Nowadays the Lakers are still top performers in the Western Conference, largely thanks to a few especially talented ball players who will, based on their incredible skills and numerous awards, most likely become future Hall of Famers. 

The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame requires all potential inductees to be fully retired for at least four seasons before they are eligible to be honored. And, of course, none of these three players have yet to leave the game. That said, there is a very strong possibility that they will one day appear inside the Hall’s prestigious doors.  

Lebron James

If he were to retire today, there is no doubt that Lebron James would be on a fast track to appearing in the Naismith. Arguably the league's most elite and best-performing athlete, the shooting guard is frequently compared to Michael Jordan in talks concerning the best basketball player of all time.

Number 23's long list of accolades only touches the surface of what this player is capable of. The 6-foot-9 powerhouse holds dozens of different records across the sport's spectrum, ranging from points, to assists, rebounds and more.

It's clear that James is the Lakers' dominating force, leading them to secure the top title as league champions in last year's NBA Finals. This season, the Lakers have been Lebron-less since the athlete's ankle injury on March 20th in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Although he just recently came back to appear in a match against the Toronto Raptors, James was ultimately forced to sit out for the last few minutes due to pain. 

However, despite his absence and unknown return, carefully researched NBA picks still place the Lakers as the victors of another Championship in 2021. This is largely because they still have a great core in other players on the team. One of these, Anthony Davis, happens to be our next future Laker's Hall of Famer.

Anthony Davis

Ironically enough, Anthony Davis has also sustained several different injuries this season with the Lakers. The number 3 power forward is arguably the team’s biggest asset after Lebron, making up a part of this elite core team that has led the organization to be one of the league’s best. 

Like Lebron, Davis has racked up his fair share of accomplishments since his professional career started back in 2012. The player has been named an NBA All-Star a grand total of eight times, listed on four All-NBA First Teams as well as four NBA All-Defensive Teams, and was one of the biggest reasons why the Lakers finished their 2020 season as basketball champs. We have every reason to believe that Davis will be immediately eligible for the Hall of Fame the moment he chooses to retire.  

The defensive man recently returned to the court after a calf strain, the longest absence in his NBA career, and scored four points in a game against the Dallas Mavericks. After missing thirty games it is understandable that Davis didn’t have the best performance, but now that he is back in action, fans are excited to see what is in store for the rest of the Lakers season. 

Just last year, Davis had high odds, 91.4% in fact, of making it into the Hall of Fame. If he can add another ring to his impressive list of awards, that number may just go up, inching closer to Lebron’s 100%. 

Kyle Kuzma

Many basketball fans would venture to say that Lebron is the ‘best basketball player on the planet’, but a few of his teammates are often not given the attention they deserve for their natural ability to play the game. One of these fellow athletes is undoubtedly Kyle Kuzman. Having played for the Lakers since 2017, the power forward has proved to be a valuable member in Los Angeles, averaging around 12 points per game. 

As he continues to step up to the plate with Lebron gone, there are more chances for him to shine brighter than ever and further display his talent for the game. Although the 25-year old’s career only began a few years ago, he is setting himself up well to one day be honored in the Hall of Fame, where he will likely find himself next to former teammate Kobe Bryant.  

Pre-2019-20 Rank: #11, Pre-2020-21 Rank #8, Pre-2021-22 Rank: #9, Pre-2022-23 Rank: #9, Pre-2023-24 Rank: #9.

*Positional Notes:  Davis has played more at Center in recent years, and when his career ends, it is possible that this will be his primary slot over his career.  Nevertheless, he lined up more at Power Forward over his peak and, for now, is listed as a PF.

*Peak Period: 2013-14 to 2019-20. 

As a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, Anthony Davis proved his stardom as a three-time First-Team All-NBA Selection and three-time Blocks per Game leader.  The Pelicans were not contenders, and in 2019, he joined LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won the NBA Title in the bubble season of 2019/20. 

“The Brow” has struggled with injuries since, appearing in only 132 Games from 2020-21 to 2022-23, but he is coming off his healthiest season in L.A (76 Games) and was an All-NBA Selection for the first time since 2019-20.  Throw in his 75^th Anniversary Selection (should he have gotten that over Dwight Howard?), and the resume is there for immediate induction once eligible.

Pre-2019-20 Rank: #1, Pre-2020-21 Rank: #1, Pre-2021-22 Rank: #1, Pre-2022-23 Rank: #1, 2023-24 Pre-Season Rank: #1.

*Positional Notes: James has started in all five positions and usually has more of a PF role now, but he logged more minutes as a Small Forward.

*Peak Period: 2007-08 to 2013-14.

When you enter the NBA Draft as the most hyped sure thing of all time, the level of expectations could topple any man, but it can’t top a King.

LeBron James met every expectation, and the four-time NBA Champion is still an All-Star caliber player.  Now the all-time leader in Points, James orchestrated one more feather in his cap for 2024-25, playing with his son Bronny.

James, who also holds the record for All-Star Games (20), should add a 21^st this year. Despite his age (40), he is holding off Father Time better than any athlete not named Tom Brady. The megastar was already a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee ten years ago, and at this stage, he is cementing his place on the Mount Rushmore of basketball. 

As we methodically put together our all-time Top 50 of every team from the big four of American sports, the next goal will be to look at how each franchise honors their past players. As such it is significant news to us that this evening the Los Angeles Lakers will be retiring both the #8 and #24 of Kobe Bryant, which will mark the first time in a major North American sport where two numbers were retired in honor of one player.

This is perfectly fitting, as Bryant’s performance wearing both numbers is more than good enough to warrant retirement.

In what is now considered a lopsided trade. The Charlotte Hornets traded their 1996 13th overall pick (Bryant) for Vlade Divac. Bryant took #8 and before long he was multi-time All Star and along with Shaquille O’Neal would be part of three NBA Titles. Following the split between Shaq & Kobe, Bryant looked for a fresh start in the 2006-07 season, and he adopted #24, the same number he wore in Prep.

The overall results were pretty much the same as Bryant would again go to many All Star Games and would again win the NBA Title twice, though as #24 he would also win the Scoring Title twice. Actually, the results were scarily similar. Bryant scored only 89 more Points as #8 and 10 less Assists and regardless of what number he wore, he was regarded as one of the best.

Out of respect, the Golden State Warriors stayed out for the ceremony.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Kobe Bryant on this latest honor and we will see him soon as a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee.

The Los Angeles Lakers have announced what many of us have long suspected they would do, they will be retiring the numbers 8 and 24 of Kobe Bryant this season. It is notable that he played ten seasons for Los Angeles in both numbers.

An All Star for 18 of his 20 seasons, Bryant retired ranked third all-time in Points and was named to 11 1st Team All-NBA rosters. More importantly, he is a five time NBA Champion.

Like Shaquille O’Neal, the Lakers will retire his number before his eventual Hall of Fame induction.

Bryant becomes the 10th player in Lakers history to have his number retired. He joins Wilt Chamberlain (13), Elgin Baylor (22), Gail Goodrich (25), Magic Johnson (32), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33), Shaquille O’Neal (34), James Worthy (42), Jerry West (44) and Jamaal Wilkes (52).

We here at Notinhalloffame.com will definitely be watching when it occurs!

While this is not exactly a surprise, a true end of an era will be happening.  37 year old Los Angeles Laker, Shooting Guard, Kobe Bryant has announced on the Player’s Tribune website that this will be his final season in the National Basketball Association.

Citing that his body “knows it’s time to say goodbye”, Bryant is entering the end of a two year contract, and it was not necessarily a given that the Lakers would like to resign him, though with the recent news, the official farewell tour can begin.

Bryant has nothing left to prove as he has won the MVP once, the NBA Championship five times, was named an All Star seventeen times, two Olympic Gold medals and at third overall in scoring, Bryant is having his worst statistical season and has obviously lost a step or two.  “The Black Mamba” has been plagued with injuries over the last few seasons and the mileage over the past twenty years, including the NBA Playoffs and International participation, the toll of the game has finally caught up.

Kobe will go down as a locked in first ballot Hall of Fame entry and will enter the Hall in 2022, barring any decision to go back on this decision.

Let’s enjoy the final ride for Kobe, and let’s hope it is a good one!

Byron Scott is one of the most heralded shooters and finishers in league history. His run with the great Laker teams of the 80s proved he was a winner. Scott came from Arizona State as he 4th pick overall in the draft and was the perfect piece missing for Showtime. So the Lakers went out and got him. Trading Norm Nixon to the Clippers for Scott before he played a minute Scott was the perfect complement to Magic in the backcourt.

Ron Harper was a great basketball player who knew what it took to win.  The greatest player ever to come from the Miami of Ohio, Harper was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers and was the perfect complimentary player on some sensational professional teams.  Unlike most complimentary players, Harper was once a superstar.  He averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds in his collegiate career and was second in Rookie of the Year voting.  Injuries cut back on his skill but Harper did not give in and became a huge part of the Bulls teams in the late 90’s.  He then followed Coach Phil Jackson to Los Angeles to the Lakers and won two more titles.  13,000 career NBA points tells you he could play and five rings tell you he was a winner.  What more do you need?

The Cal Ripken of basketball with 1192 consecutive games played, A.C. Green’s hopes of enshrinement rely on amazing consistency and ability to do whatever it takes for the good of the team.  A star out of college winning PAC-10 player of the year at Oregon State, Green came to the Lakers and immediately developed a role as the power forward who would bang down low, grab boards, and show up for work every day.  12,000 career points and almost 10,000 rebounds as well as the being the only player to play on both Magic and Shaq’s championship teams don’t hurt.  Oh and did we mention that he was never in competition for chicks with Magic?

Rudy LaRusso came from Dartmouth and would become a standout in the NBA averaging nearly a double-double over his ten NBA seasons. (15.6 Points & 9.4 Rebounds)

Beginning his career with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959, LaRusso was part of the move westward to Los Angeles, where “Roughhouse” Rudy elevated his game.  LaRusso averaged over 10 Rebounds per Game from 1961-62 to 1963-64, where he was an All-Star in the first two.  An All-Star again in 1966, the defensive specialist was traded to the Detroit Pistons in January of 1967, but LaRusso refused to report and sat out the rest of the season.  His rights were traded to the San Francisco Warriors in the off-season, where he closed his career with back-to-back All-Stars while posting his best scoring numbers with 21.8 and 20.7 Points per Game. respectively.

The unfortunate mid career trade for Byron Scott that took Norm Nixon from the Lakers to the Clippers may have extremely hurt his chances of getting in the Hall.  The Lakers did not need another point guard with Magic Johnson around though they did peacefully coexist through two titles together.  Nixon is number ten all time in assists per game even though he shared the ball with Magic for a few years. He was also a Laker for two of their title runs which we all tend to forget.  In his first full year in San Diego he led the league in assists and made his second All-Star game.  A solid rest of his career in the oblivion of the NBA does not highlight one of the quickest and best all around point guards of the 80's.

If you can forget how he flamed out in the NBA and his disastrous marriage to Khloe Kardashian, Lamar Odom had some very good years, specifically with the Los Angeles Lakers whom he helped to win two NBA Championships. Odom put up some solid defensive rebound stats and owns a respectable 13.3 Points per Game Average and a career PER of 16.5. Odom also won the prestigious NBA 6th Man of the Year Award in 2011, and though he may not be considered Hall of Fame material by many, should be remembered far more for what he accomplished on the court than what occurred off of it.

If you look at the career statistics or even the season stats of Robert Horry, you would not think that he belongs on this list at all. However, the man known as “Big Shot Rob” won seven NBA Championships with three different teams, and was known for always performing in the clutch. It was not a misnomer, as constantly when the need was at its greatest, Horry was at his best.  Those seven championships were no accident and though his stats do not reflect it, this was a player, everybody wanted to have on their team.

A popular player and a stealing machine, Eddie Jones was a very good Shooting Guard who strung together solid seasons in the late 90’s for the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets. Jones was just adept at steals, but was also a dangerous threat from behind the arc. He would three times be named to the Second Team Defensive squad along with three All-Star Games. We are sure many who were fans of Eddie Jones are chanting “Eddie” in their mind right now.