After a 10-year wait the NBA title is back in possession of the Los Angeles Lakers after they they emerged triumphant in the Finals.
In the longest season in history – due to the coronavirus pandemic that resumed in July at a spectator-free campus at Disney World in Florida after a four-month shutdown – the Lakers have been crowned champions after beating the Miami Heat 4-2 in the best-of-seven series.
The storied franchise sealed the series on Sunday night with a 106-93 win in Game 6 – that was a more of a blowout than the scoreline actually suggested.
Victory ties the Lakers with bitter rivals Boston Celtics for the most NBA championships at 17 apiece.
LeBron James recorded a triple-double for the Lakers with 28 points, 10 assists and 14 rebounds.
The 35-year-old’s display underlined his greatness once more and he was named Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) during the trophy presentation. He is now the first player in history to win Finals MVP with three different franchises (Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013 and Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016).
‘It means a lot to represent this franchise,’ said James.
‘I told [Lakers president] Jeanie [Buss] when I came here that I was going to put this franchise back in the position where it belongs.
‘We just want our respect. Rob [Pelinka] wants his respect, coach [Frank] Vogel wants his respect, our organisation wants its respect, Lakers nation wants its respect.
‘And I want my respect too.’
James was well supported by Anthony Davis who chipped in with 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Rajon Rondo came off the bench to scored 19 points.
Bam Adebayo scored 25 points alongside 10 rebounds for the Heat, while Jimmy Butler had 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
For the Lakers it was their first win since 2010 and was particularly poignant following the death of legend Kobe Bryant in January in a helicopter crash that took the lives of several others including his daughter Gianna. That win in 2010 was Bryant’s fifth and final one with the Western Conference side too.
‘Kobe, I know he’s looking down on us super proud,’ said Lakers forward Anthony Davis.
‘We miss him, and this is definitely for him.
‘He had a lot of confidence in our team. He had a lot of confidence in our organisation to go out there and win it this year.’
‘I think Kobe and Gianna have guided this team the entire year,’ said Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka.
‘Kobe’s voice is always in my head, always, every day, every minute. For us to be able to win this championship doesn’t take away the sting of the loss, but what it does is it helps us add to their legacy.
‘Kobe and Gianna’s legacy will last forever. It will impact lives around the world in positive ways, and this Lakers championship in 2020 is partly to build on that legacy and honour them. The moment couldn’t be any more special to do that for them.
‘There would be times in my hotel room here – when you’re in a bubble for 100 days, it’s tough – there would be times in the middle of the night, I would hear his voice: ‘Stay the course. Finish the task.’
‘He said, “I’ll give you two, three years, you’ll fix this. You’ll get the Lakers back on top”.’
Looking to the skies, Pelinka added: ‘I guess you were right, man. You gave me the energy to do it.’
Bryant’s widow Vanessa posted a tribute to the Lakers on her Instagram story with a photo of her late husband with Pelinka.
‘Wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this,’ she wrote.
