It was a long journey that started back in 2019, just the third time in Lebron Jame’s stories career that he missed the playoffs suffering a season-altering groin/leg injury.
The following Summer the Lakers made a huge splash trading half of their roster including a majority of their starters for New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis. But they weren’t done there: general manager Rob Pelinka signed the likes of guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, embattled center Dwight Howard, sharpshooter Danny Green and retaining the likes of Rajon Rondo and Kyle Kuzma.
No they weren’t the most talented roster nor the deepest but they fit around Lebron James and Anthony Davis like a glove.
Los Angeles also signed defensive-minded Frank Vogel who got a superstar staff with Jason Kidd and Phil Handy to round up a revamped roster.
Led by a rejuvenated Lebron James and MVP-like season by Anthony Davis the Lakers finished the 2019-20 season with a 52-19 record, good for best in the Western Conference.
Then the coronavirus happened leaving sports understandably on the back-burner as the nation had (and still is) overcoming this deadly disease.
Thanks to the best commissioner in American Sports, Mr. Adam Silver with the help of the NBA Players Association created the NBA Bubble in which a certain number of teams were permitted in regarding team records prior to the season suspension.
In the bubble the Lakers first faced upset-minded Damian Lillard and the surging Portal Trailblazers were led by Lebron James who averaged a triple-double and Anthony Davis averaged 29-points and nine boards as Los Angeles glided by the Blazers in just five short games.
Next came the dynamic duo of James Harden and Russell Westbrook with the Houston Rockets where small ball looked like it could present challenges to the Lake Show. After a first game blunder, Anthony Davis (25-and-12), Lebron James (26-10-7) and Kyle Kuzma (10-points-per-game off the bench) handled their business running the Rockets off the court in five games.
Then the Western Conference began with the Denver Nuggets. Mike Malone’s squad led by Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic overcame back-to-back 3-1 deficits to get to that point and looked to be a team of destiny, this was until they ran into the Lakers.
While Murray, Jokic were exceptional the other guys for the Nuggets may even have been better with stellar performances by Jerami Grant, Michael Porter Junior, Paul Millsap to give Los Angeles everything they had but thanks to the Lakers “other guys,” Rajon Rondo (7-points, 7-assists), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (11-points, 38% three-point shooting) and Kyle Kuzma (9-points-per-game), LA was able to down the Nuggets in just five short games.
Now the Lakers had reached the Finals for the first time in a decade but would face their toughest test yet: the white-hot Miami Heat.
Prior to their matchup the Heat swept the Pacers, upset the No. 1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in five games and edged out the Celtics in six games.
Forward Jimmy Butler was playing some of the best basketball of his career while a rejuvenated Gordan Dragic and slew of youngins (Jae Crowder, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn) could ball out as well.
Led by underrated and always steady Erik Spoelstra, the Heat gave the Lakers defensive headaches every matchup but thanks to monumental performances by KCP and “playoff,” Rondo and Lebron James historically great series (30-points, 12-boards, 8-assists) and Anthony Davis showing up in every game but one, the Lakers were able to capture their 17th title as a franchise bringin the chip back to Hollywood.
Several records were broken in the process as Lebron James became the sole leader in playoff appearances, leading his team in points, rebounds and assists in a finals series, being the only player to win Finals MVP on three different teams and being the playoff points leader.
Danny Green became just the fourth player all-time to win a title with three different teams, Rajon Rondo became the first player to win a championship with both the Lakers and Celtics franchises and Owner Jeanie Buss became the first female owner to win an NBA Championship.
Redemption was met for Dwight Howard who was almost ousted by the league capturing the elusive title for the evential Hall-of-Famer and former Warriors Javale McGee and Quinn Cook captured their second and their titles respectively in just five short years.
Had to throw this in as well, former Kansas Jayhawk alum, Markieff Morris captured his first title as a Pro giving Jayhawk alums like myself something to smile about.
Congrats to the Lakers on an unbelievable season and Mr. Lebron James for capturing his fourth title as a Pro.
Comments