LeBron James Stars As LA Lakers Win First NBA Championship In 10-Years, Dedicates Victory To Gianna And Kobe Bryant

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The Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James’s triple-double, beat the Miami Heat 106-93 on Sunday to win a record-equalling 17th NBA championship, their first in a decade.

James added another chapter to his epic career, scoring 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists as he captured his fourth NBA title with a third team as well as earning NBA Finals Most Valuable Player honours for the fourth time.

LeBron said, “It means a lot to represent this franchise, I wanted to put this franchise back where it belongs. For me to be a part of such a historical franchise is an unbelievable feeling.”

LeBron played his 260th play-off game surpassing Derek Fisher for the most all-time.

Anthony Davis, playing in his first title series after years of frustration in New Orleans, added 19 points and 15 rebounds as the Lakers completed a 4-2 triumph in the best-of-seven championship series more than eight months after the death in a helicopter crash of team legend Kobe Bryant, who led the Lakers to their last title in 2010.

The series in the NBA’s quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida, capped not only an emotional season for the Lakers with the loss of talisman Bryant but a season of uncertainty and upheaval for the NBA as players grappled with the coronavirus pandemic and the demands for social and racial justice sweeping across the United States.

The winning team dedicated the triumph to the late Bryant who, together with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others, was killed in the January 26 crash in suburban Los Angeles.

David said, “Kobe, I know he’s looking down on us super proud,” Lakers star forward Davis said. “We miss him, and this is definitely for him.”

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka also said, “I think Kobe and Gianna have guided this team the entire year.”

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