Tarun Jeen
11th October 2020
The LA Lakers won their 17th NBA title, tying them with Boston Celtics for the most championships won. The 106 – 93 victory sealed the best of seven titles against the Miami Heat, bringing back the title to one of the biggest basketball franchise there is. Finals MVP LeBron James led the way for the Lakers, scoring 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists while spearheading a defensive masterclass that doused the Heat's offence. Rajon Rondo also was a crucial part in the game as the point guard with many years of experience gave the Lakers their 28-point lead in the first half, after which the Miami heat could not just match up to the mark.
"It means a lot to represent this franchise", said James according to Ndtv sports. He joined the team in the summer of 2018 after they had missed the playoffs five seasons in a row. "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", he said as per Ndtv sports.
"And I want my damn respect too", James added.
The season also marked the end of a rather emotional period for the Lakers after the passing of one of their legends Kobe Bryant and his daughter, in a helicopter crash earlier this year. LeBron was named the 2020 NBA finals MVP for his exceptional performance during the game, genuinely cementing him as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He led the team to their first championship victory after a decade, and he had won the fourth title of his career with this victory. With this, James has become the first player in NBA history to win 4 titles with four different franchises throughout his career. He also won his fourth finals MVP, breaking his tie with the likes of Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O' Neal into the second all-time, trailing only behind Michael Jordan, the greatest player of all time.
"This was very challenging and very difficult", James said afterwards. "It played with your mind, and it played with your body. You are away from some of the things you're so accustomed to [that] make you the professional you are". "This is right up there with one of the greatest accomplishments I have" added James according to the Hindustan Times.
News Source: ESPN, Hindustan Times, NDTV sports
Edited by - Ishita Jha