Win this title and James secures his fourth NBA ring with his third team.
Win this title and James cements his legacy as one of the NBA’s greatest.
“We’ve got bigger fish to fry. We understand there’s a bigger goal,” said James after the Lakers secured the franchise’s 32nd trip to the NBA Finals.
“We can’t take this for granted, because this doesn’t happen every year to anybody.”
For a man who has made the Finals in nine of the past 10 seasons, and in 10 of the last 13, you’d forgive James for taking it for granted.
As it is, he seems hungrier than ever.
It’s 10 years since the storied LA franchise has made it to the NBA Finals — the longest stretch of time the Lakers haven’t reached the championship series since 1980.
When Bryant retired in 2016, the Lakers finished that season with a record of 17-65 — the worst in franchise history.
Having not even made the NBA Playoffs since 2013, the speed with which James’ performances and leadership has returned the franchise to winning ways is a testament to his determination and talent. James joined the Lakers on a four-year, $154 million contract in July 2018.
The 35-year-old James has four triple-doubles in the Playoffs this year, averaging 26.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists.
“When you just step back and look and marvel at what LeBron is doing at this stage of his career, how he continues to find ways to improve and get better, and take whatever team he’s on to new heights, that defines greatness,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone as he paid tribute to James after Game Five.
A special mention should go to James’ wingman Anthony Davis.
It now looks like a masterstroke.
Davis was hugely important throughout the regular season and the Lakers’ playoff run.
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LeBron and pressure
The Finals mark the end of a long and tumultuous season for the NBA, and especially for the Lakers franchise.
James acknowledged this after Game Five: “It’s been a crazy obstacle course for our franchise.”
And the crazy obstacle course isn’t done yet.
If the Finals go to seven games, the NBA season will end just 10 days short of the year anniversary of its commencement.
The marathon season and James’ ability to stay on top of himself and his teammates is a testament to his mental strength.
He led the Lakers to continued success when the franchise, its fans and the league was mourning Bryant.
Ultimately they continued.
The match-up
Having dominated the East with Cleveland and Miami, many said James wasn’t a “great” until he could do the same in the West.
Eight months after Bryant’s death, he is expected to deliver a title now more than ever as the Lakers honor the memory and legacy of the team’s former star.
Ironically, the Lakers will face the team James won his first two titles with: the Miami Heat, a team of underdogs who have been underestimated for the entire season and playoffs.
The Heat came into the playoffs as the fifth seed in the East. They have lost only three games out of 15 — the same as the Lakers — on their way to the Finals, seeing off the MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks in five games in the second round.
Nobody expected the Heat to be there, and here they are.
The team features a seemingly perfect mixture of NBA veterans and exciting young talent.
Perennial misfit Jimmy Butler — who is on his fourth team in the past four years — leads the team, and is complimented by veterans Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder.
Three years later, he holds the Heat’s franchise record for the most successful three-point shots in a single season and is in the NBA Finals.
This Miami Heat team has been underrated, underestimated and undervalued for the entire season.
The pressure is on the Lakers and James.
But we know how he copes with pressure.