LOS ANGELES LAKERS LIFT THE TROPHY IN HONOR OF KOBE

The most atypical NBA season ever concluded with the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over the Miami Heat. The team, led by King LeBron James, started the regular season strong, collecting wins and showing everyone that 2020 could be the right year to get their hands on the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

One of the first emotional hurdles the team faced was the tragic death of Lakers’ historic legend, Kobe Bryant. However, the franchise managed to transform the grief into further motivation: the Lakers needed to bring the trophy back to Los Angeles after a 10-year gap since their last victory, when Kobe was still the team captain. Then came the long COVID-19 hiatus, which could have worked against the Lakers, as the uncertainty upon return was significant. The Milwaukee Bucks, another title favorite, showed just how difficult it was to maintain their regular-season form post-hiatus, being eliminated early in the playoffs. The Lakers, on the other hand, thanks to stellar performances from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, managed to eliminate the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and finally the Miami Heat.

The Heat, led by a phenomenal Jimmy Butler, were undoubtedly the surprise of these playoffs and fought hard in the finals. After taking a 2-0 lead, the Lakers seemed destined for an easy win, but Butler’s triple-double and incredible performances extended the series to Game 6, where the Lakers clinched the title right from the opening tip. After 355 days since the first game of the regular season, the Lakers finally held the coveted trophy.

In addition to congratulating the Lakers, praise is also due to the National Basketball Association and all involved in the process. There were many doubts when Adam Silver first presented the concept of the Orlando bubble, but it can now be said with certainty that the isolation of players worked flawlessly. The teams spent 100 days inside the bubble, and no player tested positive—a success that opens the door for many future possibilities. It’s likely that other competitions, both in the U.S. and Europe, may follow the NBA’s successful example to avoid the virus. Only time will tell if the Orlando bubble will be a model to replicate, but for now, it’s clear that without the NBA’s meticulous organization, the playoffs wouldn’t have been possible, and we wouldn’t have seen the Lakers raise the trophy.

This victory marked the Lakers’ 17th title, tying them with the Boston Celtics for the most NBA championships in history. However, this particular win was undoubtedly one of the most special ones. For Kobe.