The Los Angeles Lakers have defeated the Miami Heat 4-2 to win the 2020 NBA Championship.
What We Know:
- The Lakers beat the Miami Heat 106-93 Sunday night to capture their NBA title. The score indicates a much closer game than what actually happened. After a close Game 5 loss, the Lakers came out ready for Game 6 and absolutely steamrolled Heat. The LA defense was in full form last night, holding the Heat to just 34 points in the first half. There were multiple points throughout the night were the Lakers were up by 30. LeBron was in playoff mode with another 28-14-10 triple-double and Anthony Davis chipped in 19 points and 15 rebounds. The unsung hero for the Lakers was Rajon Rondo, who came in off the bench and provided 19 points on 8-11 shooting.
- The Lakers came into the finals as heavy favorites, but the Heat made this a great series. Miami has outperformed expectations this entire season, defeating the league MVP and dominating the Eastern Conference playoffs. Through two games, it looked like the Lakers would win this series easily, but the Heat managed to win Games 3 and 5 and make this a competitive series. Game 5 in particular was an instant classic with Jimmy Butler going toe-to-toe with LeBron James and it coming down to the last shot. Butler notched a 30-point triple-double in both wins, joining LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to accomplish that feat in multiple finals games. The Heat proved to be worthy competitors and Jimmy Butler proved that he’s built like that.
- This title is incredibly meaningful for the Lakers franchise and all the players on the team. This 2020 NBA championship is the Lakers’ 17th title, tying them with the Boston Celtics for the most championships of all time. Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis both won their first championship. They’ve both enjoyed tremendous individual success throughout their careers, but this title cements their legacies in basketball history. Furthermore, Jeanie Buss became the first woman to win an NBA championship as a team owner. Buss’ father, the late Dr. Jerry Buss, previously owned the franchise and oversaw 10 of their championships.
- LeBron James further bolsters his all-time career legacy with this championship. This is James’ fourth championship and he joins the long list of Laker greats to win a title in the purple and gold. James was named Finals MVP, also his fourth. James has now won a championship and Finals MVP with the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the LA Lakers. He is the only player in NBA history to win Finals MVP with three different franchises.
- This championship also carries extra emotional weight because of how turbulent 2020 has been for the Lakers. The Lakers have dedicated this championship run to the memory of Laker legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the seven other victims of the January helicopter crash. This championship comes ten years after Bryant led the Lakers to their last title in 2010.
With that, the 2019-2020 season has come to an end. Congratulations to the Lakers for being the last team standing. Congratulations to the entire NBA – Commissioner Adam Silver, the NBPA, the players, and all the league’s employees – for successfully being able to resume the season in the bubble and make it through without a single new coronavirus case.
