The long and winding road leading to the NBA championship has never been longer or more winding than it was this in this crazy unprecedented year, which will make it that much sweeter when the Lakers win it all.
Never has winning the championship been more of a challenge than this year with the China controversy, the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, the season suspension for coronavirus, and seeding games and playoffs in the bubble. Never has the league been forced to play games in empty arenas without fans, run a special play-in tournament for the 8th playoff slot, or schedule a full slate of playoff games at a neutral site with no home court advantage.
This will be a championship that will catapult LeBron James back into the GOAT conversation, Anthony Davis into the lead as the Best Player on the Planet, and the Lakers past the Celtics as the greatest franchise in the NBA. It’ll also be the championship that celebrates the greatness of Kobe Bryant, launches the beginning of the LeBron James and Anthony Davis era, and sets the stage for the Los Angeles Lakers to build their next dynasty.
It will be the title that confirms LeBron James was the ‘real’ Most Valuable Player, Anthony Davis the ‘real’ Defensive Player of the Year, Frank Vogel the ‘real’ Coach of the Year, and Rob Pelinka the ‘real’ Executive of the Year. It will be redemption for Jeanie Buss as the Lakers’ owner and for Rajon Rondo, Kyle Kuzma, Dwight Howard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, Markieff Morris, Danny Green, and Avery Bradley as players.
It will be the championship we will never ever forget, that restores the Lakers back to the pinnacle of the NBA and positions them once again to be the premier franchise for whom every player in the league wants to play. It’ll open doors for the Lakers to become an even better team next year and the opportunity to build a sustainable championship dynasty with the NBA’s leading players competing to be signed by or traded to Los Angeles.
Winning this championship will be the greatest achievement in LeBron James’ career and the most important championship in the Lakers’ storied history. It’s the championship that will change everything for the Lakers.
Ten years in the making, this will be the sweetest of all of the Lakers’ 17 championships in my opinion for many reasons, not the least of which is to honor and celebrate Kobe ‘Bean’ Bryant.
It’s a shame we can’t have our usual celebration and parade but maybe Lakers fans can have an automobile parade through the streets of Los Angeles with honking horns and Mamba signs and everybody staying safe and enjoying again the high of winning and being the best in the world. I’m thinking of making some Lakers and Kobe signs and cruising the freeways of NorCal and honking back at every NBA and Lakers fan to blinks their lights or honks to acknowledge my vehicular statement.
Not sure what Gerald has planned for the Championship podcast. I do know Sean has written a fabulous personal ode to this wild and crazy Lakers season that has inspired Jamie, Gerald, and Rafael to create similar articles that we will be publishing on Lakerholics after the initial celebration and wave of joy passes so look forward to that. No doubt this has been a season we will never forget. Lakers forever. Purple and gold love to everybody. Go, Lakers. Go, Lakerholics. Let’s win #17 for Bean.
1, 2, 3, Mamba!