LeBron James Delivers Powerful Message After Leading Lakers to NBA Title
LeBron James has reached the mountaintop for the fourth in his career by leading the LA Lakers to an NBA title. James, alongside Anthony Davis, guided the Lakers to an impressive run through the playoffs that was capped off with achieving the ultimate goal. Following securing LA’s 17th championship, James sent a powerful message to the rest of the league.
LeBron James leads the Lakers to an NBA title
The Lakers guided their way toward securing an NBA title on Sunday night after a convincing Game 6 win over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
It completed an impressive run through the playoffs for LA that saw them finish with a 16-5 record. LeBron James headed the charge with his stellar play averaging 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.8 assists on 56% shooting from the floor in 21 postseason games.
James stepped it up when the lights were the brightest in the NBA Finals as he averaged a near triple-double with 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists on 58.5% shooting from the field. That was capped by a triple-double in the series-clinching Game 6 win, which helped him become the first player to win NBA Finals MVP with three different teams.
It was much more than James as Anthony Davis was a tremendous difference maker on both ends of the floor throughout the playoffs. Meanwhile, role players such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo, and Dwight Howard all played crucial parts in the championship run. It was a strong collective effort that pushed the franchise to their 17th championship.
LeBron James’ strong message after winning an NBA Title
For the fourth time in his career, LeBron James reached the pinnacle of success by securing an NBA title.
It was a journey that featured plenty of outside doubt along the way that he could do that in his 17th season. The Lakers faced much scrutiny throughout the year but proved their critics wrong to which James voiced after the Game 6 win that he and the franchise wanted their respect.
“We just want our respect. Rob [Pelinka, the Lakers’ general manager] wants his respect. Coach [Frank] Vogel wants his respect. Our organization wants their respect. Lakers nation wants their respect. And I want my damn respect, too.”
Last offseason, many questioned whether the Lakers had enough talent around James to vie for an NBA title. James and LA responded by garnering the Western Conference’s top record, rolling their way through the Western Conference playoff picture, and topped the Heat in six games in the NBA Finals. Given the 35-year-old’s track record, especially over the last decade, he proved again why he is an all-time great.
It was that doubt that fueled him and his teammates to secure an NBA title in dominating fashion. That add to his illustrious legacy that he still has much more to accomplish as his NBA career is still an open book.
Lakers’ bright future ahead
The Lakers are fresh off winning an NBA title, but it’s not too early to look ahead to their immediate future.
The expectation is that LA will retain star forward Anthony Davis, especially after securing a championship. Meanwhile, the franchise will have the cap space to add or adjust their roster over the offseason that should pin them as the clear-cut NBA title favorite next year.
James may be heading into his 18th campaign, but he has shown plenty of reason to believe that he can continue to play at an elite level. Much can change around the league over the offseason, but it’s hard to deny that the Lakers are in a promising spot to vie for another championship.
