Youngest finals mvp in nba history

The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship Final over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images/AFP The Los Angeles Lakers, fueled by superstar LeBron James’s triple-double, dominated the Miami Heat 106-93 on Sunday to win a record-equalling 17th NBA championship but their first in a decade. James added another chapter to an epic career, delivering 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists as he captured his fourth NBA title with a third team. He earned NBA Finals Most Valuable Player honors for a fourth time, and said the accomplishment had a special flavor with the Lakers. “This is a historic franchise and to be a part of this is something that I’ll be able to talk about and my grandkids and kids will be able to talk about — their pawpaw played for the Los Angeles Lakers,” James … [Read more...] about Lakers win 17th NBA title, dominate Heat in Game 6

Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts with his daughter Nala after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images/AFP Anthony Davis didn’t let his long-awaited first shot at an NBA title get away. The 27-year-old averaged 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists. 1.4 blocked shots and 1.2 steals to help the Los Angeles Lakers finish off the Miami Heat in six games in the championship series, teaming seamlessly with LeBron James to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to their first title in a decade. Davis scored 34 and 32 points in the first two games as the Lakers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the series. His imposing size — he’s 2.08m tall with a wingspan of 2.27m — make him a force at the rim, but he also excelled from three-point range and at the foul line and was a dominant defensive … [Read more...] about Lakers’ Davis relishes first NBA title after turmoil, trade

Former NBA star Michael Jordan. AP FILE PHOTO Michael Jordan finally weighed in on the longstanding Kobe Bryant and LeBron James debate. During his Flight Camp in California, Jordan did not hesitate in replying “No” when asked if he would rank James over Bryant in the greatest basketball players of all time list. Jordan, who is widely-considered as the best player in the history of hoops, offered a simple explanation to his answer. “Would I rank LeBron over Kobe in terms of best of all time? No,” Jordan told campers as captured by Bay Area Sports HQ. “There’s something about 5 that beats 3,” he said. “Now [LeBron] may be mad at me now, but Kobe won five championships. LeBron won three.” The 32-year-old James, arguably, has been the best player for nearly the past decade. So far, the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar has three NBA titles, three Finals MVP awards, four regular season MVPs among his growing list of accomplishments. Bryant, who retired after his 20th … [Read more...] about Jordan ranks Kobe ahead of LeBron: ‘Five rings beat three’

The Staples center before Kobe’s final game. Photo by Celest Flores-Colina/INQUIRER LOS ANGELES—The famed Staples Center is ready to witness Kobe Bryant play for the last time. The seats are dressed in freebie Kobe shirts and the Jumbotron is flashing clips and photos of the five-time champion to warm up the crowd before the 7:30 p.m. (US time) tipoff. Fans proudly wearing Bryant gear of all varieties can be spotted even from blocks away from the arena located at downtown LA and as you go nearer, you can spot Bryant’s name at almost every turn. Just outside the arena, “Kobe! Kobe!” chants can be heard from afar with a pre-game party to pump fans up in full swing. Not that there was still a need to. History beckons as Bryant sets foot in the same place where 16 banners hang, five of which was delivered under Bryant’s leadership in his 20-year career as a Laker, for the final time. The game is expected to be one of the most watched games in the recent NBA history, … [Read more...] about Staples Center ready for Kobe Bryant’s farewell

Kobe Bryant poses in the press room with the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for “Dear Basketball,” during the 90th Annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018, in Hollywood, California. / AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant is a winner in retirement, too. The former Los Angeles Lakers star won an Oscar in the animated short category for “Dear Basketball,” a poem he wrote after ending his 20-year career on the court in 2016. He’ll add it to an already jammed trophy collection that includes five NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals, NBA Finals most valuable player awards, a league MVP award and four All-Star game MVP awards. As executive producer, Bryant accepted his golden Oscar statue from “Star Wars” star Mark Hamill on Sunday night. He shared the award with Disney animator Glen Keane. Among those offering their congratulations via Twitter were Hall of Famers Magic Johnson, Bill Russell and Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s former Lakers … [Read more...] about Kobe Bryant wins Oscar for animated short ‘Dear Basketball’