KISSIMMEE, Fla. — As Anthony Davis threw down a fierce dunk to push the Los Angeles Lakers’ second-quarter lead to 20 points, LeBron James stood behind him and rotated his index fingers in a circle.
Written content by Ben Golliver and Kareem Copeland via The Washington Post
Faster. More. The Miami Heat is reeling. Don’t let up.
James’s message was received by all parties. The Lakers proceeded to rip off 10 straight points, turning active defense that left the Miami Heat bottled up into layups and three-pointers with James leading the break. That second-quarter push turned what had been a tense NBA Finals into a blowout coronation.
Los Angeles defeated Miami, 106-93, in Game 6 on Sunday, outlasting the plucky underdogs to claim the 17th championship in franchise history. James secured the fourth title of his illustrious career, leading a third team to the crown after previously winning with the Heat in 2012 and 2013 and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. The 35-year-old forward, who finished with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, became just the second player in NBA history to win four Finals MVP awards, joining Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, who won six.
The victory set off raucous celebrations at the AdventHealth Arena in the bubble at Disney World, where players have lived for more than three months as the NBA completed its regular season and held its postseason in a restricted environment amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“Our ballclub got here July 9th,” James said. “It’s October 11th now. This was very challenging and difficult. It played with your mind. It played with your body. You’re away from some of the things that you’re so accustomed to to make you be the professional that you are. I heard some rumblings from people that are not in the bubble, ‘Oh, you don’t have to travel.’ Whatever. People just doubting what goes on in here. This [title] right up there with one of the greatest accomplishments I’ve had.”
James sprayed reporters with champagne, chomped on a cigar as he called his children and mother, Gloria, on FaceTime and went through a lengthy procession of post-game interviews. Read more from The Washington Post.
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