The Los Angeles Lakers are NBA champions once again, claiming their 17th title on Sunday night with a dominant 106-93 win over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the 2020 NBA Finals. And with that win, LeBron James now has his fourth ring, adding another milestone to his historic career.
Frank Vogel gave Alex Caruso the first start of his playoff career, and the move gave the Lakers a spark of energy, especially on the defensive end. Their help and rotations were much crisper than they were in Game 5 — or, really, at any point in this series — and they were leading by 8 points at the end of the first quarter.
James clinched his fourth title with a triple-double, finishing with 28 points, 10 assists, and 14 rebounds and shooting 13-for-20. Davis had 19 points and shot 7-for-17, with 15 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal but his numbers do not come close to capturing the way he stymied and spooked the Heat on the other end. Rajon Rondo was masterful off the bench (19 points, 8-11 shooting, four assists) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope gave the Lakers a boost offensively (17 points, 6-for-13 shooting).
In his second season with the Lakers, he became an NBA champion for the fourth time, picking up his fourth Finals MVP award on the way. In doing so, he helped the Lakers earn their 17th title, but first since the 2010 team led by Kobe Bryant. The Lakers spent most of the decade that followed in the lottery. But now that they’re back on top, James wants the world to know that he hasn’t forgotten those who doubted him.
“I told Jeanie [Buss] when I came here that I was gonna put this franchise back in the position where it belongs. Her late, great father did it for so many years and she just took it on after that. For me to be a part of such a historical franchise, it’s an unbelievable feeling not only for myself but for my teammates, for the organization, for the coaches, for the trainers, for everybody that’s here. We just want our respect. Rob [Pelinka] wants his respect. Coach [Frank] Vogel wants his respect. Our organization wants their respect. Laker Nation wants their respect. And I want my damn respect, too.”
