LeBron James' unprecedented feat in NBA Finals triumph
Los Angeles star LeBron James has made more history after helping the Lakers seal another championship in a dominant win against Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
James capped another illustrious title run with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists as the Lakers earned their record-tying 17th championship with a 106-93 rout of the Heat.
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Anthony Davis had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo also scored 19 for the Lakers, who matched the Boston Celtics for most titles in league history with their first championship since 2010.
Fittingly, James was named the Finals' MVP, joining the great Michael Jordan as the only players with at least four Finals MVP awards.
However, the latest award for the 35-year-old sees him become the only man in history to win it with three different teams - the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Lakers.
James is also just the fourth player in history to win the Finals MVP aged 35 or older, taking his place alongside NBA Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Jordan.
The extraordinary achievement left the basketball world in awe of his brilliance.
LeBron James-led teams have four of the last eight NBA championships.
Just pure dominance. Witnessing history.— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 12, 2020
1. 4th championship
2. Finals MVP for 3 different teams
3. Still the best player in Year 17
I could careless what you haters and old heads have to say, Lebron James is the Greatest Player in NBA history— Tunde Tifase (@Tunde_Tifase) October 12, 2020
LEBRON is the 1st Player in @NBA History to win :
4⃣Titles+4⃣Finals MVP with 3⃣ Franchises !!!
HISTORIC. LEGEND. pic.twitter.com/RBIrpDWITm— MultiSports (@Twitugal) October 12, 2020
This man Lebron is really the greatest NBA player in history 💯💯 pic.twitter.com/zOAEP9u8LY
— samehada♨️ (@wamehada) October 12, 2020
It’s obvious that @KingJames is one of the greatest players, if not the greatest, in basketball history. But his greatness goes far beyond the court. Building a school in his community is an example of how he’s a champion in life, as well. Congrats, LeBron, and great work.
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) October 12, 2020
Guys, appreciate LeBron for who he is. He will never be Jordan and that’s ok. But he will probably end up with the greatest career (which is different) of any player. Just an extraordinary career that should be cheered while he is here.
— “Still Everyone’s Favorite BackupRB” Schmidtacular (@ASchmidtacular) October 12, 2020
With another MVP-level season and his 4th NBA championship in year 17 at age 35, LeBron James has now accrued the most valuable career in basketball history and moves up to #1 on my GOAT list. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/MYPy4ehHGu
— Om (@OmVAsports) October 12, 2020
Heat fairytale comes to emphatic end
Bam Adebayo had 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder scored 12 each for the Heat, whose Cinderella run at the NBA bubble came to an end.
Goran Dragic returned from four games missed with a foot injury, but it wasn't enough for Miami to force a Game 7 after falling behind 3-1 in the series.
The Lakers never trailed on Sunday, first-year coach Frank Vogel shaking things up from the tip by starting Alex Caruso over Dwight Howard and shifting Davis to centre.
Caruso had only made two starts all season. The move paid off, as Los Angeles effectively put the game away by outscoring Miami 36-16 in the second quarter.
A 13-0 run in the period, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Caldwell-Pope, had the Lakers up by 30, 64-34, with 49.6 seconds left in the half.
The margin was 28 at the break, the second-largest halftime lead in NBA Finals history.
Davis and Caldwell-Pope each had 15 points at the break, and Rondo was a spark off the bench with 13 on 6-of-6 shooting.
Intermission did little to slow down Los Angeles, who led by as much as 36 before finishing the third quarter up 87-58.
Ahead 103-86 with 1:27 remaining, James and Davis went to the bench to begin celebrating with teammates.
with AAP
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