Glory for Lakers, James

BASKETBALL

ORLANDO: The Los Angeles Lakers captured a recordtying 17th NBA Championship yesterday with a 10693 victory over the Miami Heat that sealed the bestofseven title series 42, restoring the storied franchise to the top of the basketball world.

The Lakers’ victory tied them with the Boston Celtics for most NBA championships and capped an unprecedented season that resumed in July at a spectatorfree campus at Disney World in Florida after a fourmonth Covid19 shutdown.

LeBron James led the way for the Lakers, scoring 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists while spearheading a defensive masterclass that doused the Heat’s offence.

The Lakers, who won their first title since 2010, also got a key contribution from Rajon Rondo as the veteran point guard delivered an early offensive burst that helped them to a 28point halftime lead and the Heat never threatened again.

James became the first player to win NBA Finals MVP honours with three different teams.

For LA Lakers coach Frank Vogel, the Ohio native cemented his status as the best player ‘‘the basketball universe has ever seen’’.

It was James’ fourth NBA championship and his fourth finals MVP award.

He trails only Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan, who won six to go with his six NBA championships.

James (35), who also won the award during two championship runs with Miami and one with Cleveland, averaged 29.8 points per game on 59% shooting in the finals while leading a defensive effort that handcuffed the Heat offence.

While many still consider Jordan as the sport’s best player of all time, Vogel put James above him.

‘‘He’s the greatest player the basketball universe has ever seen,’’ Vogel told reporters.

‘‘And if you think you know, you don’t know, OK, until you’re around him every day, you’re coaching him, you’re seeing his mind, you’re seeing his adjustments, seeing the way he leads the group.’’

Lakers teammate Kyle Kuzma said James was a driving force on the court and off it.

‘‘He’s one of the greatest leaders in sports, not just the NBA,’’ Kuzma said.

‘‘He’s always rallying the troops, talking in group chats and making sure everybody’s fine. Holds everybody to a high standard. Makes everybody accountable — everything you want in a leader.’’

James had said bringing the Larry O'Brien Trophy back to Los Angeles for the first time since 2010 was his sole focus when he joined in the summer of 2018 after the franchise had fallen on hard times.

‘‘It means a lot to represent this franchise,’’ he said.

‘‘I told [Lakers president] Jeanie [Buss] when I came here that I was going to put this franchise back in the position where it belongs.’’ — Reuters