Anthony Davis and LeBron James both paid their tributes to Kobe Bryant after defeating the Miami Heat on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA title on Sunday in Orlando to end a decade-long wait for a 17th NBA title, eliminating the Miami Heat in six games.
The Lakers wore “Black Mamba” inspired jerseys, each embellished with a No. 2 or Gianna Bryant’s number on their shoulders this season to honor Kobe Bryant and her daughter Gigi Bryant.
Winning the first four matches of the league they competed in, they lost game five of the finals and were desperate to make up for it.
Meanwhile, the 2020 NBA Finals came to a close when the buzzer rang on October 11, proclaiming Los Angeles Lakers as champions once again. The Lakers’ victory won the title with a 106-93 win over the Miami Heat.
Anthony Davis emotional dedication
After the victory, Anthony made an emotional speech dedicating their win to the late Kobe Bryant. The latter tragically died in a helicopter crash this year, along with his daughter Gianna and seven other individuals.
He said that since the tragic event, all they wanted to do was do it for him. He is proud that they didn’t let him down.
It would have felt great to do so in the last game in his jerseys, but it made them come out even more aggressive and assertive, he added.
He also said that he knows that Kobe is looking down and is proud of them and knew Vanessa Bryant is proud of them. “He was a big brother to all of us,” Davis added. “We did this for him,” he concluded.
“He was a big brother to all of us. We did this for him.”
AD on winning the championship for Kobe #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/mrMt3gDm8Y
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 12, 2020
LeBron James
LeBron, who was named the NBA Finals MVP, thanked the team and used the moment to ask people to focus on what mattered.
He stressed that there is a need to fight against police brutality against voter suppression and continue pushing for social justice in America.
In a post-game interview, LeBron said that he feels special to represent someone that meant so much, not only to the game but obviously to the Lakers organization for more than 20 years.
“For us to honor him, being on the floor, this is what it’s all about,” he added.
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He also added that they were thinking about the Bryant family – Vanessa and their daughters. “You people are with us, and so we are,” he quoted. He also proudly added that they are making them proud by wearing the uniforms tonight and throughout the league season.
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