LeBron James’ penultimate dance

LeBron James decided to win the NBA Cup, and he won it. The first edition of the new tournament can be summed up by the Los Angeles Lakers star’s desire to expand his legend. Close to turning 39 and just months after there was speculation about his retirement, LeBron has allowed himself a penultimate dance. In addition to the team title, James was also given the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.

The Lakers won the final against the Indiana Pacers (123-109) after a great game by LeBron (24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists), but above all after a sensational performance by their center Anthony Davis, who with 41 points and 20 rebounds was the lord and master of the area. The Lakers won even though they only scored two three-pointers in the entire game, something almost unprecedented.

LeBron has an MVP collection second only to Michael Jordan. He has was named MVP in the regular season four times, another four times in the NBA Finals (the four in which he was champion: 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2020), three times in the All-Star Game (in which he has played on 19 occasions, another record) and now, the MVP of the NBA Cup.

For the head of the NBA, Adam Silver, the fact that the NBA Cup has ended with a Lakers win and LeBron James as MVP is the icing on the cake for the tournament’s success. Silver even joked with LeBron when he handed him the award. “The last trophy, the MVP Cup for outstanding play throughout the entire tournament, to a man who quite frankly, there’s nothing else to win in this league. The only thing I can say is, ‘I’m sorry but it doesn’t come with a franchise.’ LeBron James, the MVP,” Silver said. The commissioner was referring to LeBron’s interest in owning an NBA team in Las Vegas, where the final of the NBA Cup was held.

After the game LeBron, a successful businessman beyond sports, confirmed those plans. “My enthusiasm about being here post-career, bringing a team here, has not changed,” he said. “I think the NBA will be another great addition to this city.”

The NBA preseason league is held in Las Vegas, but it is not home to any team. The city known for its casinos has started to invest in sport in a bid to renew its image and offer more entertainment options. In addition to the NBA Cup, it hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix and will host the Super Bowl in 2024. LeBron is in contact with partners to make his plans for the city to be in the NBA a reality.

Before becoming an owner, the player is continuing to test the limits of sporting longevity. “Like any kid born in 2000, LeBron was my favorite player growing up,” rival star Tyrese Haliburton said before facing him. So far this season, LeBron is averaging 25 points per game. The last time a player of his age achieved a similar feat was Carmelo Anthony, 10 years ago. His strong performance and long career (this is his 21st season in the NBA: his sixth with the Lakers after 11 in Cleveland and four in Miami) have seen him break one record after another, including the sought after NBA all-time scoring record. This had been held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with 38,387 points, since 1989 until LeBron beat it last February.

With that record under his belt, speculation about whether the player would retire shot up at the end of last season, when the Lakers were defeated by Nikola Jokić's Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals. In the end, LeBron was the one to dispel the rumors. At 2.06 meters tall and in great shape, he has shown that he is still capable of playing at an elite level. Winning the NBA Cup seemed a more achievable goal, a chance to give James one last title. But the Lakers have shown that they can also put up a fight.

LeBron has been in the game so long that he is now facing the children of the players who were his rivals at the beginning of his career. He played against Jabari Smith is now playing against his son Jabari Smith Jr. And the same goes for Rick Brunson and his son Jalen Brunson; Gary Payton and Gary Payton II, and so on up to nine father-son teams. His dream, in reality, is to play with his own son, Bronny James, who on Sunday made his debut for the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans after recovering from a heart problem. In the front row, standing up, LeBron celebrated his son’s first basket, a three-pointer. Bronny will be eligible in next year’s draft and if it depends on LeBron, the Lakers will sign him to the team. It would be his last dance.

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