Austin Reaves barely had time to answer the first questions from journalists in the locker room when LeBron James calls out to him. “Who had the best Flu Game: AR or MJ? The debate is open ! »exclaims the “King”, his feet in a bath of cold water and his knees frozen.
Ill and uncertain for a long time in the NBA Cup final against Indiana (123-108), the 25-year-old guard scored his season points record (28 points). To the point, therefore, of recalling the legendary final of “His Majesty” (38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists), also ill, to lead the Bulls to the coronation against the Jazz in 1997.
“ I'm not going to answer him and continue talking about the match », continues the American international very seriously, his cap taped to his head and his coffee in his hand. A ” wise “ decision by the MVP's own admission of this first edition of the In-Season Tournament.
Forever the first
Valuable but less decisive than in the quarter against Phoenix (106-103) or in the semi-final against the Pelicans (133-89), LeBron James was one of the members of the Lakers' offensive trident against this fiery youth of the Pacers. Aerial, sometimes acrobatic, the soon-to-be 39-year-old winger was efficient and sober throughout these three days in Las Vegas. If he received 17 of the 25 possible votes for the title of MVP, LeBron James was somewhat stolen by Anthony Davis, author of an XXL performance (41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists).
What does it matter, in the end, since he took the time to enjoy it on the pitch then to contemplate this NBA Cup, in a Californian locker room transformed into a giant nightclub where pieces of US raps (“Finally Rich” by Chief Keef and “Run it up” by Lil Tjay) and bursts of laughter intermingled. “ Records will be broken but being the first to win a title is unrivaled”recalls the four-time NBA champion, also four times regular season and Finals MVP and three times All-Star.
While everyone continued their interviews under the almost disillusioned gaze of the seven Lakers press officers, LeBron James exchanged a few words with Rich Paul, his long-time agent and lifelong friend, then signed his green shoes to Lynn Merritt, one of the Nike executives, writing in them “For the General”. “I love you, I wouldn’t be where I am in my career without you, champ. You were there all the time »he told him in the middle of the cameras and journalists.
LeBron James at home in Las Vegas
First to pop the champagne in the corridors of the sumptuous T-Mobile Arena (18,000 seats), first to enter the locker room with his MVP trophy in his hands…
LeBron James was pretty much No. 1 across the board in Las Vegas. Obviously happy to win this mid-season tournament which motivated him ” since the first day “, LeBron James was on a seduction operation in “Sin City”. During his excursion to Nevada, he constantly recalled his overwhelming desire to become the owner, or at least a shareholder, of a franchise in Las Vegas.
Adam Silver, the boss of the NBA, did not miss the opportunity to gently tease him when presenting him with his MVP trophy. ” Sorry but this title does not bring frankness”he says, half-joking, half-serious, looking at LeBron James, hilarious, in the center of the floor of the T-Mobile Arena. “ Las Vegas is excited about this event and the future where we can cheer for our own NBA franchise.”written on X (ex-Twitter) Carolyn Goodman, the independent and former Democratic mayor, under the spell of this NBA Cup.
The perfect weekend for LeBron
THE Los Angeles Times, on the other hand, was much less so. The Californian daily hardly gave more importance to this final than to a common regular season match. The MLS final, lost by Los Angeles against Columbus (1-2), did not cause much excitement either. Quite the opposite of the signing of the Japanese star Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers, the Los Angeles baseball team, which made the front page of the sports book on Sunday morning.
The media treatment, in the end, is a bit like the philosophy advocated by LeBron James and his gang. Neither excessive joy, nor superlatives galore. “There are still too many steps to take for our team to be where we want to be once we make the playoffs », he rightly emphasizes. The No. 23 of the Lakers then stood up before telling his teammates: “Now let’s go!” “. LeBron had another mission: to attend the debut of his son Bronny, who suffered a cardiac arrest at the end of July, with USC.
