For LeBron James, who is worth over $1 billion, the $500,000 cash prize isn’t a very big incentive for him to go all-out for the in-season tournament. But as the Lakers star admitted on TNT this Thursday, preparation for the playoffs is the only reason he needs play with the ultimate intensity.
“I think this moment is great to prepare for the postseason,” said James. “Early on you get a feel for it. Even the game we just hosted vs the Suns, it had that playoff atmosphere. So for a lot of guys that have either never been a part of the postseason or haven’t been in the third round, that kinda had that feeling to it.”
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LeBron led the Lakers to a perfect 4-0 record in the group stage of competition, including a 106-103 win over the Suns that clinched the team’s ticket to Vegas. Coming into the tournament semifinals on Thursday, the Lakers were heavy favorites to win against the Pelicans and advance to the final stage.
LeBron James Is Seizing The Opportunity
In what has been an impressive season for the King, he’s got a chance to add a new trophy to his collection and he’s doing everything he can to bring it home. As a 19x All-Star, 4x MVP, and 4x champion already, LeBron’s career doesn’t need any more validation but it hasn’t stopped him from taking this in-season event seriously.
Against the Suns this week, LeBron had the best game of the season after dropping 35 points and 11 assists, and his efforts are setting the standard for how the players, fans, and media engage with the in-season tournament. Besides the chance to play in Las Vegas (an area James has special interest in), the tournament could further add to James’ legacy as one of the all-time greatest players and it’s clear he wants to take advantage of that. Plus, as James already pointed out, this elimination-style tournament also makes the perfect preparation for the playoffs, which are still several months away.
In-Season Tournament Is A Success
Initially, the in-season tournament received mixed reviews by fans and critics. After the NBA implemented the play-in a few years ago, people were skeptical about adding additional changes to the schedule. Even so, the public has embraced the tournament so far and it’s not hard to see how the overall experience has improved.
For a part of the season that’s always been somewhat stale, the in-season tournament adds an exciting new element that drastically raises the stakes of those early slate of games. And while the system is far from perfect, LeBron and the Lakers are proof that it could work. So long as the stars are bought-in, and the teams care about winning in this event, it will continue to bring the same intensity we are seeing this season. For now, the in-season tournament is yet another win for Adam Silver and the NBA. On Saturday, December 9th, the first-ever in-season Finals will take place and no matter how the final score ends up, it’s clear that that this will be a staple in the NBA calendar for years to come.
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