For most players, the biggest incentive to win the in-season tournament is the $500,000 cash prize. But for LeBron James, who has done almost everything there is to do in the NBA, winning the league’s first-ever in-season tourney has the chance to build upon his already legendary resume and get him closer to surpassing Michael Jordan himself…
“This is another thing on his resume that MJ can’t have,” said Parsons. “If we’re looking at the GOAT argument, yeah, this is just more ammo for him. I don’t care if it’s in-season or not in-season, these guys are playing hard.”
For LeBron, who is very much in the GOAT conversation, any accomplishment builds to his claim and, in the case of the in-season tournament, earning a trophy that Jordan didn’t adds extra weight to the whole event. The question is, are the Lakers ready to take care of business in Las Vegas, or will another team step up to ruin the opportunity for LeBron?
LeBron James Is On The GOAT Pursuit
It’s no secret that LeBron James considers himself the greatest basketball player ever, and he’s got a decent case for it as a 4x champion, 4x MVP, 19x All-NBA player, and 19x All-Star. He’s also the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with a career points total of 39,012. Even so, not everyone is sold on his claim as the greatest player ever. As many critics point out, LeBron’s resume doesn’t quite stack up to MJ’s, who retired as a 6x champion, 5x MVP, 14x All-Star, and 10x scoring leader.
As great as LeBron has been over 20 years and counting, Jordan was undeniably more accomplished in his prime, and it’s why his status as the GOAT is still alive today. While an in-season tournament win may not seem like much now, it could hold more meaning in a few years when the fans, the players, and the experts grow accustomed to the NBA’s newest competitive event. Either way, LeBron has already confirmed that he’s all-in on taking home the prize.
Lakers Could Win The In-Season Tournament
At 4-0 in group play, the Lakers finished the first stage of the tournament without a single loss and are a lock to advance to the Quarterfinals next in Vegas month. That game will kick off the second stage of the tournament, which involves a single-game elimination bracket until the champions are named. So far, the Lakers are probably the favorites to win the tournament thanks to the play of LeBron James, but teams like the Pacers, Timberwolves, and Kings are going to make things difficult.
The key for the Lakers, besides staying healthy, is getting production from the other guys. At this point, we already know what to expect from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but they cannot do it alone this season. And after shelling out millions to upgrade the supporting cast this summer, the pressure falls on players like Austin Reaves, Cam Reddish, D’Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura to step up and be consistent in their roles. To come out victorious in Las Vegas, it’s going to take a total and complete effort from the entire Lakers team.
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