LeBron James helped the Lakers win their 17th Championship in 2020, defeating the Miami Heat in the NBA FInals. With the series victory, James became the first superstar to lead the Purple and Gold to a title since 2010, when Kobe Bean Bryant won his fifth (and final) NBA title.
And while 2020 has been anything but ordinary, some in the community couldn’t help but compare this title to Kobe Bryant’s 2009 run.
At the time, a 31-year-old Bryant led the Lakers quite impressively, averaging 26.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on 46% shooting. He finished second in MVP voting that year.
In the playoffs, the Lakers faced Utah, Houston, Denver, and then went on to win the Finals in Orlando against the Magic.
In 2020, things looked a little different. There was a pandemic, deaths of some beloved basketball icons (including Bryant), and social justice protests that saw players boycott some games for the first time in league history. But LeBron, like Kobe in 2009, had a stellar season, finishing second in MVP voting and leading the Lakers to the first seed in the Conference.
In the playoffs, they faced Houston and Denver in the second and third rounds and then went on to beat the Heat in a Finals series that was played in Orlando.
In all the craziness of these current times, some have found comfort in the fact that the ending to this basketball season is so similar to one that happened over 10 years ago.
For Lakers fans, it’s an ode that LeBron belongs right up there on the list of greatest Lakers ever. What he has been able to do has been nothing short of extraordinary.
But can he do it again? We’ll just have to wait and see.
