Lakers fans celebrate in front of the Staples Center on Sunday following their team's defeat of the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Picture: AFP
Kobe Bryant’s spirit could be felt by the Los Angeles Lakers as they finished a run to the NBA title on Sunday, nine months after Bryant’s death in a helicopter crash.
The Lakers completed a championship run dedicated to the late LA legend by defeating Miami 106-93 to capture the NBA Finals four games to two in a quarantine bubble at Orlando, Florida.
“Kobe, I know he’s looking down on us super proud,” Lakers star forward Anthony Davis said. “We miss him, and this is definitely for him.”
Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in the January 26 crash in suburban Los Angeles, stunning the sports world to lose such a gifted talent at age 41.
“I think Kobe and Gianna have guided this team the entire year,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said.
“Kobe’s voice is always in my head, always, every day, every minute… for us to be able to win this championship doesn’t take away the sting of the loss, but what it does is it helps us add to their legacy.
“Kobe and Gianna’s legacy will last forever. It will impact lives around the world in positive ways, and this Lakers championship in 2020 is partly to build on that legacy and honor them. The moment couldn’t be any more special to do that for them.”
Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, posted a congratulations message on Instagram, saying: “Wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this.”
The Lakers captured their first NBA title since 2010, when Bryant led them to the last of his five career crowns.
“There would be times in my hotel room here – when you’re in a bubble for 100 days, it’s tough – there would be times in the middle of the night, I would hear his voice: ‘Stay the course. Finish the task,'” said Pelinka.
“He said, ‘I’ll give you two, three years, you’ll fix this. You’ll get the Lakers back on top.’
Pelinka looked to the heavens and said, “I guess you were right, man. You gave me the energy to do it.”
Davis received encouragement from Bryant at games in the months before the tragedy.
“He would come to the game and just tell us, ‘This is y’all year. This is y’all year. Go out and take it,'” Davis said. “He had a lot of confidence in our team. He had a lot of confidence in our organization to go out there and win it this year.”
Outside the Lakers’ home arena, the Staples Center in Los Angeles, fans took to the streets chanting, “Kobe, Kobe,” despite being urged to celebrate at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Lakers missed a chance to win the title in their special black “Mamba” jerseys made in his honor with a loss in game five Friday.
“This was for Kobe regardless of what jersey we had on,” said the Lakers’ Markieff Morris. “We knew we had to do this for Kobe and Gigi and the rest of the Laker Nation. This was a special one.”
Lakers guard Rajon Rondo, who also won a title with Boston in 2008, joined the Lakers in 2018 and was happy to have been able to learn from Bryant by playing against him.
“Winning for Kobe has been in my mind for a while,” Rondo said. “To be able to compete with Kobe, understand and learn so much from him by watching his film and by studying him, it’s definitely an honor.
“And to come full circle to win in his honor, his daughter’s honor, unbelievable season that we’ve had. And to be able to prevail and stay focused and continue to get the job done, I know he’s definitely smiling down on us.”
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